So as promised I am back to let you into the secrets of Rumer Willis’ feisty and fiery red ringlets that she sported quite beautifully (apart from the dress) at the Badgley Mischka flagship store opening in Beverly Hills earlier this week. So if you look like Bruce Willis in a wig, have an oval face or an angular jaw (a hint of the Desperate Dan, I like to call it), the tight ringlets are going to work superbly with your face shape.

 I am going to be so generous to today and not only inform you of how to achieve ringlets with rags and tongs, but also how to get gorgeous ravishing red hair that with remain bright and beautiful over time (and not a dry and washed out monstocity). Do you see how good I am to you?

Retro Rag Ringlets

I know what you are thinking: that rag ringlets are old fashioned and well, you would be right. But, what is wrong with the old ways? My Grandmother used to put rag ringlets in my hair and it always made me feel like a princess; so you’re learning how to whether you want to or not.

1.  In preparation wash and lightly condition the hair (if you need instructions on how to do this I think rag ringlets might be lightly beyond your skill set) and cut around 15 two inch wide rags, twice the length of the hair.
2. Towel dry the hair and work some good quality, non-sticky mouse from the roots to tip.
3. The less hair you put in each rag the tighter the ringlet will be; section the hair off to make wrapping the ringlets easier. Lay the rag across the head with the midpoint of the rag right next to the scalp.
4. Trying not to twist the hair, wrap the hair around the rag spiralling from top to bottom.
5. Tightly wrap the remaining half of the rag around the spiralled hair and tie the two ends of the rag in a knot. Try not to tie the hair in the knot or there will be some tears before bedtime.
6. Repeat all over the bonce and leave wrapped overnight (some pre-planning is required for the ways of the past)
7. In the morning, carefully unwrap each rag without pulling it out and spray the hair with a good strength hair spray. Voila, gorgeous rag ringlets.

Curling Iron Curls

For those of you that don’t have the patience to mess around with rags and want quick ringlet you are going to want to use a curling iron. The look will be less natural, but if some of our perma-tanned, blinding toothed celebrities are anything to go by, the natural look is not always in.

1. Wash, condition and towel dry the hair before combing through a good-quality mouse to cover each strand and sectioning the hair.
2. With a hot (obviously) iron, wrap ½ inch sections of the hair tightly all the way down the barrel and hold for 10-15 seconds and gently release the curl.
3. Separate the curls using your fingers and apply a thin layer of hairspray to hold the curl. In the words of that Meerkat I hate ‘simples’.

Never brush or comb the curls or you will end up with a frizzy mess on the top of your head; kind of like you had a fight with a candyfloss and lost.

Relish the Red

Getting permanent Jessica Rabbit red hair is fairly impossible (almost as impossible as her dress staying up-how did it do that?), but you can still have a vibrant red and make it last, it just takes a little bit of work. So listen to Auntie Gem and follow these tips to relish your red hair…long-term.

• If you aren’t going for a professional salon dye, you should definitely go for semi-permanent colours. Permanent dyes penetrate the hair and cause damage and can leave it look dry and rather Worzel Gummage (scary scarecrow TV star).
• The sun (maybe not such a problem in Britain) hates your hair and wants to fade the colour…its an evil b*****d. So wear a hat, scarf in bright sunlight or use a shampoo with sun protection
• Wash hair with cold water. Yes it sounds unpleasant but it will keep the hair cuticles closed to stop the hair colour seeping out.
• Use a specialist colour-protect shampoo and adding a small amount of dye to the shampoo bottle will help to top up the colour.
• For a natural approach mix a 50/50 solution of beetroot and carrot juice and apply to the hair for 1hour in the sun.

Here at Hairbomb we want you to get the best hair you can and we have various vibrant red dyes to choose from and we are always willing to help our customers find their perfect colour to fit not only your skin tone and style, but also your price, colour and consistency requirements.

Remember wear the red ringlets look with caution as you the fire brigade may need to be called to put you out…you’ll be on fire!!

This is your friendly neighbourhood hair guru signing off...until next time citizens

- Gems