Perfect the Olsen twins’ signature hairstyle for a fraction of the cost at home

For as long as I can remember, the stylish Olsen twins – Mary-Kate and Ashley – have been our girl crushes, both for their boho style and long blonde locks. The 39-year-olds have worked with stylist Mark Townsend for more than 20 years. He helped them pioneer their signature “air-dried” look on the red carpet, including at the Met Gala, which they have attended on and off since they were 18.

The first stage in achieving their perfectly tousled hair is to nail the colour. It all begins with the exquisitely under-polished “Olsen dip” colour treatment, which ranges from mid-brown to platinum blonde. Getting this look requires a root smudge, in which your hair stylist goes back over freshly coloured hair and focuses on the roots, smudging in a colour that’s closer to your natural shade. This creates a more “lived in” look.

Next comes balayage, a French hair-colouring technique in which the colourist paints on the dye freehand. And finally comes a dip-dye in which, as the name suggests, hair is dipped into the colouring dye. The result looks free and easy but is anything but.

Hair colourist Damien Rayner describes the twins’ look as a “mixture of techniques including finesse balayage, which is … quite similar to applying highlights, micro highlights and all-over gloss colours
to seal everything in. This is why their hair always looks so shiny and polished.”

Hair this cool requires some essential tools, starting with a texturiser like Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray ($60) and doses of dry shampoo – try Living Proof Perfect Hair Day ($57) before drying. (As a side note, we also love the “Olsen tuck”, where long hair is tucked into the collar of a jacket. The trick to keeping it in place is to plait the very end of the hair as this stops it getting messed up unintentionally.)

According to Rayner, once the style has been achieved, it’s all about keeping it in peak condition. “Following winter, it is so important to replace the moisture in hair,” he says. “This will help control static electricity, reduce breakage and help with elasticity and flexibility.”

A great hair hack he recommends for a moisture boost is using products for curly hair, such as Davines Love Curl Shampoo and Conditioner ($95), to boost moisture levels in all hair types. And if your curly hair is parched, try mixing a hair oil such as Josh Wood Colour Miracle Hair Oil ($37) with your conditioner.

This look requires complex colouring, so consult your stylist for best tips on products targeted to “princess” hair and be prepared to visit the salon between colouring sessions for a top-up gloss treatment and messy blow-dry.

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