The model faces of tomorrow meet the beauty trends of today, here, every week. 

Summer hair. It’s a bit like running the gauntlet between Gisele’s daily Malibu look and Mariah Carey’s 80s perm. I mean, there’s already been much discussion about the trials and tribulations of wedding up-dos. And how to keep hair in good knick when on holiday. But what about when you want something that extra bit special? Something that looks like it’s crept off the catwalk yet is secretly, very easy to whip up…

This gorgeous, little ball of neatness, more commonly referred to this season as the nape knot, took centre stage at plenty of this season’s shows and my-oh-my was it a corker. It was ballerina-like but also modern, elegant yet utterly cool at the same time. No easy feat with a low, tucked bun, that’s for sure.

Erdem’s spring/summer 2013 show debuted a whole army of immaculate models sporting said knot, who looked like they could be on their way to a society wedding. Honestly, it’s the kind of splendid hair-do you’d expect to see at the Royal Enclosure at Ascot Races. Or at the Queen’s Garden Party – very quaint and elegant in all the right ways. And looking ahead there was the next season take on the knot, over at Roksanda Illincic’s autumn/winter 2013 show. Similar to Erdem, the only difference here was a centre rather than side parting. Terrific.

When Lydia, a new face at M+P Models, came in to see us, all little limbs and Bambi-like face, it was her hair that really wowed. Yes her gently freckled skin and wide set eyes had a touch of the Kate Moss to them, but her long, blonde lengths looked like a bun’s best friend. Or nape knot’s best friend. So with some backstage show print-outs Blu-tacked to the wall and the kind help of Marc Trinder, the master of the nape knot, things got down to business.

Admittedly, Lydia was slightly spoiled by having such a pro at the helm but actually, a lot of the magic was in the new Charles Worthington Texturising Spray, £6.99. This unassuming purple can is what preps and primes the hair ready for twisting. It’s a god-send. And it certainly made Lydia’s own lengths appropriately tacky and gritty, ready for Marc to twist and turn. 

And the process of knotting couldn’t have been easier. I promise. Marc left Lydia’s roots product-free and just as is (her parting fell in the centre anyway) but he applied a generous amount of the Spray to her lengths. Next, he fastened her hair into a ponytail before twisting it up and across, wrapping the hair around the base of the pony. And hey presto, what do you know, you’ve got one show-worthy nape knot in the space of about 20 seconds. Simple as.

Charles Worthington Texturising Spray, £6.99

Photography: Hugo Yangüela
Model: Lydia at M+P Models
Hair: Marc Trinder for Charles Worthington

To book a Catwalk Masterclass, £50, with Marc Trinder, call 0207 631 1370.