Rihanna's 'California King Bed' Hairstyle Secrets

by Dana Oliver (Subscribe to Dana Oliver's posts)
Posted May 11th 2011 at 4:30PM

Rihanna's sexy and tousled strands in "California King Bed."

When Rihanna alerted fans via Twitter that her latest music video would be for "California King Bed," the beauty team at StyleList couldn't wait to see which hairstyle she'd rock between the sheets.

RiRi locks are predictably lust-worthy as she belts out the lonesome ballad.

Ursula Stephen, the woman behind Rihanna's dramatic hairstyles and Motions' celebrity stylist, dishes to StyleList exclusively on the Bajan beauty's bedhead hair.

StyleList: What was the inspiration for the hairstyle in Rihanna's "California King Bed" video?
Ursula Stephen: Rihanna wanted something really sexy, movable and bedhead-ish for this video. That was the direction and we just went with it.

SL: How did you create the look? What products and tools did you use?
U.S.: I wanted to keep the products to a minimum so we could achieve that movable style. For this look, I used FHI Digital Curling Iron to create some curls and texture, and would comb out sections with a paddle brush to give the bedhead feel. I also used Motions Hold & Shine Styling Spray because it adds texture and hold, but doesn't leave the hair stiff so it still maintains its movement. As the day progressed, the curls naturally fell making it look even more natural and tousled.

SL: What was your pro trick to keeping Rihanna's strands sexy and not too messy?
U.S.: Yes, there's definitely a fine line between sexy and just straight messy. I was right alongside her all day to touch up as we went along. If it started to get wild, I'd run a brush through it. Brush is your friend! Then, flip her head over and shake it out to restore the body, movement and that sexy edge.

SL: Do you have any tips for women who are anxious to recreate this hairstyle at home?
U.S.: For this one in particular, I'd say start with a great layered cut. Once you have that, everything will fall into place.

Watch the "California King Bed" video below and click here to see Rihanna's 2010 hair evolution.

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Filed under: Cuts & Style, Hair, Celebrity, News, Hair How To, Celebrity Hair
Tags: bed hair, bedhead, California King Bed, celebrity hairstyles, celebrity hairstylist, Rihanna, Ursula Stephen, video, wavy hairstyles

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READER COMMENTS

(11)Add A Comment

Lellybean, 5-11-2011, 10:21PM

Her hair looks a hot mess in this video, love the song though :)

Reply »

ennui, 5-15-2011, 6:29AM

A CLASSIC CASE OF BLACK SELF-HATRED....WHITE WIGS AND EXTENSIONS....A CHEMICALLY TREATED MESS....ANYTHING TO NOT SHOW NATURAL BLACK HAIR.....IF SHE COULD TAKE A PILL TO CHANGE HER LIPS AND NOSE, SHE WOULD DO IT...YOU WANT TO TRUMPET THIS KIND OF SELF-HATRED YOU ARE WELCOMED TO IT...TO ME, SHE IS A PATHETIC MINSTREL SHOW...

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Kianna, 5-15-2011, 7:18AM

I don't dye my hair.. never have, probably never will. But I don't think this has anything to do with Black self-hatred of any kind. I feel like.. if you're a bright and bubbly person, why NOT dye your hair yellow? If you're a bold person, why NOT dye your hair red? Why must a Black woman rock a 'fro as a form of self expression? Should Rhianna sport dreadlocks because she's from Barbados or wherever she's from?

Alright.. so Black women have a history of hating our hair because for years the media has been saying that natural hair isn't beautiful but bone-straight blonde hair will make ANY woman GORGEOUS! It's Rhianna's hair.. she can do whatever she wants to do with it. Just as every single Black woman has the choice of being natural or getting a perm. Don't just ASSUME she hates herself because she chooses to express herself through different hair colors rather than only wearing different clothes.

Lara, 5-15-2011, 4:33PM

Rihanna is absolutely gorgeous, bu this is obviously a wig. The telltale sign is when the part is covered up, and/or the hair is way too thick to be realistic.

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ENNUI, 5-15-2011, 7:56AM

TO KIANNA....OF COURSE RHIANNA HAS THE "RIGHT" TO CHEMICALLY STRAIGHTEN HER HAIR TO MAKE IT LOOK MORE WHITE, AS BEYONCE HAS THE "RIGHT" TO WEAR BLONDE WIGS....INDEED, THEY HAVE THE "RIGHT" TO EXPRESS BLACK SELF-HATRED AND TO BE THE POSTER CHILDREN FOR IT...AGAIN, THEIR "FREEDOM" OF EXPRESSION IS A SAD MINSTREL SHOW, AND FOR YOU TO TRUMPET SUCH EXPRESSION MAKES ME THINK THAT YOU SHOULD TAKE A HARD LOOK AT WHAT YOU DEEM A GOOD THING...WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE BLEACHING THEIR SKIN?...IT'S THEIR SKIN AND THEY HAVE THE "RIGHT" TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT TO IT?....YOU NEED AN EDUCATION IN THE HISTORY OF YOUR OWN CULTURE...AGAIN, A SAD MINSTREL SHOW.

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stephanie, 5-25-2011, 2:31PM

siriously?? do we even have to discuss this? WE LIVE IN A FREE COUNTRY WE CAN DO WHAT WE WANT WITH OUR HAIR!! if your not happy with that, you can leave.

Rae, 5-30-2011, 3:17PM

I agree, do what you want with your hair. Also not every white person has naturally straight blonde hair. Also most celebs no matter what have extensions.

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alisongrade, 7-14-2011, 3:14AM

I like the song and I like her hairstyle on this video. I will share this celebrity style on lifo.com. A fun site for girls that lets them share their views about beauty, fashion and gossip.

Reply »

alisongrade, 7-14-2011, 3:15AM

I like the song and I like her hairstyle on this video. I will share this celebrity style on lifo.com. A fun site for girls that lets them share their views about beauty, fashion and gossip.

Reply »

alisongrade, 7-14-2011, 3:17AM

I like the song and I like her hairstyle on this video. I will share this celebrity style on lifo.com. A fun site for girls that lets them share their views about beauty, fashion and gossip.

Reply »

alisongrade, 7-14-2011, 3:18AM

I like the song and I like her hairstyle on this video. I will share this celebrity style on lifo.com. A fun site for girls that lets them share their views about beauty, fashion and gossip.

Reply »

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