The Top Knot is the ideal style for any occasion as it can easily be paired with a dressed up or down ensemble for the perfect look. Jenny Balding, NYC Cutler/Redken Stylist, shares how to achieve this look:

Top Knot

•For best results, start with day two hair onwards as your hair will be easier to manage with an already ‘lived -in’ texture.
•Mist hair with dry shampoo, focusing primarily on the roots mainly – this will give your hair more texture, grip and volume.
•Then mist a light hairspray throughout for some hold and grip.
•Sweep your hair into high ponytail. Keep checking what it looks like from your profile so you position ponytail in the most flattering point of your head for your face shape.
•Take the ponytail and back-brush from the underneath lightly – this creates a slight disheveled texture.
•Sweep around the base of the ponytail and pin using U shaped hairpins. These really anchor the hair best which means you will only need 2 or 3 to secure.
•This creates perfectly disheveled topknot that looks ultra stylish and works for any event.

Top Knot

Who is Jenny Balding:

Jenny Balding

Jenny Balding New York City Salon, Fashion Week & Editorial Stylist
As one of New York City’s most sought after hairstylists, Scottish born Jenny Balding brings nearly two decades of experience in both the UK and NYC. Her salon, Fashion Week & editorial experience have shaped her into the expert stylist she is today.

Jenny is a Senior Stylist at New York City’s Cutler Salon and specializes in cutting and styling women and men of all hair lengths, textures, colors, and special occasions. Her personal mission is to help each client find the cut and style that works best for them and their lifestyle, not just the hottest trend, and she achieves this by working with the hair’s natural texture to create maximum versatility and fluidity. Jenny also lives the salon’s motto “bringing runway to reality” as she consistently leads shows each season during New York Fashion Week including Paola Hernández & 5:31 Jérôme. Her work backstage has also been seen on the runways of Marc Jacobs, Cynthia Rowley, Betsey Johnson, Proenza Schouler, Badgley Mischka and Carmen Marc Valvo. With inspiration from Fashion Week around the world, Jenny translates the season’s hottest trends into wearable, achievable, must-have styles for her clients.

In addition to her salon and Fashion Week work, Jenny’s hands have also styled the locks of Heidi Klum, Miranda Kerr, Karolina Kurkova, Chanel Iman, Alyssa Milano, Jillian Michaels, Rachael Ray, Gabby Douglas, Dannica Keller, the Foo Fighters, and Kendall & Kylie Jenner, to name a few. Jenny also serves as Redken’s Grooming & Styling Expert and consults with the brand on new launches and styling techniques.

Prior to moving to New York, Jenny was based in the UK where she pursued her love of hairstyling at the early age of 18 and became Art Director & Director of Education at the legendary Rita Rusk International in Glasgow, and then Creative Director of the Alternative Hair Show, the most prestigious hair show in the world. Jenny has been featured in top publications such as Allure and Harper’s Bazaar, and on television programs including The Rachael Ray Show, Extra!, Good Day New York, and the CW 11 Morning News. In her spare time, Jenny enjoys rollerblading in New York and watching films and theater with her husband, Patrick.