We visited the salon of one of our longstanding favourite hair wizards for some party hair inspiration featuring Kela hair jewellery

Hair ornaments are one of the simplest and quickest ways to glam up for any festivity.  But, in our experience, finding pretty things that really work with hair, stay put (even on fine tresses), don’t pull your hair out - and don't cost more than your frock - can prove well nigh impossible.

So we went to the London launch of best-selling Aussie brand Kela hair jewellery with no great expectations – and came away bedazzled by this brilliant range. Kela truly ticks all the boxes. 

Kela was born from co-founder Kelly Litterick’s frustration with existing products, which mirrored ours. A cancer researcher and mother of three, Kelly couldn't find any quick and easy accessories to hold braids and plaits or add a simple touch of style. She experimented with using her jewellery but that slipped and slid. Nothing daunted, Kelly came up with the idea for a non-slip mechanism. It took her three years to perfect and patent the Kela designs – from the first single hair clip to a full range of hair accessories - before Kela launched commercially in Australia in 2017. Unsurprisingly, Kela is now a bestseller there and we’d have a small bet, it’s set for the same success here.

With Christmas and New Year parties in mind, we asked top London hairdresser Paul Edmonds (see Salons we love) and stylist Siobhan Baynes (who cuts Sarah’s mane) to have a play and see what they thought. To our delight, Paul approved of Kela ornaments and volunteered, with Siobhan, to demo some styles on Amy Eason, our Assistant Editor. Amy’s hair is really fine and she couldn't believe how well the baubles and beads (Kela calls them ‘Charms’) stayed put.

Although Amy has long hair, you could use the jewellery on all sorts of lengths, hair types and styles. Kela’s comprehensive range includes dainty sparkly Kirbigrip-like pins, for instance, that would look super elegant on a short bob or even pixie cut. Do take time to browse the range at uk.kelacharms.com In the picture above, Paul is twisting three thick plaits into a braided chignon (see top picture for end result), fixed with grips and then ornamented with Luna Hair Pins, £34.95 for two.

Whatever type of hair you have, the modern mantra is ‘keep it simple and natural-looking’, says Paul Edmonds. ‘It should look effortless: a few strands of hair caught back casually [see picture below with Charms]. Braids overlaid [as in the picture above] are a bit more intricate but still look simple and elegant.’

To start with, here are Paul’s tips:

USEFUL PRODUCTS

• Shu Uemura Moroto Volume Conditioner/£28.35 for 250ml at lookfantastic.com. When dressing or hot styling hair go light on conditioner. This product actually lifts and adds body to the hair, Paul says. Pricey but you only need a little bit. (There’s a matching shampoo/£21.50 for 300 ml at feelunique.com.)

• Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Multi-Purpose All-in-Oil Milk /£23.10 for 100ml at lookfantastic.com. Leave-in conditioner/heat protector that adds body as well as nourishing hair. Great for flyaways and frizzies.

• L’Oreal Professional Morning After Dust/£8.13 for 200 ml. Use this if your hair is too squeaky clean and floppy to hold a style. Or use a small dab of Shu Uemura Shape Paste/£18.10 for 71g; this is fab for styling short hair, according to reviews.

• Elnett Hairspray, around £5 for 400ml at Boots. This iconic product now comes in versions for every hair need from Extravagant Volume and Extra Strong to Precious Argan Oil (for dry hair).

TOOLS AND BITS ‘N’ BOBS

• Tongs There’s a huge range depending on what size you’re looking for, eg BaByliss Volume Waves/£22 at lookfantastic.com, to the narrower PRO Ceramic Dial-a-Heat Tong/£30.

• Hot round brush Sarah never goes anywhere without her BaByliss Flawless Volume Hot Air Styler/£30 at Boots - for smoothing, styling, waving, volumising.

• Kirbigrips and hair pins, long and short

• Bungee hair tie (hooks either end) or covered elastic hair bands

You can slide these catch-the-light barrettes – wittily named Baguette Me Not Hair Pins - into any style; here a mussy chignon, fashioned from a low pony tail (see below). In gold or silver finish, Kela describe these as a ‘fashion staple’ and we all loved them. £29.95 for a pair.

Siobhan fastened Amy’s hair with a band, then twined a thick lock of hair round it and fixed with a grip underneath. Each Gold Ball Strand was clipped (they have Charm clips at one end) either side of Amy’s parting, round the pony and the ends allowed to flow down the ‘tail’. The Strands come with a spare Charm so you can tuck the ends in if you want. £54.95 for two Gold Ball Strands.

After a light shampoo and condition, Siobhan dried Amy’s hair smooth then used a narrow round brush to create waves, spritzing each tress with hair spray.

Paul was delighted with the clever way these hinged Mischka Matte Hair Charms clip into locks of hair. He created this simple elegant look with three Charms in Gunmetal finish; Charms also come in Gold, Rose Gold, Platinum and Brass. Mischka Matte Hair Charms/£34.95 for a box of three.

Five minutes to do your hair? Comb through, tong loosely or wind round a hot brush, toss head and click in these Gatsby-esque onyx diamanté Jagged Night Triangle Hair Clips/£45 per pair.

This freshwater pearl-strewn coronet - Don’t Call Me Baby Crown - is a quick ticket to the most romantic look. Although it looks tricky to fix, the non-slip click Charm either side (at the end of the pearly bit above the hanging chains) holds it securely in place. Once you have it in place, simply twist locks from the front round the chain, Don’t Call Me Baby Crown/£75.95.