Ultimate Up-dos

By Becky Raspe

Hairstyle by Lea Rizer, an advanced signature stylist at Ladies & Gentlemen Salon and Spa at Legacy Village. She side parts the model’s hair, leaving the heavier side out and taking the rest of the hair into a ponytail – high or low both work. Then, she takes the remaining hair left hanging, twists it back and goes over the elastic to hide it. She then takes the hair in the ponytail and wraps it around into a bun, securing it with Bobby pins. Lastly, she pulls on the bun to loosen it and make it more careless and fun.
Photo / Lea Rizer

As Northeast Ohio experiences its summer warm up, complete with sunny days and humid temperatures, anyone with long hair is ready to spend the season with their hair up and off their neck for maximum temperature control. 

But up-dos aren’t just a means to an end this summer, says Lea Rizer, advanced signature stylist at Ladies & Gentlemen Salon and Spa at Legacy Village in Lyndhurst. A stylist with the salon for eight years, Rizer says up-dos can be creative, cute and functional. All one needs is a little time and the right products, she adds. Rizer uses Aveda products when clients are in her chair, but notes your favorite brand will also do the trick.


From left: Aveda’s Shampowder dry shampoo; Aveda’s Texture Tonic texturing spray; Aveda’s Aircontrol light hold hair spray; Aveda’s Heat Relief thermal protector and conditioning mist; and Aveda’s Nutriplenish multi-use hair oil. Aveda products can be purchased at Ladies & Gentlemen locations in Lyndhurst and Mentor. 

Rizer suggests starting with a dry shampoo to add texture as freshly-washed hair can be difficult to style. While hair can start straight, Rizer says the secret to a cute up-do starts in how the hair is prepped. Adding a curl or wave can take a look to the next level. 

“All of these styles are fairly simple and can have your own twist added to them by how the hair is curled prior to each style,” she explains. “And then by pulling pieces down around the face and down the back, it makes it more whimsical.”

Rizer creates a reverse French braid (Dutch braid) up, finishing it with a clear elastic. Then, she pulls all of the other hair back with another elastic and takes the loose hair and wraps it into a messy bun. Depending on how much hair you have, this bun can be tight or loose.
Photo / Lea Rizer

For those curling or waving their hair, Rizer suggests using a heat protectant spray, keeping any damage at bay while styling hair.

If you don’t want to use heat, a hair texturizer can help you achieve the ever-popular just-at-the-beach wavy look.

Finishing with a hair spray and hair oil keeps the look in place, adds shine and controls frizz and flyaways. 

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