StoryInColor
2000s-present

Mark Townsend

The stylist behind the modern undone look

Mark Townsend works with a long list of red-carpet clients including the Olsen twins, Dakota Johnson, and Elle Fanning. His signature is undone hair that reads polished without looking set: tousled waves, loose buns, and the kind of texture-led styling that has dominated red-carpet hair since the early 2010s. He works closely with Dove as a brand ambassador and writes about styling technique frequently.

See Mark Townsend’s signature cuts on your own face

Upload one selfie and Hairstyle Analysis renders eight cuts directly on your face, including the kind of layered, fringed, and wave-led shapes Mark Townsend is known for. Skip the guesswork about what would suit you. $4.99 one-time, no subscription.

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Signature looks

  1. Tousled middle-part waves

    Long hair worn with a centre part and softly tousled waves through the lengths. The shape Townsend uses across many of his clients on red carpets and press tours.

    Flatters an oval faceFlatters a heart-shaped face

  2. Undone low bun

    A loose, deliberately imperfect bun at the nape with pieces falling out around the face. Reads formal without the stiffness of a chignon.

    Flatters a round faceFlatters a square faceFlatters an oval face

  3. Soft fringe with long lengths

    A wispy or curtain fringe paired with long lengths and minimal styling. The shape Townsend has used to refresh several long-haired clients.

    Flatters a long (oblong) faceFlatters a heart-shaped face

Notable clients

  • Mary-Kate Olsen
  • Ashley Olsen
  • Dakota Johnson
  • Elle Fanning
  • Rachel Weisz

Why their work matters

Townsend's contribution has been to make undone hair credible at the highest visibility level. His clients walk red carpets with what looks like the way they wore their hair to lunch, and that gap between formality and effort has shaped how a generation of stylists thinks about premiere styling. The tousled middle part on long hair is now a default rather than a statement, and Townsend's work is most of why.

Try Mark Townsend’s signature looks on your face

Hairstyle Analysis renders eight cuts directly onto a selfie of you, including the layered, fringed, and wave-led shapes Mark Townsend has built a career around. See which signature suits your features before you book a chair.

Run a Hairstyle Analysis

$4.99 one-time, no subscription.

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