Understated and elegant. Bella Hadid modeled a simple braided ponytail at the Global Lyme Alliance’s second annual Uniting for a Lyme-Free World Gala on Thursday, October 13, where she also received an award.
“This look was perfect for the night because it was polished yet had beautiful detail. We wanted to make sure it wasn’t taking away from the importance of the gala,” Hadid’s hairstylist Chad Wood tells Stylish.
While the look may appear easy enough to re-create, there is a trick to getting it to appear sleek without seeming wet. “It’s important to make sure you’re using the right amount of product,” Wood instructs. “I like to layer product using a dime size each time until I get the look I want.”
Alterna Haircare Caviar Moisture Smoothing Hydra-Gelée Nourishing Hair Perfector, $28, alternahaircare.com; Alterna Haircare Caviar Style Caviar Style Luxe Shape Creme Gel, $28, alternahaircare.com
In keeping with that philosophy, Wood, who also works with Julianne Hough and Zendaya, added a dollop of Alterna Caviar Smoothing Hydra-Gelée Nourishing Hair Perfector from the roots to the ends of her rough-dried hair. He then created a center part and smoothed on a touch of Alterna Caviar Style Luxe Shape Creme Gel around her hairline to smooth away any stubborn baby hairs.
After that, the stylist tied the model’s hair into a low ponytail and secured it with an elastic, making sure there were no bumps in sight. He braided the ponytail, worked a little extra Hydra-Gelée and Luxe Shape into the ends, tied the end of the braid in place and finished with a spritz of Alterna Caviar Working Hairspray.
Hadid, who attended with her mom, Yolanda Hadid, who’s also battling Lyme disease, and her dad, Mohamed Hadid, opened up about the importance of her close-knit family. “It’s great [to have people to lean on]. I always have my mom to call,” Bella told Stylish. “My boyfriend’s always there, my brother, my sister — they’re always there.” But most of all, she’s a Mama’s girl, “because she knows what I’m going through, so it’s a different understanding.”
The Calvin Klein brand ambassador also thanked her mom in her speech on stage. “I am so grateful for my amazing mom, to tell me to take my medications, give me my IV, go to our never-ending doctors’ appointments and for always understanding why I say, ‘I’m just not OK today,’” Bella said. “There’s nobody I could have learned my strength from more than her and our experience together. Her compassion, patience, practice and determination to find a cure is beyond words, and I’m so lucky to have her.”
