KEY POINTS:
There's a certain something about a horsey girl: good grooming, nice hands, an excellent seat ... whooah!
So take some tips from the experts to make sure your crowning glory is looking sleek and shiny, because you won't win any pony club points for having horse hair. The best look on-course is simple elegance - think dressage competition, not head over heels in the hedgerow for your raceday hair style.
A simple chignon, up-do, or a high ponytail set off colourful silks and fresh-faced makeup without looking too try-hard. The knack is in the styling.
The pony: To make your ponytail swish, comb through a smoothing serum or spray. A little backcombing on the crown will add height, before you gather your hair high with a snag-free tie. Take a strand of your real hair and wrap round to disguise the tie, then spritz a little spray on your palms and pat any stray hairs back into place on your head. By night, you might want to use silicone-based styling product on your ponytail and give it a little twirl with tongs to give it extra bounce.
The French roll: This takes more practise so you might want to ask your stylist to show you how, or give it a go by gathering smoothed hair at the nape of the neck, twisting it in one direction to or near its tip and then laying it flat up the back of your head, securing with bobby pins angling in and down as you go. When you get to about the height of the top of your ears, tuck the hair tail back in and pin down. Use spray to secure.
*These styles are used regularly on runways because they're relatively easy to achieve and look pulled together. In the case of the pony tail the look is jaunty and sporty and an up-do is all classic sophistication, so both complement clothes well.
Pick your winner and check out these products to give yourself the inside running in the styling race:
1 Andrew Collinge Salon Glossing Spray $15.99
This finishing touch spray comes in a tiny portable bottle and adds shine.
2 John Frieda Frizz-Ease Hair Serum $25.99
The original formula serum to treat split-ends, flyaways and bouffy hair. A small amount on shampooed hair goes a long way to keeping control.
Another option is Frieda's Secret Weapon Flawless Finishing Cream, which goes on dry to improve a style's texture. Contains sunscreen.
3 L'Oreal Play Ball Creamy Smooth $31
This smoothing light-hold texturizer goes on to towel-dried hair before styling, taming but not weighing down all hair types.
4 QVS Bobby Pins No 80 Brown $4.99
These matte-finish pins disappear in medium brown hair and come in a handy tube. From a good range of colour and size options on QVS stands. QVS also make tubes of stretchy snag-free hair ties, without metal or glue joins and blend-in blond ones.
5 L'Oreal Serie Expert Volume Expand $29
This is a root-lift spray for fine hair which adds body and bounce pre-styling.
6 Redken Iron Silk 07 Ultra Straightening Spray $36
For use before styling with hair straighteners, this is humidity resistant and helps fight frizz, while giving a smooth, shiny finish to the hair. Redken's Real Control range is another that helps heat-styling.
7 C}4u Curl Cure Masque $28.90
Those with frizzy, curly hair will enjoy the smoothing effect of this moisture-rich formula, designed to work with the C}4u shampoo and conditioner. There's seven different varieties of mask for all hair needs. Treat yourself in-salon or at home before a big event, so your hair looks and feels in the best possible shape.
8 Fudge Skyscraper medium hold purse-size spray $10
This spray is about a hand high and will slip into your bag for on-course pat downs. It has a fresh apple and coconut fragrance.
Stockists: From salons and specialty hair product outlets. Andrew Collinge and John Frieda also at from Farmers.
