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4 ‘rich girl hair’ styles to elevate your look

Looking expensive only takes a trip to the salon

By Mahalia Chang

October 27 2020

While there's an enduring allegiance to France's messy chignons and I-woke-up-like-this bedhead, and to Byron Bay's seawater-washed classicism and tumbled waves, there's always an undeniable appeal to looking expensive.

You know what we're talking about: Royal duchess at a palace gala expensive. Amal Clooney heading to work in a Versace suit expensive. A glam squad-attended A-lister at the Oscars expensive.

But luckily for our fashion week-effected bank accounts, having 'Rich Girl Hair' doesn't have anything to do with your salary.

Like styling your wardrobe in a certain way and choosing your makeup products wisely, a good haircut and a few great styling products have the power to make your hair look like it belongs to someone who owns their own private yacht.

Interested in giving your look a $100k payrise? We tapped hair stylist Kevin Murphy to give us the low-down on which Rich Girl looks he's seeing clients take to the bank.

The expensive blow-dry

"The blow dry is always a classic, but lately we're seeing the move towards a sleeker finish with soft movement rather than bouncy curls. For a blow-dry to look expensive it needs to have an even shine and texture from root to ends," says Murphy. Want the look? Kevin advises...

"You're applying a lot of heat with this look so always prep with a heat protectant. This looks calls for density at the bottom, apply a lightweight hairspray from roots to ends. Not only will it give hair guts, structure and volume, but if ends are a bit finer it adds bulk. Next, blow out hair section by section with a large round brush, curling under.

"Create a side part, using the middle of your eyebrow as a guide to finding your perfect side part position. Then curl sections with a large curling tong, again curling under. After each curl pin it into place and leave to cool, this will boost longevity and shine. Finish with a finishing hairspray for hold and movement."

The Chelsea-girl bob

"This look is all about the cut, the strength comes from the silhouette–blunt, strong and bold. It has one solid layer through the front and blunt cut at the ends.

"Lucy has her hair cut just below the chin and while all face shapes can pull off a chunky bob, where you put your baseline will depend on your face shape." Want the look? Kevin advises...

"Prep with a beachy hair spray from roots to ends and then apply a thickening lotion mid lengths to ends, which will help create that body and density at the bottom.

"Then create as much body and texture as possible by tipping your head upside down to blow dry. Once dry put middle part in. then to create that texture, twist random sections of hair and dry, leave to cool and then shake it out. This gives that irregular finish, not manufactured."

The elevated top-knot

"Bella always looks expensive and it's because she will often add a slight design element or a point of interest to her hairstyle that elevates it from every day to next level. With this it's the exaggerated fringe section. This look is no exception and something I think a lot of others will emulate." Want the look? Kevin advises...

"This isn't your usual messy top knot! Start by sectioning out the exaggerated fringe section by slicing a section of hair out from hallway along one eyebrow around to the end of the other eyebrow. Pin out of the way. People are often initiated by styling foams, but they are the easiest and quickest way to do a top knot."

"Coat hair from root to ends in a volumising mousse and brush back into a ponytail high on the crown of your head. Split the ponytail into two, twist around each other, twisting into a bun and secure with pins. Next split the front section into two, tong back away from the face and brush through. Finish with a lightweight finishing hairspray."

The high-end bob

"Again, tweaks to the cut are what make this look. It's still all one length but has a slight concave at the back, which helps it sit close to the neck. What makes such a simple cut look this expensive is the finish—the part is dead centre, the hair is dead straight and there isn't a single hair out of place. Irina's bob wouldn't move!

"They key with this look is to apply hairspray layer by layer, brushing it down and into place. If you apply as a finishing step to the top layer only the underneath will separate and move. You need each layer to stick to the previous layer." Want the look? Kevin advises...

"They key with this look is to apply hairspray layer by layer, brushing it down and into place. If you apply as a finishing step to the top layer only the underneath will separate and move. You need each layer to stick to the previous layer.

Again, create a side part by using the halfway point on your eyebrow as a guide, then tuck behind the ear. To get that perfect tuck you can pin it behind the ear. As a final step, catch those fly always along the part line by taking a super fine detailing brush, or you can use an old toothbrush, spray with a strong-hold finishing spray and lacquer them down into place. This has high hold and creates a beautiful sheen. If your hair needs another boost of red carpet-level lustre, apply a high-shine treatment spray. It makes hair look healthy and shiny, like a lip gloss for your hair."