Triangle Power Beauty Co.,Ltd

Flowers just got a whole lot cooler. Yes, we said cooler. "It" girls around the world have taken the favorite hair accessory of hippies and brides (and hippie brides) and given them an image makeover. Instead of daisy chains, they're wearing oversize blooms, crowns of roses, and tiny scattered buds. But it's not just what they're wearing, it's how they're wearing it: "Precious hair with a flower looks dated," says hairstylist Guido. "Flowers are already precious, so they look much better when contrasted with rough, undone hair." Here's how to pull off spring's hottest head-topper.

Oversize Blooms

The cool-girl way to wear big flowers isn't tucked behind the ear (aloha!) or on the side of a low chignon (olé!). It's this: Start with unkempt waves or a ruffled milkmaid braid, then "place a couple of flowers to one side of the forehead, so they're a little off-kilter and not too perfect," says hairstylist Sam McKnight. "They should look as if they've been shoved in without really thinking."

Floral Crown

A flower garland could easily plant you in "Scarlet Begonias" territory. Steer clear of daisies (too flower-power) and instead be bold, with lush red roses or purple zinnias, or dainty, with a ring of subtle flowers, like tuberoses. "The bigger you go, the more eccentric the effect," says hairstylist Guido. "Small, soft flowers look pretty and feminine." More important: Don't overstyle your hair. "Rough it up by prepping damp hair with mousse and blow-drying it with your fingers. Then leave it alone or just throw it in a low, messy knot," says Guido.

Scattering of Buds

Tiny buds run the risk of looking twee. Here's how to make them look chic: "It should feel organic, like you rolled around in the grass and flowers got stuck in your hair," says hairstylist James Pecis, who created the look at the Honor show.

The Hairstyle: Spritz in some volumizing spray and rough-dry your hair. Then make a deep side part and gather all your hair, covering your ears, into a ponytail at the base of your neck.

The Buds: If you're a DIY pro, pick up some tiny fake buds at a craft store and hot-glue them to the tops of bobby pins. For everyone else, Free People and Mia Beauty sell pretty, noncheesy options.

The Placement: Group three to five buds in an asymmetrical cluster over one ear with a few migrating toward the elastic. "They should flow down the ponytail," says Pecis.

GETTING REAL

The obvious question now is, real or fake? New York City florist Miho Kosuda helps us make the call.

Brush up on your botany. Tropical flowers, which endure shipping and long distances, tend to be more resilient, says Kosuda. Orchids and begonias can stay perky for up to six hours. The same goes for anything with thick, strong petals (roses, tuberoses, hyacinths). "Sweet peas and peonies collapse in five minutes because they don't retain a lot of water," says Kosuda.

Quench your flowers. Kosuda advises placing cut buds in water and stashing them in the fridge the night before you plan on wearing them. "They'll look fresh and crisp the next day," she says.

Be crafty. Whether she's going to attach them to a comb or a headband, Kosuda wraps a thin wire around each of the flowers' stems followed by a layer of green tape. "This supports the stem and keeps it from getting dehydrated and wilted," she says.

BELOW THE NECK

Picture Sheryl Sandberg in a flower headband. OK, stop laughing. The point is that when you wear flowers in your hair, you aren't just adopting a trend. You are adopting an attitude, and that attitude doesn't jibe with buttoned-up blouses and sensible pumps. Here's how to keep your clothes and hair in harmony:

Choose lace. This delicate fabric was practically made to be worn with flowers, says celebrity stylist Anita Patrickson, who works with Rachel Bilson and Emma Watson. "Just keep the silhouette sleek—think column dress—otherwise you'll wind up looking fussy."

Wear all black or all white. "The flower adds a shock of color, similar to a bold lipstick or a bright belt," says Patrickson. "Right now, I love a full skirt and a structured top worn with a bright headband of flowers."

Anything boho is a given. When in doubt, go for cutoffs, peasant blouses, or long, flowy dresses, as long as they're not too frilly or—you guessed it—floral.