Keeping on top of your hair can be tricky in the desert heat. But help is at hand with these two styles from the experts at Jet Set Altitude.

THE UP-DO
•  One elastic hairband
•  Hairgrips
•  Hairspray
•  Curling iron
•  Flower or decorative clip (optional)

TOP TIPS
If you want tight curls make sure the hair is flat to the curling iron, but if you’re looking for loose ‘beach waves’ twirl the hair as you curl it.

Freshly washed hair is more difficult to style so, if you can, wash your hair the night before.

Step One: To get the right effect, you will need to start by curling your hair into loose spirals. Alex recommends always using a curling iron, rather than straighteners, as it’s much easier to get the right effect.

Step Two: Divide your hair into four parts; draw a line from the top of one ear to the other – everything under this line is the ‘back’ section. Divide the hair above this line into three sections.

Step Three: Tie the ‘back’ section into a firm ponytail with an elastic hairband. This will regulate the height of your ‘up-do’ so make sure you fix it at the level you want the eventual style to rest. Taking your hairgrips, start to pin the curls from your ponytail around the elastic hairband.

Step Four: Pin the two side sections of hair (individual curls) around the top of your ponytail as you have just done with the back section. Then draw the middle section of hair back and secure, leaving a few curls to frame your face for a softer look. If you want more volume, before you pin the middle section you can backcomb the hair a little. Make sure you use plenty of hairgrips and hairspray to hold the look in place.

THE FISHTAIL
•  Two elastic hairbands
•  Hairgrips
•  Hairspray
•  Ribbon (optional)

TOP TIP
If you have layered hair, don’t complete the braid all the way to the ends of your hair, as it will begin to look messy.

Step One: Once again, start with loosely curled hair. Pull the majority of it over the shoulder you’d like the plait to rest, leaving a third of your hair on the opposite side.

Step Two: Tie the large section of hair into a low ponytail at the nape of your neck – this can be as tight or as loose as you want, depending on how neat you’d like the finished plait to be. For a relaxed look, be sure to leave a few curls to frame your face.

Step Three: Divide your ponytail into two sections. Take a small piece of hair from the back of the first section and cross it over to the front. Secure the finished braid with a small elastic hairband. The smaller the pieces of hair you pull across into the braid, the neater the final result will be, but it will take longer to do.

Step Four: Use the smaller remaining section of hair to wind around the top of your braid, covering the first elastic hairband, and secure with hairgrips and hairspray. For a finishing touch, fix a coloured ribbon to the end of your braid.

JetSet Altitude, Emirates Towers, Dubai
Tel: (04) 3300886. Metro: Emirates Towers.
facebook.com/JetSetUAE

This article first appeared in What’s On in December 2012