Not too neat, but not dishevelled: the hairstyle of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen has long been an icon of distressed style. We explain how to recreate this natural look.
If the Olsen twins have surpassed everyone in something, it’s in their ability to look flawless without any visible effort. For many years, Mary-Kate and Ashley have remained absolute benchmarks of a beauty and fashion philosophy that can be described in two words: less is more. They are recognized icons of the quiet luxury style, which they not only promote through their brand The Row but also integrate into their daily hair care routine.
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The “just out of bed” hairstyle loved by the Olsen twins
The hairstyles of the Olsen twins are always a silent style lesson. Sometimes it seems a stylist worked on their hair, and sometimes it seems they didn’t touch it at all. Always soft waves, never perfect curls. This texture of “living,” yet well-maintained hair, appears to be an accident that is never truly accidental. It’s a “done, but not too done” effect hairstyle, and summer is the perfect time for it. After all, instead of exhaustingly battling summer humidity, this hairstyle befriends it.
The most beautiful part? It suits everyone: on straight, wavy, or curly, short or long hair. It’s the quintessential messy chic look – effortless, practical, and with that luxurious subtext of “I just woke up like this and look amazing.” Of course, achieving precisely this result is usually the hardest.
How to replicate the Olsen twins’ distressed hairstyle: 3 simple tips
The process of creating this hairstyle is not overly complicated compared to other elaborate styling methods. Moreover, the summer season works in our favor: warm weather allows hair to air dry, which adds natural volume and movement.
#1 Start with the base Wash your hair and wait for it to dry about 70-80% (it should be slightly damp, not wet). Apply a lightweight styling cream or serum to the length – something that will enhance texture without weighing it down. If your hair tends to frizz or get too voluminous, be sure to add an anti-frizz product: it solves everything. Then, shape the strands with your fingers, without using a comb. Part? Loose, in the center or slightly to the side, but never perfectly measured to the millimeter.
#2 The diffuser trick If you use a hairdryer, dry your hair using a diffuser attachment on a low heat setting. Do not try to dry it completely: leave the strands slightly damp – this is what will give your hair a soft, movable, and “alive” texture. If you let it air dry naturally – that’s even better, but try not to touch your hair too often as it dries.
#3 No finish And this is harder than it sounds. The Olsen-style hairstyle doesn’t need to be perfected – it just needs to be left alone. No hairspray, heavy fixing sprays, or obsessive straightening of strands in front of the mirror. At most – a few drops of light oil on the ends to tame frizz and add a delicate shine. And that’s all.
Based on material from Vogue.it