17 February 2023

Step-by-step guide by Hannes Steinmetz for the hairstyle of the debutantes of the Vienna Opera Ball 2023 with Swarovski tiara

The 65th edition of the Vienna Opera Ball will happen on 16 February 'under the sign of solidarity'. Not only that several fundraising activities will collect money for aid institutions with a strong focus on the country's people challenged by the inflation and the war in Europe, solidarity is also a topic for the making of the debutantes' hair style for Austria's most fashionable ball. The creative director of the hair style of the Vienna Opera Ball 2023 Hannes Steinmetz released a detailed instruction for the making of the updo for the stylists personally preferred by the 144 debutantes. This year, the concept is to stage the tiara on a naturally braided, light-looking updo. The tiara of the debutantes of the Vienna Opera Ball is traditionally provided by Swarovski. In 2023, the headpiece is designed under the creative direction of Swarovski's Giovanna Engelbert inspired by the brand's 'Stella' collection and the jewelry stars of Empress Elisabeth of Austria aka Sisi. The 19th century role model wore the stars as hair adornments, necklace or as tiara. The Vienna Opera Ball tiara consists of 435 crystals with the so-called 'Dancing Stone' in the middle.

Step-by-step guide by Hannes Steinmetz for the Vienna Opera Ball 2023 hair style with Swarovski tiara (translated from German with Google Translate):

• Step 1: Triangle section the size of the tiara, from the forehead to over the whorl at the back of the head. Important: Cut out a semicircle two centimeters wide along the forehead and tuck away.
• Step 2: Backcomb all the hair of the divided triangle at the base. Please note: Skip lengths! Then style the surface clean and tie into a ponytail.
• Step 3: Position the Swarovski tiara, paying attention to symmetry when placing. Then pin the tiara. Professional tip: use the eyelets and fasten the tiara all around with hair clips.
• Step 4: Hairstyle the forehead from left to right – and thus invisibly cover the bridges of the tiara. This part is then folded over the braid and pinned underneath.
• Step 5: Hairstyle both side sections backwards, tie into a braid and push the first braid through the second. Then pull through the second braid from bottom to top.
• Step 6: Hairstyle the nape of the neck into a braid, then push the braid from step 5 through and pull the resulting braid up again from the bottom up.
• Step 7: Now create a loose-looking structure on the sides. This works best with a large comb, a large bobby pin or carefully with your fingers. The panels created in this way are temporarily pinned down with small hair clips. Any remaining long hair is now braided into a 3-part braid and tied off at the end. Step 8: Now the braid is pulled up and pinned at the base of the hairstyle.

Credits: Styling of the debutantes of the Vienna Opera Ball 2023
Hair: Hannes Steinmetz, Steinmetz-Bundy Privatsalon
Products: Sebastian Professional
Styling-Equipment: ghd – good hair day
Photos: © Swarovski / Jürgen Hammerschmid