Summer Hair Series: Easy Do It Yourself Chignon Hairstyle

Now that summer is definitely in full swing, I wonder daily "What can I do with my hair?!" The heat and humidity kills me and I dread that the only way I ever wear it is in a boring ponytail or as a ball of frizz and fly-aways.  So, I thought it would be really fun to partner with one of my favorite local people, Jim (who happens to be my personal hair stylist in Wilkes Barre, PA), and work on a fun new series for you all ... all about Summer Hair!  We're going to be showing you some easy do-it-yourself hair styles, sharing some insider healthy hair tips, and answering all of your hair questions along the way!

For our first post, Jim is going to show you one of the easiest and most classic hair dos that you can do in a matter of moments and will keep you looking fabulous all day or all night!  It is called a Chignon and comes from the French phrase “chignon du cou,” which means nape of the neck (Wikipedia).

• First, pull your hair into a low, tight ponytail at the nape of your neck and off to one side.

• Second, Pull a thin bunch of hair from the top or side and wrap it around the ponytail base to conceal your hair band.  Aim for the ends of the hair to fall beneath the ponytail so you can hide and secure them more easily.  Using a few bobby pins, secure the hair in place around the band, using as many pins as necessary.

• Next, you want to braid the hair in the ponytail into a "double stranded braid".  To do this, section the hair into two groups and twist them around one another.  You can leave the ends open or tie them off with a hair band - whatever is easiest for you.  If you have fine or extra soft hair, consider applying a bit of product to your hair prior to this step.

• Now loosely wrap the double stranded braid around the ponytail base in the same direction as the braid.  Tucks the ends under and securely tightly with bobby pins.  You will most likely need 5 - 6 bobby pins evenly spaced around the braided hair in order to secure it to your head and the base of the ponytail.

• Spray with a bit of hairspray to secure and smooth away any fly-aways.  You're done!  Hollywood glam in a matter of moments! A special thanks goes to our amazing model, Ariane!

This hair style works best for those of you with longer hair, but don't be discouraged if your locks are too short - we'll have plenty more creative styles and solutions for everyone in the upcoming weeks!

Jim works at the Hi-Fi Hair Studio as a Master Stylist in Kingston, PA.  He has been working in the hair industry for over 10 years and has achieved much recognition in his field.  Jim has enjoyed being able to educate for the past 2 years and is well respected for his attention to detail and ease of skill.  You can follow Jim Higgins on Facebook where he would love to answer questions, give advice, and help ease your hair woes.