How To Get Tousled Hair

THE BEST IN BEAUTY
FROM THOSE WHO KNOW BEST

VIOLET GREY began with our search for the best eyelash curler. To find the answer, we formed a band of inside-Hollywood experts and editors — from makeup artists to movie stars — to test every eyelash curler against our rigorous set of standards (the VIOLET CODE). We tested on film sets, on red carpets, and in the back of Jack Nicholson’s limousine — and once we learned which curler would make our lashes curve and not crimp (Utowa, it’s from Japan), we moved on to mascara, lip stain, dry shampoo, and everything else a girl needs in her cosmetic wardrobe. On any given day, we are discovering, testing, and approving best-in-class beauty. The result is a discerning curation of products, tips, and inspiration deemed essential — the Industry’s Beauty Edit.

A sought-after red carpet hairstylist's guide to achieving perfectly tousled hair.

Hair By ALEX POLILLO

Photography By DIEGO UCHITEL

Written By LEXY LEBSACK

Makeup By GEORGIE EISDELL

Alex Polillo's guide to achieving perfectly tousled hair on actress Alice Eve | #VioletGrey, The Industry's Beauty Edit

– ACTRESS ALICE EVE / PHOTOGRAPHY BY DIEGO UCHITEL

Mastering the art of effortlessly undone hair is, admittedly, anything but effortless. (Like "no-makeup makeup" or a "natural sunless glow," multiple steps are required.) However, with the correct cocktail of volumizing and texturizing products, along with a clever styling technique, anyone can create perfectly tousled locks. For instruction, we turned to in-demand hairstylist Alex Polillo (see his work here), whose skilled artistry has made him the go-to for stars like Kate Mara, Erin Wasson and Olivia Wilde. As it happens, he is also among the handful of top stylists who contributed to the VIOLET GREY hair curation (read more about the curation in the Letter From The Editor).

The artist put his skills into practice on actress Alice Eve, giving the British starlet big, touchable, not-too-precious hair. Polillo’s foolproof method includes massaging mousse directly into the roots, using a diffuser attachment when blow-drying, and finishing with a texturizing spray.

Polillo’s secrets to mastering the art of undone hair, as well as The Violet Code–approved products he used, outlined below.

the
off-duty
HAIR
Tutorial

BY ALEX POLILLO

The hairstylist’s step-by-step guide to achieving Alice Eve’s perfectly tousled hair.

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PREP

To begin, lightly mist freshly washed, damp hair with Sachajuan’s Ocean Mist from roots to tips, and comb through to ensure even distribution. This creates a desirable base for styling and activates any natural waves in the hair.

Sachajuan

Ocean Mist

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Leonor Greyl - Mousse au Lotus Volumatrice Volumizing Styling Mousse

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AMPLIFY

Next, apply a golf-ball-sized dollop of Leonor Greyl’s Mousse Au Lotus Volumatrice. Massage the product directly into the roots of hair right before blow-drying. This creates volume without stickiness.

Leonor Greyl

Mousse au Lotus Volumatrice Volumizing Styling Mousse

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Parlux - CC - Parlux 385 Powerlight Ionic and Ceramic Hair Dryer White

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BLOW-DRY

Flip hair upside down, and blow-dry using a diffuser attachment, a technique that promotes natural texture in the hair and creates long-lasting lift at the roots.

Parlux - CC

Parlux 385 Powerlight Ionic and Ceramic Hair Dryer
White

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CREATE MOVEMENT

Once hair is dry, use a flat iron to add subtle waves and smooth any frizzy sections. Glide a one-inch iron over a one-inch horizontal section of hair to get it hot and ready to accept the texture, then quickly go over the section once more, rotating your hand like you are drawing the letter S. Repeat over random sections to ensure the hair has a non-uniform, natural look.

GHD

ghd Classic 1 Styler Flat Iron

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FINISH

Warm a pea-sized amount of Oribe’s Rough Luxury between your hands, and comb through the bottom half of the hair. This breaks up the waves and adds definition. Flip hair upside down, and spray Oribe’s Dry Texture Spray throughout hair for extra oomph. Then finish by lightly misting the hair with Leonor Greyl’s Laque Souple Hairspray for all-day hold.

Oribe

Rough Luxury Molding Wax

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Shop THE-OFF DUTY HAIR KIT
(Approved by The Violet Code)

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ARTIST
PROFILE

Seattle transplant Alex Polillo got his start working for legendary Hollywood stylists like Cervando Maldonado, Neil Weisberg, and Tracey Cunningham. “Cervando taught me how to cut hair, which is the best gift he could have given me,” Polillo told VIOLET GREY. Now he calls Rooney and Kate Mara, Erin Wasson, Rashida Jones, and Olivia Wilde his clients. For Polillo, hair is also a family affair. He married hairstylist Mara Roszak in 2010 (she is the hairstylist of choice for Emma Stone, Lily Collins, and Zoe Saldana), a match that mutual friends predicted long before the two had their first date. “Four people tried to set us up before it finally happened,” he says. “Now we’re inseparable.”