I’m known for my simple approach to hair—long, straight, and devoid of any embellishments like color or layers. Ever since a disastrous side fringe incident in 2007, I’ve been cautious, sticking to my natural style. My history with haircuts is a saga of disappointment, yet I always greet my hairstylist with a smile, disguising my dread of losing those comforting locks. However, everything changed recently. After a conversation with Dakota Johnson’s hairstylist, Mark Townsend, about her effortlessly chic fringe, I felt inspired to shake things up. Fresh from a breakup, a new job, and a new home, I sensed that my hairstyle was the missing link in this chapter of transformation.
Despite my eagerness for a new look, doubts lingered. The stereotypical “break-up hair” seemed fitting, yet I hesitated. My low-maintenance hair routine—usually braiding it wet at night for effortless waves—made the idea of daily styling overwhelming. What if a fringe didn’t suit me? Determined to resolve this, I turned to technology. I uploaded a selfie to ChatGPT with the simple request for Dakota Johnson’s iconic hair. The response was intriguing: while I got the soft fringe I asked for, I also received an unexpected facelift. A colleague even remarked that I resembled Jenna Coleman, but this playful alteration encouraged me to take the plunge.
In a flurry of excitement—or perhaps rashness—I dashed to Larry King’s salon on my lunch break. I showed stylist Christina Beighton the AI-generated picture, and she aptly warned that digital enhancements might not accurately represent reality. But fueled by my newfound motivation, I went ahead with the cut. Just under an hour later, I emerged with a fresh hairstyle, leaving behind an array of my own hair on the salon floor. The experience felt cathartic, marking a tangible step toward embracing change during this transitional phase.
As a beauty writer, I’m excited to share the upgraded hair routine that I adopted, taking cues from Dakota Johnson as well as my own discoveries. First up is the Kevin Murphy DOO.OVER dry powder finishing hairspray. Not only does it smell divine, but it also serves multiple purposes. Professional stylists, including Mark Townsend, swear by it because it avoids the sticky look of traditional hairsprays, allowing for a touchable finish that doesn’t weigh down the hair. It provides hold, reduces flyaways, and enhances texture, making it a cherished staple.
For drying, I turned to the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer, a game-changer that’s engineered for speed and shine. Initially used by professionals, its lightweight design and innovative attachments make drying my hair about as fast as it can get, cutting down the drying time significantly. The dryer’s various nozzles make it easy to target specific areas, like my new fringe, ensuring I maintain the fresh salon look. In hardly any time at all—thanks to this fabulous tool—I can get ready to step out looking polished without the typical damage associated with heat styling.
Lastly, I added the Drybar Double Shot Blow-Dryer Brush to my toolkit. It’s designed for easy use, combining drying and styling in one tool. Just placing it at the roots and working through the lengths gives volume and shine while minimizing frizz. The GHD Blow Dryer Ceramic Radial Hair Brush also deserves mention; its ceramic barrel locks in heat and helps achieve that salon-worthy finish at home. With these tools now a part of my daily routine, I feel empowered to embrace my new hairstyle and the changes it represents in my life.