How To Wear A Hair Bow

Hair bows have long been a favoured accessory for many an influential name, from Hailey Bieber to even Kate, the Princess of Wales. Managing to shake off their twee, schoolgirl associations and translate into a new era, hair bows are now regular fixtures on the red carpets and runways.

For 2023, bows have taken on a larger than life persona with ribbons gracing the coiffures of celebrities such as Emma Watson, Dakota Fanning and Sydney Sweeney. On the runways, bows of various grandeurs have been paired with experimental placements and seasonal tones, with Versace and Vivetta presenting the easiest way to dress up one's hair for the season ahead.

Sex and The City star Sarah Jessica Parker is the latest to take on the trend, twirling on the red carpet in a cascading XXL bow for the New York City Ballet 2023 Fall Fashion Gala. The ballerina-ready ensemble featured a tidy slick-back half up-do, which SJP paired with a glossy silk knot. The ribbon itself was perched on the crown of her head, visible from the front, with trailing ends, which flowed near the hem of her tulle black dress. It's yet another piece of evidence that this versatile trend is here to stay.

"With bows, the way to make it look cool and grown-up is to give the hair some polish and shine," says A-list hairstylist and creative director at John Freida Salons, Zoë Irwin. She recommends blow-drying the hair with the nozzle facing down the hair shaft to give a salon-quality finish, before using the GHD Platinum+ to smooth over the strands. Misting your brush with hairspray and then working it through your ponytail will also help tame any flyaways and add extra hold.

A ponytail or a half-up style is a foolproof way to work a ribbon, but for something a little unexpected, an oversized bow is the way to go. It creates instant impact and looks oh-so chic when paired with a simple silhouette and a monochrome palette.

Try out the trend with these show-stopping bows