Spring racing season is here, and Melbourne Cup falls on Tuesday 3 November this year. Whether you are heading trackside at Eagle Farm or Doomben, or to a long lunch closer to home, your hair has a big job to do. It needs to suit your headwear, hold up in Brisbane’s spring humidity and still look good in photos at 5pm.
Here is how our stylists in Ashgrove approach race day hair, and when to book so you are not caught short.
Choose your hat, fascinator or headband first, then bring it to your appointment. The headpiece decides where the volume can sit, which side the hair should sweep to and where the pins go.
The low chignon: this is the classic for a reason. It sits under almost any headpiece, keeps hair off your neck and does not move all day.
The sleek ponytail: a smooth, low ponytail looks sharp with a structured fascinator. It also copes well with wind.
Soft waves: waves set with a curling iron and pinned to cool will hold far longer than waves brushed out straight away. Ask us to set them properly if you want them to last past lunch.
The braided updo: a braid woven into an updo adds detail at the back, which is where most race day photos are taken from.
You can see the updos, curls and braids we offer on our hair styling and blowouts page.
If your hair is fine or sits above your shoulders, extensions can give you the fullness that updos and waves need. We fit tape extensions, Great Lengths keratin bonds and wefts, and every set starts with a free consultation to match your colour and length.
Extensions are not a same-week job. Each set is customised, so book your consultation at least 2 weeks before your event. That gives us time to match the hair and fit it. Read more on our hair extensions page, or in our guide to adding volume with hair extensions.
A November race day in Brisbane is usually warm and sticky. A few things help your style survive it:
If frizz is a year-round battle, a smoothing treatment may be worth a look before summer. Our post on whether nanoplasty damages your hair explains how it works.
Race week appointments go quickly, so book as soon as you know your plans.
Our $47 blow dry is a 45 minute appointment, available in race week, Wednesday to Friday between 9:30am and 3pm, which suits a Thursday or Friday race lunch. Curls or straightening are $10 extra.
Savvy Hair Artistry is at 3/15 Stewart Road, Ashgrove, a short drive from Bardon, The Gap and Paddington. Book online or call us on 07 3366 3385, and bring your headpiece with you.
