Jazz up the holidays -- and your look -- with a ‘Fauxb’ fake haircut

When Claire Danes stepped onto the red carpet at the Emmys in September, the Internet was abuzz over her “haircut” — it was a fake.

So was Ashley Madekwe’s ‘do at the Elle Women in Hollywood event in October.

Both actresses appeared with their normally longer hair tucked up into short faux bobs.

It’s an illusion worth trying for holiday parties this year. The faux bob, or “Fauxb,” looks as if the hair has been cropped to chin length, without the wearer having to commit to a shorter length. The result is much less frumpy school marm and more sultry 1930s Jean Harlow, particularly if you add some extra dramatic touches, such as a deep side part or some subtle finger waves in the front.

Celebrity hairstylist Anh Co Tran, co-owner of the Ramirez Tran salon, gave Madekwe her stylish Fauxb for the Elle Women in Hollywood event. Tran swept the actress’ medium-length hair up under itself to the jawbone, giving Madekwe a look reminiscent of the flapper era.

“A lot of designers are revisiting the ‘90s in fashion, and bobs were popular then,” Tran says. “The Fauxb is a modern interpretation of that style and a nice alternative to the long, wavy, beachy hair we see all of the time on the red carpet.”

Tran breaks down the process for achieving this temporary style, whether you’re looking to see how a shorter length might look or just want to switch up your typical holiday hair for something different and more dramatic.

Step 1: Apply a product to create volume and texture so the hair isn’t too sleek and slippery to hold when tucked under. Tran trusts Oribe Texture Spray, which is a cross between a wax and dry shampoo and gives the hair the right texture for this style without being sticky. Rough-dry the hair with a blow dryer so that the product seeps in and hair starts to get more volume. Brush the top of the hair lightly with a paddle brush to calm down frizz and fly-aways.

Step 2: Divide the hair in half from ear-to-ear, and back-comb under the top portion to create more texture so bobby pins stay anchored. Back-comb mainly on roots and slightly toward the ends. Spray the underneath area with a light hair spray such as Oribe Superfine or L’Oreal Elnet, which are both “workable” sprays that don’t become stiff or flaky.

Step 3: Starting at one side of the head, take a 2-inch wide section of hair and begin folding the ends up and into the base of the head. Hold the section there with one hand; with the other hand, anchor two bobby pins in a criss-cross shape at the base of the head.

Step 4: Keep repeating this process, working toward the back of the head. Tran says having another mirror behind might help you see what you’re doing and make sure no hairs are missed in the pinning process. Continue tucking and criss-cross pinning until you reach the other ear. Finish by spraying a medium-hold hair spray all over the head.

The result should be something a little wavy that looks effortless and lived-in. If you have shorter layers, let them stay out of the pins and perhaps add a little wave.

“A looser, more tousled bob works better if you have shorter layers,” Tran says. “I love that lived-in hair. It’s sexier when it’s not so perfect. This is not a librarian kind of bob.”

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