How to Look like Alana Blanchard (Pt. 1: Hair)
Know your hair type and texture
This is probably the most important step of getting your hair to look like Alana's. If you have very medium-thick, coarse, or naturally curly hair, talk with your hairdresser about the chemical straightener or the keratin smoothing treatment. The chemical straightener is mainly for girls that have very thick, coarse, naturally curly hair. It will reduce some of the natural kinky curls in your hair into looser curls, or waves, depending on the type of natural curl you hair holds. It is permanent, however, and can potentially be damaging to your hair. If you're thinking about doing this, do a bit of research to begin with and have a consultation with your hairdresser. The keratin smoothing treatment, on the other hand, will calm your frizzy hair and leave it silky for months.
Get your hair cut like Alana's
My advice to you, regarding Alana's hair cut, would be to thin out only the ends of your hair so you have different length layers, but make sure they're long layers. This is key to having all the hair blend beautifully. However, when I consulted the Ask A Salon Network about Alana's hair cut, the hairdresser who answer my question said that "Alana appears to have long layers, the shortest of which fall just below her shoulders. It is possible to thin out thicker hair, though I recommend asking your hairdresser to: 'Thin out my hair with a razor so it resembles the thickness/density in this picture.' Show your hairdresser a photo of Alana (that clearly shows the thickness of her hair) to your hairdresser. Your hairdresser will love you for it because pictures give a concrete example of what you're envisioning. Also, ask for some layers around the face that begin around your jawline and blend along the front hairline into the length of the sides of your hair." Tip from Alana: Alana says that she "gets trims whenever she feels the need to."
This is probably the most important step of getting your hair to look like Alana's. If you have very medium-thick, coarse, or naturally curly hair, talk with your hairdresser about the chemical straightener or the keratin smoothing treatment. The chemical straightener is mainly for girls that have very thick, coarse, naturally curly hair. It will reduce some of the natural kinky curls in your hair into looser curls, or waves, depending on the type of natural curl you hair holds. It is permanent, however, and can potentially be damaging to your hair. If you're thinking about doing this, do a bit of research to begin with and have a consultation with your hairdresser. The keratin smoothing treatment, on the other hand, will calm your frizzy hair and leave it silky for months.
Get your hair cut like Alana's
My advice to you, regarding Alana's hair cut, would be to thin out only the ends of your hair so you have different length layers, but make sure they're long layers. This is key to having all the hair blend beautifully. However, when I consulted the Ask A Salon Network about Alana's hair cut, the hairdresser who answer my question said that "Alana appears to have long layers, the shortest of which fall just below her shoulders. It is possible to thin out thicker hair, though I recommend asking your hairdresser to: 'Thin out my hair with a razor so it resembles the thickness/density in this picture.' Show your hairdresser a photo of Alana (that clearly shows the thickness of her hair) to your hairdresser. Your hairdresser will love you for it because pictures give a concrete example of what you're envisioning. Also, ask for some layers around the face that begin around your jawline and blend along the front hairline into the length of the sides of your hair." Tip from Alana: Alana says that she "gets trims whenever she feels the need to."
Capture Alana's sun-kissed hair
As far as the color of Alana's hair, it's slightly ombre and sandy blond. This means that it's more brunette at the roots, then slowing becomes a lighter blond color making its way to the ends of the hair. Want to achieve Alana's ombre hair without paying bucks to the hairdresser? Here's a DIY for blonde highlights with lemon juice! You'll need to apply the mixture mainly on the ends of your hair, gradually spraying on the mixture a little heavier each time for a "sun-kissed ombre" effect, like Alana. If the roots of your hair aren't already a slight brunette color like Alana's, bring in a picture your hairdresser and have her color your hair for you.
When washing your hair
Condition like crazy with Paul Mitchell conditioner, like Alana does. Something else Alana incorporates into her nightly hair routine is combing a quarter-sized dollop of Biosilk Silk Therapy through her hair every night. "It soaks into each hair as you sleep," says Alana, "and it's dry by morning." Though, if you're not going to bed, prep your hair for styling by washing your hair, then dry it until it's damp. For the next step, you can try two braiding methods. Depending on your hair, some say that one method works better than the other. Regardless of which method you choose, you'll end up with basically the same style.
