There’s no disputing that Blake Lively has one of the best hair games in town — any town. Her sun-drenched strands seem to look right at home in every environment. She can kick back in a beachside bungalow or channeling Grace Kelly in a string of pearls without missing a beat.
That’s partly because the actress isn’t married to a single style — or era. Yes, her hair is always golden and lush, but she alternates between new and vintage trends, taking classic silhouettes and injecting them with modern touches. The results are head-turning.
Read on to glean style secrets from the girl who never makes a misstep when it comes to hair (even on gym days) — and how to raise your own #hairgoals game.
What’s not to love about the bronde color and classic, ’40s-inspired styling on this vintage version of Blake (seen here in 2007)?
Photo: Chad Buchanan/Getty Images.
The only thing we love more than Blake’s long-running IRL friendship with her The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants co-stars? The gorgeous Grecian-inspired braids she wore at the movie’s premiere in 2008.
Photo: Ray Tamarra/Getty Images.
File this under "the perfect blowout." While Blake’s look surely involved the skills of a pro, we’ve got our own tricks for nailing next-level bounce and shine at home.
Photo: Jeffrey Ufberg/WireImage.
It’s no secret that Lively’s hair has major superpowers (she’s even admitted as much). For proof, see these buttery, cascading waves with insanely high shine.
Photo: Demis Maryannakis/Star Max/GC Images.
Proof that Blake has never had a bad hair day: These enviable loose waves from 2009 are a look that we still want to emulate.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.
This low chignon looks pretty straightforward from the front, but a textured maze of intricate braids and strategic pinning in back equals a look that we’d love to cop for ourselves.
Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images. Photo: Jim Spellman/Getty Images.
Offset by an aquamarine gown and rosy cheeks, 2011’s strawberry-blonde dye job gives Blake’s standard flaxen hue a run for its money.
Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images.
Damn. This girl even makes a simple pony look lust-worthy! It’s all about position. The hair is gathered smack in-between the crown and the nape. The result is effortless, sleek, and anything but basic.
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images.
Does this messy-but-modern side-braid, worn at the Green Lantern premiere, look too complicated to replicate? Yep. But that won’t stop us from trying. When we do, we’ll keep it from merging into bed-head territory by maintaining clean lines around the face.
Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage.
Blake seldom turns to the flat iron for public appearances. But when she does, she knocks it out of the park. Notice how she deftly avoids the stick-straight trap by creating lift at the roots and pulling her hair off of her face.
Photo: Gregg DeGuire/PictureGroup.
It’s hard to choose a favorite of Blake absolutely owning Old Hollywood barrel curls. But this look rises above the rest for its sheer shine, volume, and tumbling softness.
Photo: Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage.
An Insta-worthy half updo that will look classic in years to come? Blake has got it on lock. Key styling elements: tease to create a little volume at the crown, pin back the hair low on the head, and let loose tendrils fly.
Photo: Ray Tamarra/FilmMagic.
Beach waves have been trending for years, so now the style has us feeling a little "meh." But a brushed-out version that perfectly frames the face and still looks effortless? Sign us up.
Photo: Alo Ceballos/FilmMagic.
We’ve waxed poetic about this loose fishtail braid that Blake wore to the Savages premiere before. Over seven years later, it still gives us perfect summer-hair vibes. Even better? The tricky-looking plait is deceptively easy to pull off.
Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images.
The 2013 Met Gala’s Punk theme confounded Hollywood and fashion people. But Blake’s fauxhawk pony makes the grade as a style we’re stoked to replicate for any occasion.
Photo: James Devaney/WireImage.
To keep her flat-ironed hair from looking too ‘90s, Lively employs a deep side part and face-skimming bend.
Photo: Jacopo Raule/Getty Images.
This updo may be perfectly coiffed in back, but up front, it’s tightly-pulled sides and faux-hawk top creates a look that delivers a tough-as-nails vibe.
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images.
In a nod to ‘40s glamour, Blake’s hair for the 2014 Met Gala combined a deep side part, victory rolls, and loose finger waves for a look that’s enviable in any decade.
Photo: George Pimentel/WireImage.
Like many of Blake’s trademark hairstyles, this high pony looks flawless in front, but boasts a slightly off-kilter braid in back, softening the look.
Photo: Jean Catuffe/FilmMagic.
Lively’s signature rumpled waves keep this cool, ’60s mod style from looking too retro.
Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic.
When a pregnant Blake lays off the peroxide, she emerges with an enviable rooted citrine effect. Necessity truly is the mother of invention.
Photo: Rob Kim/Getty Images.
The deep side part looks emphatically elegant when paired with tightlined eyes and rosy pink lips.
Photo: Alessio Botticelli/GC Images.
This style may read pure Veronica Lake in front, but it’s pure punk party in the back, thanks to a couple of French braids that sweep everything to the side.
Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic.
Leave it to Lively to turn a simple low pony into a bombshell look. Loose barrel curls create volume, while face-framing bends add effortless appeal.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images.
For Lively’s Jessie Spano curls (her words, not ours), hairstylist Rod Ortega revealed that he started with second-day hair with no product in a June 2016 Instagram caption. Then, "finger dry upside down flip back spray [Elnett Satin Hair Spray], a [ T3 Barrel Curling Iron], wrap it twist it spray it. When [finished] flip over brush lightly here and there, separate the curls with fingers."
Photo: ESBP/Star Max/GC Images.
Half-up styles will never be boring if you add a little texture to your bump, like she did in July 2016.
Photo: Jim Spellman/Wireimage.
Who needs heart-shaped chocolates when you can show love with your hair? Lively looked gorgeous with a themed braid on Valentine’s Day 2017.
Photo: Via @blakelively.
Lively, of course, arrived to the 69th Cannes Film Festival looking like a modern-day Cinderella. Who’s to say if the Disney princess was really her inspiration, but between the pale-blue ballgown, bubblegum pink lip, and romantic updo, it’s safe to say she probably was.
Photo: Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images.
A year later, Lively arrived to the Met Gala in the kind of high-society ponytail you’d expect to see on Serena van der Woodsen sitting front row during New York Fashion Week.
Photo: James Devaney/GC Images.
Naturally, Lively’s look for the 2019 Met Gala was the pièce de résistance of the night. Looking like a literal saint, the A Simple Favor actress arrived in a gilded halo that put all of our hair accessories to shame. As if her look couldn’t get any better, she used a $10 lipstick to top it off.
Photo: James Devaney/GC Images.
Lively is a known fan of playful nail art, which is why we weren’t surprised when she showed up to the Pokémon Detective Pikachu U.S. premiere in May with a yellow ombré manicure stamped with tiny Detective Pikachu decals. Better still, her curly hair — and pregnancy announcement — were a focal point, too. It may have been her husband’s premiere, but she clearly stole the show.
Photo: John Lamparski/WireImage.
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Source: Refinery29 – Erika Stalder