Red carpet hairstyles: brit awards 2011

The Brit Awards 2011 gave musical stars including Rihanna and Cheryl Cole the chance to strut their stuff up the red carpet. 

Both Paloma Faith and Jessie J rocked the red carpet with their own unique hairstyles and outfits. Paloma's look was slightly more tame than usual, with tumbling red curls and a retro fringe. Her trademark quirky touch came in the form of a large velvet bow atop her style.

Award-winner Jessie J is currently owner of the glossiest bob in the business, with blunt steps on either side of her fringe adding a quirky cool look.

The ponytail is a red carpet favourite this season, with Sophie Ellis Bextor and Cheryl Cole opting for their own take on the trend. Sophie gave the look her usual retro twist with plenty of volume around the crown and a sweeping fringe, while Cheryl's look also incorporated a braided section and twist on top.

Yasmin and Adele are both Brit stars, and last night they both rocked their own unique styles on the red carpet. Yasmin's glamorous updo was given an urban twist with the addition of a heavy blunt fringe, whole Adele let her smoky 60s makeup take centre stage with a simple, slicked back look.

We're still seeing plenty of plaits on the red carpet, and both ex-Atomic Kitten Liz McClarnon and Tess Daly chose braided styles for the Brits 2011. While Liz kept things casual with a long, loose fishtail style, Tess incorporated the braid in to her updo, adding a Heidi-style plait across the crown.

Curls remain a red carpet favourite, with both Corinne Bailey Rae and Kimberly Wyatt rocking ringlets. While Corinne kept things natural with bouncy curls, Kim's look was more obviously styled in to retro ringlets, loosened by hand for a less 'set' look.

Fearne Cotton and Katherine Jenkins also opted for curls, but both stars chose a looser, more Hollywood style to complement their dazzling blonde locks. Fearne's multi-tonal blonde really suits these kinky waves, and although I love Katherine's retro styling, I'm not such a fan of the obvious roots on her - she definitely suits the perfect blonde look more.

Also rocking a Rita Hayworth-inspired mass of tumbling waves, Lisa Snowdon and Alesha Dixon both styled their locks for old-school glamour.

Both Avril Lavigne and Ellie Goulding opted for creative colour, with Avril rocking neon green and pink streaks and Ellie with a pastel pink hue.