Braid your hair for beach waves
In my opinion, this first method is great for girls with thick hair. Begin by parting your damp hair down the middle and tie back one side so it's out of the way. Split the side that's down into two sections. The halfway point is usually, whenever I do this method, by the edge of my ear. Tie back the half that is behind the edge of your ear and clip it back as well. Braid the section that is still down, but don't make the braid too tight. When you finish braiding the section that's down, let the section down that was behind your ear and braid that the same way. Repeat with the opposite side. For the next method, begin by splitting your damp hair down the middle and tie back one side so it's out of the way. Then, with the other side, french braid it. Again, however, you don't want the braid to be too tight. Repeat with the other side. The reason that we're french braiding instead of using the traditional braid is because the waves look more natural. They appear as if they start at your scalp, not your neck.
As far as the color of Alana's hair, it's slightly ombre and sandy blond. This means that it's more brunette at the roots, then slowing becomes a lighter blond color making its way to the ends of the hair. Want to achieve Alana's ombre hair without paying bucks to the hairdresser? Here's a DIY for blonde highlights with lemon juice! You'll need to apply the mixture mainly on the ends of your hair, gradually spraying on the mixture a little heavier each time for a "sun-kissed ombre" effect, like Alana. If the roots of your hair aren't already a slight brunette color like Alana's, bring in a picture your hairdresser and have her color your hair for you.
When washing your hair
Condition like crazy with Paul Mitchell conditioner, like Alana does. Something else Alana incorporates into her nightly hair routine is combing a quarter-sized dollop of Biosilk Silk Therapy through her hair every night. "It soaks into each hair as you sleep," says Alana, "and it's dry by morning." Though, if you're not going to bed, prep your hair for styling by washing your hair, then dry it until it's damp. For the next step, you can try two braiding methods. Depending on your hair, some say that one method works better than the other. Regardless of which method you choose, you'll end up with basically the same style.
Braid your hair for beach waves
In my opinion, this first method is great for girls with thick hair. Begin by parting your damp hair down the middle and tie back one side so it's out of the way. Split the side that's down into two sections. The halfway point is usually, whenever I do this method, by the edge of my ear. Tie back the half that is behind the edge of your ear and clip it back as well. Braid the section that is still down, but don't make the braid too tight. When you finish braiding the section that's down, let the section down that was behind your ear and braid that the same way. Repeat with the opposite side. For the next method, begin by splitting your damp hair down the middle and tie back one side so it's out of the way. Then, with the other side, french braid it. Again, however, you don't want the braid to be too tight. Repeat with the other side. The reason that we're french braiding instead of using the traditional braid is because the waves look more natural. They appear as if they start at your scalp, not your neck.
Sleep on the braids
By morning, the braids should be dry, but if you're in a rush, take a blow dryer to the braids to make them dry faster. (Remember to use heat protectant.) Once the hair feels completely dry, carefully undo the braids. Do not brush them or you'll ruin the distinct waves.
Opt for a sea salt spray
Believe it or not, you can easily make your own DIY texturizing or sea salt spray. There's a lot of different variations you can find online, but the simplest is sea salt and water in a spray bottle. One of my favorites is Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Beach Spray. It helps to renew your hair, while giving it a beachy scent and amazing Alana-inspired waves. Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray also works well. Play around with different texturizing sprays and find which one you like the most!
Add some loose curls
After using the texturizing spray, gently use your fingers to tousle your hair a bit. Some prefer to flip their hair over and tousle it in that way. If you're using a texturizing cream instead of a spray, it's a little more difficult. You need to make sure you barely have any product on your fingertips and carefully work it through the length. Then, if you want to further style your hair, use a curling iron on a few of the underneath strands of hair, holding each 1-2 inch section for 5-8 seconds. Possibly curl the pieces of hair framing your face, as well, so it looks even more like Alana's hair. Curling your hair with a straightener gives you even softer curls, as opposed to tighter curls with a curling iron or curling wand. Here's one of my favorite tutorials using this technique below! It's so simple and easy, yet it resembles Alana's hair so much!
By morning, the braids should be dry, but if you're in a rush, take a blow dryer to the braids to make them dry faster. (Remember to use heat protectant.) Once the hair feels completely dry, carefully undo the braids. Do not brush them or you'll ruin the distinct waves.
Opt for a sea salt spray
Believe it or not, you can easily make your own DIY texturizing or sea salt spray. There's a lot of different variations you can find online, but the simplest is sea salt and water in a spray bottle. One of my favorites is Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Beach Spray. It helps to renew your hair, while giving it a beachy scent and amazing Alana-inspired waves. Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray also works well. Play around with different texturizing sprays and find which one you like the most!
