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Celebrity stylist reveals red carpet hair secrets

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With Sunday fast approaching, the Oscars starlets will be prepping and preening – think handfuls of beauty treatments, multiple dress fittings and hair appointments – for the biggest event in the showbiz calendar. 

Celebrity hairdresser Andrew Barton, who has styled everyone from Jerry Hall to Juliette Lewis and is on speed dial for many a red carpet event, knows first-hand the preparation that goes into a red carpet appearance.

Here, he reveals exclusively to HELLO! the tricks and secrets behind a perfect hair look. 

  1. A great Hollywood trick is the instant eye lift. It can take ten years off any starlet with a simple hair plait at the hairline. Tiny strands of hair are woven into a mini three strand plait on the hairline, so small it can be disguised with a little hair placement. The plait is pulled back from the face and secured with a pin into the rest of the style.
  2. Clip in hair extensions are used by most red carpet attendees – not only to give instant length but also instant volume and fuller, thicker hair. You can even use them to add colour. We almost always add hair for an up-do to ramp up the glam factor.
  3. Hair needs to stay perfect throughout the evening and to keep long hair in shape for hours on end often involves pinning the hair onto tiny roller shaped rolls - releasing the rolls immediately before appearing on the red carpet.
  4. Mousse is one of the tricks we use to add volume and support to any style but the double blow dry technique is the ultimate secret weapon. We blow-dry the hair once from damp with mousse and then re wet the hair, adding more mousse, and blowdry a second time. The trick gives long lasting, exaggerated style.
  5. Shine is vital for a stunning red carpet look and a diet rich in protein will add extra sheen to the hair. Many a red carpet-goer will not only follow a strict diet in the lead up to the big day to look her best but will also follow a diet rich in protein to guarantee healthy shiny hair and a glowing complexion.

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