Swept Back Hair in Vogue

 Photograph by Ashley Campbell on Flickr

Brushed back hair is making a big come back. While it may have first been popular in the 70s, the MTV VMAs were proof that it is now back in vogue and a contemporary look to be reckoned with.

Swept back hair could be seen everywhere at the high profile annual event with Demi Lovato, Gigi Hadid, Kim Kardashian and many others all sporting the style. The look is powerful and can work for a variety of occasions, right from the high profile red carpet event to a business meeting or a date night.

The key to the style is the brushed backed look but not tying it into a ponytail and instead leaving the hair down. It is a style that has been gathering momentum over the past few months with stars like Rihanna, Ciara and Khloe Kardashian styling this look at previous events such as the Grammy Awards and it seems like we could be seeing a lot more of it in the coming months. 

The style is a nice change from the bob or long bob which has dominated the catwalks and celebrity events of 2015 so far. What's great about the brushed back style is the sophistication and aura of confidence it portrays. 

With the hair brushed back from the face you have to be bold and confident to adopt this look.

The good news is that the style works for a variety of hair types, but those with a square or heart shaped face should be cautious with this style because the hard lines of the brush back style can emphasize squareness.

How to achieve this look

Spray your hair with a texture spray before starting to blow dry the lower half of your hair, smoothing with a brush as you go.

Next use a small boar bristle brush to blow dry your hair at the roots to help add volume. You could also try a thickening spray or mousse. Next blow dry the sides of your hair and smoothly sweep the back before pinning in place.

Finally back-brush your hair at the front hairline to create volume and try adding a texture paste such as Matrix Style Link Over Achiever to get the desired height, before finishing with a strong hold hairspray.