5 celebrity-approved work hairstyles to add to your repertoire in 2019

In the hectic nine-to-five humdrum of the corporate world, first impressions are the ones that matter, whether you are meeting new clients or trying to present a sharp profile at a crucial work meeting. With those well-intentioned ‘new year, new you’ resolutions fresh in all our minds, it is time to consider trading in the quickly gathered ponytail for some of its more polished cousins, ranging from a whimsical side braid to a businesslike top knot. From Kareena Kapoor Khan to Anushka Sharma, allow the cool crew of Bollywood to model your options for you.

Sleek ponytail

Image: Instagram.com/hairbypriyanka

This power hairstyle comes approved by Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who pulled her locks back into a slick ponytail at the base of her neck for her appearance on Koffee with Karan. To cop the style for your next board meeting, thoroughly brush your hair to remove any tangles and smooth the flyways. Divide your hair into a middle-part, pour a dollop of hair gel in the palm of your hand and run it through both sections of your hair before gathering it into an elastic bungee at the nape of your neck. Add a touch of hair serum, like the Matrix Biolage Smooth-proof Avocado Deep Smoothing Serum, around the parting for that extra shine, and you’re good to go.

Messy bun

Image: Instagram.com/tanghavri

An eternal lazy girl favourite, this staple serves as an easy copout on those mornings when you’re running late as it works best with second, and even third day hair. For pointers, look no further than Kareena Kapoor Khan who frequents this hairstyle to flaunt those enviable collarbones. Texture is key when it comes to nailing the perfect didn’t-try-too-hard tousled bun, so start with pulling your hair back into a high ponytail without smoothing out the bumps or twists. Curl it around the base of your hand into a spiral, and secure the bun with elastic pins or an elastic ponytail holder. To ensure that the bun holds its form, finish off by spraying texture spray to lock the grip in place—the Amika Un.Done Volume and Matte Texture Spray makes for a handy saviour. 

Braid

Image: Instagram.com/saraalikhan95

This schoolgirl staple will pay off rich dividends when you enter the hectic work drill, so don’t write it off for retro night quite just yet. While boxer braids may serve you well in the gym, post your morning routine, swap the pigtails for a single side-swept braid to score instant chic at the workplace. Start by creating a parting and gathering your hair on the opposite shoulder. Divide your hair into three sections below your ear and begin interlocking them one over the other until you’ve almost reached the end. Secure any errant wisps with bobby pins, while leaving a few out at the front to frame your face. As the last step before you head out the door, gently tug at the coils of the braid to create a messy effect and run a gentle hand of long-lasting hair spray, like the Schwarzkopf Osis + Session Label Strong Hold Hair Spray, to keep it in place. If you are feeling experimental, Sara Ali Khan recommends trying your hand at a bulb braid to keep your hair off your shoulders and let your blazer du jour have its moment in the spotlight.

Half-up hairstyle

Image: Instagram.com/puneetbsaini

The no-muss, no-fuss shortcut to nailing the memo for those casual lunches with the team, a half-up hairstyle is your hall pass for letting your hair down without having to deal with the struggles of maintaining it all day. On those good hair days when the flyways are behaving themselves, follow Alia Bhatt’s lead and opt for a minimalist half-pinned hairdo. Easy enough to put together in the backseat of the cab when you’re stuck in traffic, this easy staple only asks for a couple of bobby pins, (we like the Metagrip Premium Bobby Pins because they have a firm secure hold). Gather a two-inch amount of hair from the front of your hairline and pin it back securely behind your hair; you can choose to lightly twist the section before pinning it up to add some depth. Repeat on the other side, gently pull some stray wisps out at the front to curtain your face and you’re all done.

Top knot

Image: Instagram.com/yiannitsapatori

For those crucial meetings at work, show up looking like you mean business with a little support from the darling of the bosswoman handbook: the elegant top knot. Anushka Sharma took hers with some textured ends sticking out for volume. If you’ve got naturally curly hair, you might want to blow dry it first to have a more workable base. Gather your hair into a high ponytail, at the very crown of your head, and secure it with a rubber band. Divide the length into two sections and loosely twist it around each other until you reach the ends. Wrap the makeshift braid around the base of the ponytail and secure the bun in place with bobby pins and a quick shake of the hairspray—the Toni&Guy Glamour Finishing Shine Spray works wonders. 

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