“It’s slimming,” says editorial hair whiz Ilker Akyol of the look, which we asked him to re-create on model Andreea Diaconu in the series of GIFs below. “[The buns] cover the ears, which changes the whole face shape.” Better yet, they require very little Force to recreate. “It takes 10 minutes,” promises Akyol—and little more than thoughtful ponytail placement and a few bobby pins. Here, Akyol and Diaconu demonstrate how to execute a style that transcends decades, galaxies, and lightsaber battles.
Place Your Ponytails
The Star Wars of recent years hold up, with mind-blowing special effects and classic characters like Chewbacca, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, C-3PO, and Princess Leia returning to continue on their mission to free the galaxy through nostalgia, humor, and futuristic action. Noticeably missing, though, is Leia’s iconic hairstyle, a look that actress Carrie Fisher has lovingly referred to as “cinnamon buns.” For all the high-impact updos we’ve seen on-screen in the films (see Daisy Ridley’s triple knot), the princess’s oversize twin twists have become one of Hollywood’s most memorable beauty moments.
Certain hairstyles are forever defined by their primary source—and Princess Leia hair is among the ultimate of examples. As with the Bardot bouffant, Cher hair, and Birkin bangs, it’s impossible to see a set of space bangs positioned pastry-like on each side of the head without thinking of the Star Wars franchise in its myriad inceptions. That instant recognition makes for an instantly winning Halloween costume, an express character study achievable through beauty alone.