Add some loose curls
After using the texturizing spray, gently use your fingers to tousle your hair a bit. Some prefer to flip their hair over and tousle it in that way. If you're using a texturizing cream instead of a spray, it's a little more difficult. You need to make sure you barely have any product on your fingertips and carefully work it through the length. Then, if you want to further style your hair, use a curling iron on a few of the underneath strands of hair, holding each 1-2 inch section for 5-8 seconds. Possibly curl the pieces of hair framing your face, as well, so it looks even more like Alana's hair. Curling your hair with a straightener gives you even softer curls, as opposed to tighter curls with a curling iron or curling wand. Here's one of my favorite tutorials using this technique below! It's so simple and easy, yet it resembles Alana's hair so much!
Try using a diffuser
If you already have a bit of wave in your hair, go ahead and wash your hair and let it air dry or attach a diffuser to your blow-dryer. Do not brush. Once hair is dry, run your fingers through it to get any tangles out. Next, add some surf spray wax, such as dry wax by Paul Mitchell. Sprays are better because you won't accidentally use too much. Spray and scrunch. If your hair isn't getting wavy enough, this is when a few strands should be S-waved with a flat iron. Don't get too technical with it; choose your strands according to the pieces that need a bit more volume.
Browse YouTube for hair tutorials
Just search "beach hair tutorials" on YouTube and there will be so many options to choose from and methods to try! Sometimes it's more beneficial to do this, because you might come across a tutorial where someone has the same, or similar hair type and texture as you. Personally, my favorite no-heat beach wave hair tutorial is this one. The results are very beautiful and natural. (I find that the results end up similar to Alana's hair in her polaroid photos below.) However, if the finished look is too refined for you, feel free to scrunch and twist pieces for a messier vibe. Also check out my collection of blog posts I listed at the bottom of this page for more tips and tutorials on how to achieve Alana's beach hair.
If you already have a bit of wave in your hair, go ahead and wash your hair and let it air dry or attach a diffuser to your blow-dryer. Do not brush. Once hair is dry, run your fingers through it to get any tangles out. Next, add some surf spray wax, such as dry wax by Paul Mitchell. Sprays are better because you won't accidentally use too much. Spray and scrunch. If your hair isn't getting wavy enough, this is when a few strands should be S-waved with a flat iron. Don't get too technical with it; choose your strands according to the pieces that need a bit more volume.
Browse YouTube for hair tutorials
Just search "beach hair tutorials" on YouTube and there will be so many options to choose from and methods to try! Sometimes it's more beneficial to do this, because you might come across a tutorial where someone has the same, or similar hair type and texture as you. Personally, my favorite no-heat beach wave hair tutorial is this one. The results are very beautiful and natural. (I find that the results end up similar to Alana's hair in her polaroid photos below.) However, if the finished look is too refined for you, feel free to scrunch and twist pieces for a messier vibe. Also check out my collection of blog posts I listed at the bottom of this page for more tips and tutorials on how to achieve Alana's beach hair.
Complete the finishing touches
You don't want to comb your hair. It will ruin your style. A little finger-combing is alright, but too much could make your hair frizzy. Finish off the look with some hairspray to hold the style, or possibly some shine spray. Focus the shine spray mainly on the existing lighter pieces of hair to draw attention to them and make it appear like you've been surfing all day and got a few highlights in return.
10-second hair tips
These tips might seem a little unimportant and silly, but I promise that every detail matters when it comes to getting your hair to look like Alana's. That being said, here are a couple tips:
Related: Take a look at my blog for more tips and tutorials on how to achieve Alana's hair.
You don't want to comb your hair. It will ruin your style. A little finger-combing is alright, but too much could make your hair frizzy. Finish off the look with some hairspray to hold the style, or possibly some shine spray. Focus the shine spray mainly on the existing lighter pieces of hair to draw attention to them and make it appear like you've been surfing all day and got a few highlights in return.
10-second hair tips
These tips might seem a little unimportant and silly, but I promise that every detail matters when it comes to getting your hair to look like Alana's. That being said, here are a couple tips:
- Alana appears to have a smaller face, but it's mostly due to how she styles her hair. Notice that her hair is always really close to the sides of her face in a lot of her pictures. You can easily do this with your hair, too. I recommend doing this when your hair is damp, so it will dry this way naturally. Simply run your fingers through the strands closest to your face and allow them to fall right next to the sides of your face.
- Alana has long hair, but usually tends to wear crop tops, and shorter shirts. This makes her hair appear longer, because most of the time your waist is near where your shirt ends, so by doing this, Alana is making her hair look closer to her waist. Obviously she isn't purposely doing this, but I tried it out myself, and it does help some! If you don't want to purchase a crop top, simply take a hair tie and tie together the excess material of your shirt in the back, then loosen the hair tie by pulling on it slightly.
Related: Take a look at my blog for more tips and tutorials on how to achieve Alana's hair.
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