The Lost Art of the Formal Updo
If tight ringlets obstructing your vision conjure up memories of middle school dances then odds are you’ve experienced the magical powers of the formal updo. A quick google search of 90’s updos will leave you breathless from laughing so hard…why? Because we’ve all been there, whether it’s for prom or your cousin’s quinceanera most girls have some blasphemous variation of the French chignon lurking around in photographic evidence. From age 20 upwards I avoided any formal hair pinning and opted instead for long flowing locks showcasing what I thought was my glamorous vigor and youth. Recently, however I learned to appreciate once again the timeless grace that comes with (a good) formal updo. The tight, severity of over styled hair in the past no longer applies, instead hair designs are more textured, relaxed and balanced the perfect mix of messy yet polished. I admit when I attended a recent wedding and my ordinate dress required my hair be pulled back I worried I might look matronly. Pictures however, relived my worries as I felt I had framed my features timelessly without looking overdone. The real testament to its timeless allure is that it looked great from every angle, proving that gone are the days of unflattering buns that only do justice to those with the finest facial features. So while my favorite look will always include several packets of synthetic hair and a very sweaty neck I’m ok with the occasional onslaught of bobby pins and a whole lot of hairspray.
