You would think that runways, celebrities on the red carpet, magazines and social media are the best ways to find hair inspiration. But have you ever seen Free People’s effortlessly styled catalogs? Every time the booklets arrive in our mailbox, we can’t help but want to (ehem, need to) recreate the bohemian hairstyles the models rock with the brand’s super cool outfits. 

 

In the July catalog, hairstylist Thomas Hintermeier complements Free People’s pre-fall collection of transitional jackets, cozy sweaters and unique vests with a messy half bun. The campaign features model Andreea Diaconu rocking this sought-after hairstyle, and we got the scoop on Hintermeier’s process of creating the look. His tips are almost too good to be true, as he says unwashed hair and your fingers are best for achieving the style. So skip the wash and the tools and get your half-knot on this Fourth of July weekend with these eight commandments courtesy of Hintermeier. 

 

All photos courtesy of Free People.

“A hair band and some pins is all what you need.”

 

“Use your fingers; don’t use a hairbrush!”

“It always looks best if the hair is not freshly clean. Aim to wash it the evening before and sleep in it. This will give you a nice texture to work with. Or, just keep it dirty!”

“Avoid making the knot too clean by tousling your locks before pulling half of it up.”

 

“To give you some extra grip, use some hair cream or hairspray before you start making the knot.”

“Consider the position of the knot – don’t make it too high up!”

“If necessary, you can clean the knot afterwards with hair pins.”

Finally, Hintermeier says, “Have fun!”