This Unexpected Hairstyle Is Cool Again Thanks to Poppy Delevingne

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(Image credit: @laurapolko)

You know you're witnessing a truly magical beauty moment when the sparkle of Kallati earrings and the allure of an Oscar de la Renta gown take a backseat to what's happening atop a celebrity's head or face. At last night's Critics' Choice Awards, Poppy Delevingne stunned in both the aforementioned dress and jewelry, but it was her flawless makeup and resurrected hairstyle (one we hadn't seen in ages, TBH) that had us taking fast and furious screenshots. To complement the model's subtly shimmery makeup aesthetic (courtesy of makeup artist Tobi Henney), celebrity hairstylist Laura Polko created a fresh take on an eternally elegant hairstyle: the French twist.

While we once would have shrugged the style off as old-fashioned, with a few modern twists, it seamlessly transforms into the perfect antidote for unruly strands in need of an extra dose of polish. It also works for those times when you're simply sick of your signature ho-hum ponytail. Plus, (surprise!) the effect is fantastically easy to create. In addition to snapping some behind-the-scenes photos during her pre–red carpet time with Delevingne, Polko also gave us the exclusive styling how-to for the model's carpet-stopping style. Keep scrolling for Polko's step-by-step guide and the must-have products she used to create Delevingne's head-turning twist. 

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(Image credit: @laurapolko)

Step one: "Start with wet hair and prep your damp strands with IGK Mistress Hydrating Hair Balm ($29) to protect the health and integrity of your hair," Polko tells us. This balm is an industry favorite and melts invisibly into every hair type (from coiled and curly to baby-fine) while offering a protective fusion of coconut oil, shea butter, and argan oil. 

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(Image credit: @laurapolko)

Step three: "Once hair is blown out, spray IGK Beach Club Texture Spray ($29) all over the hair for texture, grit, and hold," Polko instructs.

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(Image credit: @laurapolko)

Step five: As the second to last step, lightly brush over the teased hair with a brush from Mason Pearson (no celebrity hairstylist is ever without one) to smooth the top layer while maintaining the shape and volume. 

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(Image credit: @laurapolko)
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Beauty Director

Erin has been writing a mix of beauty and wellness content for Who What Wear for over four years. Prior to that, she spent two and half years writing for Byrdie. She now calls Santa Monica home but grew up in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and studied writing, rhetoric, and communication at University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. She studied abroad in Galway, Ireland, and spent a summer in L.A. interning with the Byrdie and Who What Wear family. After graduating from UW, she spent one year in San Francisco, where she worked as a writer for Pottery Barn Kids and PBteen before moving down to L.A. to begin her career as a beauty editor. She considers her day-to-day beauty aesthetic very low-maintenance and relies on staples like clear brow serum (from Kimiko!), Lawless's Lip Plumping Mask in Cherry Vanilla, and an eyelash curler. For special occasions or days when she's taking more meetings or has an event, she'll wear anything and everything from Charlotte Tilbury (the foundations are game-changing), some shimmer on her lids (Stila and Róen do it best), and a few coats of the best mascara-type product on earth, Surratt's Noir Lash Tint.