In the current remake of the 1988 movie Hairspray, Allison Janney's character, Prudy Pingleton, calls protagonist Tracy Turnblad a 'beehived harlot' for fighting against racial segregation in the 1960s.

From a fashion point of view, Pingleton cannot be more wrong.

First of all, Turnblad dons a flip - not a beehive - for most of the film.

A flip involves creating a bouffant, where hair is teased to create a fuller, puffed-up shape, followed by curling the ends either inwards or outwards. A beehive, on the other hand, is an elaborately teased bouffant that is moulded into the shape of a hive.

Second, there is no shame in wearing the kitsch, voluminous hairstyle.

Not today especially, judging from the immaculately coiffed beehives and fluffy flips sent down the runway at the Christian Dior Resort 2008 Collection show or those that sit atop the heads of uber-hot singer Amy Winehouse and actress Scarlett Johansson.

Ken Hong, creative director of Anthony Hair Boutique at Thong Teck Building, points out that contrary to popular belief, these bulbous hairstyles would suit anyone, even those with rounder faces.

'For those with round faces, just don't pull up all the hair. Leave some fringe so that the face will look less round,' he says.

Hong recreates the 1960s look with a modern-day twist - with bobby pins and the very same hairspray used in the current Hairspray movie.

Called Ultra Clutch in the show, the hairspray is actually part of the Shaper and Shaper Plus range of hairspray products by Sebastian, the official hairspray sponsor of the Hollywood movie.

While a song in Hairspray claims that Ultra Clutch gives a girl 'power and punch', Hong says there is no need to use too much hairspray when creating a modern 1960s look.

'Just enough for the hair to stay in place. If you spray too much, comb it out,' he says. 'The hairspray is mainly used to make the hair look smooth.'

THE BREEZY BOUFFANT Ideal hair length: Shoulder length Time needed: 45 minutes For those with long hair: 1. Back-comb the crown of your hair to create the bouffant effect. 2. Spray into place. Make sure the hair looks smooth. 3. Tie hair into a ponytail. 4. Fold the ponytail inwards to create the illusion of chin-length hair. 5. Tuck and pin ponytail into place, so that the hair ends in a blunt line. For those with short hair: Follow steps 1 and 2. Curl in ends if hair is straight.

THE BLUFF BOB Ideal hair length: Chin length and longer Time needed: 15 minutes 1. Blow-dry hair straight. 2. Spray while back- combing hair to achieve desired volume. Pull hair back and twist inwards. 3. Bunch ponytail upwards and pin to create a bun. 5. Plump up crown area.

THE BEDHEAD BEEHIVE Ideal hair length: Shoulder length Time needed: 45 minutes 1. Using a pair of curling tongs, shape ends of hair into big, wavy curls. 2. Pull hair from sides of head back and inwards and pin into place to create illusion of a half-tie. 3. Back-comb the crown area to create bouffant effect. 4. Spray hair into place. 5. Sweep fringe to one side and pin into place, if desired. 6. Wear a hairband over if you like.

Photographer: ALAN LIM; Stylist: BERNARD TAN; Hair: KEN HONG, Anthony Hair Boutique; Make-up: CHERLYNN KOH (9191-0201); Models: BAO HAO & EVGENIYA, Mannequin; Clothes: Topshop & Warehouse