Retro ruled the red carpet last night, with 30s, 40s and 50s glamour on display. Smooth waves and constructed pinning ushered in new, softer styles that were timelessly elegant.

Kevin Mancuso, Creative Director for Nexxus Salon Hair Care, created the modern and romantic updo worn by presenter Natalie Portman. With a sweeping side part and soft curl, pinned into a beautiful knot at the nape of her neck, the look was deceptively easy to create. Kevin described how to get the look below in a few simple steps.

How-to Get Natalie Portman’s hairstyle at Oscars 2009:

Step 1: Apply a volumizing styler to the roots, like Nexxus Root Exxtend, to add body into the hair.

Distribute a medium-hold mousse, such as Nexxus Mousse Plus, throughout hair to and maintain and support the structure of the style. More modern updos employ product instead of teasing to build body, for a softer, healthier look. Blow dry hair with a large round brush, concentrating on the ends to smooth the hair.

Step 2: After drying, use a medium sized curling iron throughout the hair to create uneven waves and set the shape around the face. Once curled, create side part and pull hair back and away from the face. Then, take various sized sections of the curled hair and twist and pin back to create the updo. Insert an elegant, decorative pin above the updo to draw attention to the intricate details of the style.

Step 3: Finish look with a light-weight hairspray, like Nexxus Comb Thru, to help secure the style throughout the evening.

Products Used:

Nexxus Root Exxtend Volumizing Root Lifter
Nexxus Mousse Plus Volumizing Foam Styler
Nexxus Comb Thru Natural Hold Design and Finishing Mist