Claire Danes' Homeland Hairtstyle

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Claire Danes is spectacular as a bipolar former C.I.A. agent on Showtime’s Emmy winning Homeland. In the second set of installments Danes is even more mesmerizing than she was in the first, which is hard to believe. 

Admirers of the show are literally glued to the edge of their seats watching the stellar cast in a storyline chock full of terrorists, spies, politics intermingled with love, sexiness and mental illness.

In her award winning role as Carrie Mathison the focus is never on the fashions, hair or make-up  worn by the obsessed C.I.A. agent. In fact, anything which might distract from the facial expressions, dialogue or palpable tension expressed by the actions of the damaged female spy.

As Carrie Mathison the traditionally blonding actress wears her hair in a very simple unassuming long bob or lob.

Her hairstyle is one you might expect to see worn by a government agent. The classically cut lob is cut into subtle angles so it dips slightly forward falling into seductive curvy points under the shin, into the collarbone and at the shoulders. This builds in beautiful movement and body.

The precision cut is also designed to build in maximum fullness throughout the crown with a hint of very slight razoring around the ends to add just a touch of extra texture.

Hint Of Razoring – Claire Danes' Homeland Hairstyle HowTo

Depending on some hair texture and types, razoring may or may not be the best option. With Claire’s hairstyle the hint of razor feathering along the perimeter creates just the right edginess.

The long bob cut provides Claire with the option to part her hair along one side or down the middle with a shimmering veil of golden strands framing either side of her classic oval shaped face. Claire appears to prefer to wear her hair in a side part with a side-swept eyebrow covering fringe.

When she wears the style with the peek-a-boo fringe she also has the option to tuck the opposite side behind one ear and pull the ends forward to frame her neck. Whether worn with or without the side-swept strands, the style is perfect with her skin and eye tone and facial features.

White Chocolate Highlights – Claire Danes' Homeland Hairstyle HowTo

If you look closely you’ll be able to see the white chocolate highlights interwoven throughout Claire’s light golden blonding tresses. Her hair has been carefully highlighted and lowlighted with ribbons of rich color placed strategically throughout her lob to add the illusion of fullness and depth.

The white chocolate highlights placed against the soft golden blonding base helps to bring out a blinding shine.

Step By Step - Claire Danes' Homeland Hairstyle HowTo

Claire’s hairstyle can be customized to work with just about any face shape, hair type or texture. For naturally curly or wavy hair the hair should be either pre-straightened or blowdried straight. This style is ideal for hair which is medium in thickness.

Follow the steps below to recreate Claire’s hair style on Homeland:

Start with a precision angled long bob or lob which is cut to hang forward into curved points and frame the face, neck and shoulders.

1. Start by washing your detangled hair in lukewarm water with a product designed to hydrate and/or to treat colored or highlighted hair with tender loving care.

2. Rinse hair well.

3.  Apply a moisturizing rinse-out conditioner focusing the products on the areas of the hair which are most dry or damaged. If your hair is fine or thin you may wish to skip this option. For extra conditioning substitute the rinse-out conditioner with a deep conditioner which is allowed to get down into the hair’s shaft.

4. Finish with a cool/cold rinse to lock in moisture and add additional shine.

5. Towel blot to remove excess moisture. Apply a conditioning detangling spray or leave-in conditioner.

Detangle strands with a wide tooth comb working slowly up from the ends to the roots. Create either a center or side part, depending on how you wish to style your hair.

Note: If your hair is prone to frizzing apply a defrisant product or mix with your other styling products. It’s been reported in the past that many celebrities are big admirers of Phytodefrisant for hair which tends to frizz.

6. For lots of fullness, lift and volume, apply a volume enhancing product to the roots. Distribute a straightening balm to the rest of the strands distributing from below the roots to the ends.

7. Separate strands into 1″ to 2 1/2″ sections and blowdry with a boar’s bristle round brush.  Blowdry the top sections of hair using fingers to lift individual top strands and direct air flow from ends to roots.

Use brush to turn the ends under around the edges and slightly in towards the neck.

Note: If hair is naturally curly, do not use fingers to blow dry since this can add to frizz. Use a boar’s bristle brush instead.

8. When hair is completely dry you may opt to touch up the strands with a straightening iron to achieve sleeker panels of hair. You may prefer to use a curling iron (or hot rollers) to turn under the ends or add more volume and lift to the crown area.

9. Apply a shine serum, shine spray or hair cream to seal in moisture and add that shimmering shine similar to Claire’s. Hairspray is optional.

Summary – Claire Danes Homeland Hairstyle HowTo

Although her hairstyle is simple and official, it’s an excellent addition to her low key role. Don’t expect to see Claire in her role as Carrie Mathison with any specialty updos, hair twists or unusual hairstyles. Unless she were attending a specialty event at The White House it would be an inappropriate hairstyle for her role.

Many critics believe the part of Carrie Mathison in Homeland is the role of a lifetime for Claire Danes. Having already won an Emmy for the first set of installments, many believe the lovely blonding actress is only beginning to flex her acting muscles in the thrilling Showtime drama.

It’s hard to imagine she could top her previous performance, but somehow she is managing to do so in the current episodes.