I Want...Natalie Portman's French Twist

When you think of a French twist, you might think of the too tight, hairspray-overloaded updo you wore as a flower girl to your cousin's wedding in the fifth grade. Thankfully, celebs like Natalie Portman, Carrie Underwood, Mila Kunis, and others more have put that bad look to bed. Celebrity hairstylist Angelo David shares his tricks to creating your own fresh and modern version of a French twist.

To pull this look off, the work starts before you shower. "Get into the practice of brushing through your hair before you get into the shower and make sure to shampoo twice," says David.

Next, on freshly washed hair apply a medium hold mousse for body and lift. Tease your hair in small sections, back combing one inch at your crown’s roots to create volume.

Brush your hair back toward your right shoulder, holding it tightly against the nape of your neck. Insert a bobby pin at an angle from the center of the nape toward your right ear. Repeat with four to five bobby pins positioned at a similar angle from the center of the head toward your right ear.

Top off with a layer of light hold hairspray and begin twisting the hair (for a beginner's trick, twist hair around your thumb up the nape of your neck). From bottom to top, insert five to six bobby pins into the twist horizontally for extra hold. Fold the top of the updo's loose ends into the twist and secure with another bobby pin. Set with hairspray and shine spray, if desired.

Tools to Get the Look

Angelo David Boar's Hair Paddle Brush, $55; angelodavidsalon.com

Angelo David Foaming Sea Silk Mousse, $21.50; angelodavidsalon.com

Redken Foreful 23 Super Strength Finishing Spray, redken.com for salon locations.