French Women Don't Use Brushes

Posted May 12th 2009 at 7:00PM by Jessica B. Matlin (Subscribe to Jessica B. Matlin's posts)

Filed under: Hair Care, Beauty, Hair, Makeup

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"Does anyone here even own a brush?"

I posed this question to my girlfriend a couple of weeks ago while chic-spotting in Paris. Whether we were riding the Metro or cheers-ing at the Plaza Athénée, every girl worth looking at appeared as if she hadn't seen a comb in days.

And yet they all looked painfully chic.

The look wasn't messy per se, but rather lived-in and piece-y, with little crinkles and imperfect edges, à la Lou Doillon, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and even a touch Audrey Tautou in her new Chanel No. 5 commercial.

How do they get the look? I'm chalking it up to Gallic nonchalance, which, unfortunately, isn't bottled and sold at Sephora just yet.

In the meantime, there are a few products out there that are excellent for faking sexy, tousled, imperfect hair. Use these texturizers sparingly until you find the right amount that works with your hair type. And as you apply them, repeat my mantra: 'piece-y, not greasy.'

Eufora Piece Works Defining Paste, Davines Invisible Styling Cream, and bumble and bumble Surf Spray

Eufora Piece Works Defining Paste. This deep conditioning styling product is great if you have little bends and dips in your hair. It will define them, but because it's re-workable, it won't stiffen them. Tip: Rub the paste between your fingertips before working it through your hair with your hands. Then massage it onto your ends for a mermaid-y, piece-y look. $22.

Davines Invisible Styling Cream. Add a touch of this cream to towel-dried hair, and promise me you won't go near a blow dryer. You just might love what develops -- a voluminous style that doesn't look labored over. $20.

bumble and bumble Surf Spray. It's certainly not the newest product on the block, but in my opinion, it's one of the best hair texturizers ever to hit shelves. It gives hair that delicious grit and piece-y texture, without any hardness, shininess, or worse, greasiness. $22.

Tags: audrey tautou, AudreyTautou, chanelno.5, charlottegainsbourg, lou doillon, LouDoillon, messy hair, MessyHair, texturizing

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Lyndsay Cabildo 5-13-2009 @ 4:43AM

Living in Milan, I met some French women that look amazing, and you're right they don't use brushes and their secret? They also don't wash their hair everyday!

It's cool in a way, it only works for me in winter once in a while, but not everyday though. :D

Adam 7-14-2009 @ 4:30PM

I was thinking the same thing too last time I was in France. However, when I finally realized that that look could be attained without it looking lazy, or like person didn't care, I tried to figure out how it was done and the answer came easy.

1. I think you should try using shampoos with volume and something to thicken your hair.

2. Try poofing it out with your hands and straightening it just a little bit with an iron and when you do get it to fall naturally but unbrushed, use a long holding hairspray like Sebastian Pro Shaper Plus Professional Hairspray to leave it looking untouched by product and bouncey, but still hold it's look like nothing is in it.

The other thing I found when replicating this kind of look is that you can even still wash your hair since you'll be styling it back. Just make sure to only have slightly damp hair when doing it. Although I am not a stylist, this was easy to recreate and my friend had loved wearing this look a few years back.

Great post!