Like, OK. Anna Kendrick’s crimped ponytail at the Trolls premiere on October 23 in L.A.’s Westwood was decidedly un-Troll-like. In fact, it was everything we wanted our hair to be that one time many moons ago when we bought a coveted clamp-down device to copy Demi Moore — and failed miserably.
Kendrick, who usually favors Old Hollywood waves or a half-updo on the red carpet, threw Us for a loop when she bucked tradition and chose a retro style far from passé. Tiny, textured sections were the key to a modern take on the ’80s staple. “They gave her look an edgy vibe,” says her hairstylist Craig Grangi.
From left: Matrix Style Link Smooth Setter Smoothing Cream ($18, matrix.com), Matrix Style Link Heat Buffer Thermal Styling Spray ($18, matrix.com), Matrix Style Link Style Fixer Finishing Hairspray ($18, matrix.com)
To hydrate Kendrick’s “naturally coarse, curly hair,” Gangi says he raked a dollop of setting cream through strands before blowdrying with a round brush. Once dry, he sprayed sections with a heat-protectant, then flat-ironed. The pro, who also works with Christina Aguilera, selected random 1/4-inch pieces around the crown and crimped from roots to ends using a Hot Tools iron (from the ’90s!). After pulling hair back into a low pony, he crimped sections on the lower half of the tail, some measuring 1/4-inch and others 1/2-inch. The final touch: a 2-inch crimped section wrapped around the elastic and secured with pins.