Exclusive! Elizabeth Banks's Hairstylist Reveals Exactly How to Recreate Her Graphic Updo

We can't exactly say we have the guts to try out one of the avant-garde looks of Elizabeth Banks's onscreen persona Effie Trinket, but the volumized chignon she wore to The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 premiere in Los Angeles is definitely one we'd take on a test-run, especially with all the glamorous holiday parties just around the corner. That's why we consulted the expertise of the star's mane man Adir Abergel to find out exactly how he created the look, and no surprise here, the vibe backstage was just as fun as the updo itself.

"Elizabeth is my perfect muse. She is down for anything and our process together is very collaborative. While getting ready, she would take behind-the-scenes pictures and post them to Instagram," Abergel tells InStyle. "We tried a few versions of this style. The first one was more dramatic with more height in the front and stronger lines, but we ended up with a softer texture and kept the futuristic structure in the back." Make sure to set aside at least 45 minutes to style the entire look---because it requires a solid foundation, you'll need to take extra time to form a smooth blowout, and divide your strands into sections.

Abergel started by lathering up, and added a dollop of Vidal Sassoon Boost & Lift Mousse ($5; drugstore.com) to Banks' mid-lengths and ends. Before blow-drying, he sectioned off a triangular-shaped area at the very front of the head, which would later become the pompadour. Picking up a boar bristle round brush, he then blow-dried small sections, and directed the bottom half of her hair upwards to pump up the volume. Once her hair was completely dry, he applied a light mist of Vidal Sassoon's ColorFinity Finishing Hairspray ($5; drugstore.com) vertically onto the bottom portion of hair and brushed back each 1/2 inch section. "When you are creating a structured updo, it's all about the foundation," Abergel says. "Sweeping the hair off the face and neck was key in designing the shape for the look." Leaving out the triangular section, he then gathered all of her strands toward the top of the crown and twisted the length into a chignon, which he anchored with hair pins. Abergel then used few touches of Vidal Sassoon Mega Firm Hold Gel ($5; drugstore.com) to form a clean, flyaway-free silhouette.

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Abergel unclipped the triangular section, then set a soft wave by winding Banks's hair around a medium-barrel curling iron, and misted on a little hairspray before backcombing to add volume. "Create body in the front and make sure to keep it structured and a bit futuristic in the back," he advises. "Playing with the height at the front can make the look more dramatic for a party, or you can keep it less structured and loose for daytime." Follow by folding the curled section toward the crown, then add a light veil of Vidal Sassoon Heat Protect and Shine Spray ($5; drugstore.com) as a finishing touch. "It's a nod to the futuristic feel of the film. I wanted something that had a little rock n roll vibe, yet was soft and super feminine," Abergel adds. "It's very wearable off the red carpet. It's all about finding the right portions for your face, and creating just enough height in the front."