“Spring” into style with the latest trends for hair
Two years ago, while flipping through the latest issue of NYLON, I came across a spread with a model whose hair was not only so bleached that it appeared silver, but further, was cut into a choppy, spiked mullet. Yes, my friends, this was the very picture that I brought into my hairdresser, requesting to be re-created atop my head. “This model is wearing a wig, you know,” was my stylist's somewhat incredulous response; wig or no wig, I was ready to make the drastic change. However, after a couple of seasons of having my hair as “the thing” (and getting called Garth, yes, from Wayne's World), I got extensions, taking my mullet to a whole new level.
Almost a year later (and still saddled with an immense amount of regret for putting my locks through irreparable damage), I have learned the “art of the updo,” and will continue to pile my hair upon my head, until it's long enough to look normal again. According to my hairdresser, this will take YEARS, but she's too nice to give me the, “I told you so,” speech, even though she expressed initial apprehension to the bleaching, toning, and then the bleaching of my hair for a second time that were the requisite steps of achieving the non-colour that I so desperately sought.
Lucky for me, I'm a product junkie, and this “bad hair day” merely provided me with a whole host of new reasons to slather, massage, wrap, heat, and slick on a slew of miracle creams and masks to my damaged and split-ended mane. Hopefully, after a few more weeks of using Redken's Heavy Cream, along with Ojon's deep conditioning masks (which are AH-MAZING!), my hair will be long and luscious enough to attempt to re-create the stylish and chic hairdos that dominated this year's spring runway.
Plaits, please:
Seen on the runway from the likes of Rochas, Oscar de la Renta, Alexander Want, and my personal favourite, Giambattista Valli, a major reoccurring trend, in the hair department, is the school-girl braid (albeit taken from “elementary” to an “A” in fashion).
While popular styles differed greatly in design, the braid can really be worn any way this season, and still hit the “trend bulls-eye”.
Some of its variants spotted on the runway included: a simple, loose, and off to one side style; a more complicated, twisted updo; a “milkmaid” version; and even inspiration drawn from Heidi to Pippi Longstocking was evident.
At Giambattista Valli's do, the hair of the models was pulled into big, voluminous ponytails, before being teased and braided simply, or given a “fishtail” feel. A style so easy we were doing it in junior school? Guess I'll have to come up with another excuse for being late!
Polished and pretty:
Looking “slick” has also been a reoccurring trend for a few seasons now. But unlike previous years in which hairstyles looked hard and shellacked, this spring's “slicking” is created with just a few mists of water and shine serum, as opposed to an entire tub of super-hold gel.
Hair can be either parted (centre or side, it's your call), or pulled back and off the face. Let the rest frame your visage, or pull it into a pony; both were seen on the catwalk recently.
She's come undone:
Last week, part of my intern duties included transcribing an interview with one of the hairstylists from the set of the Sex and the City sequel. After rewinding and listening to the interview about 700 times over in order to catch every. single. word, the “undone-styled style” was the only thing that I could think of for days.
After catching a glimpse of this look at the shows of Gucci, Chloé, Giles and Tommy Hilfiger, to name a few, I finally understood the aforementioned stylist's obsession.
Loose, big waves with lots of movement and texture, fall right in the very centre of the spectrum of prom queen curls to bed-head. It's hair that looks styled, but not as though you spent hours styling it.
Tips on how to achieve this bouncy coif: use a texturizing product (my personal favourite is Bumble & Bumble's Brilliantine), and a few different wide barrel curling irons. Switch up the direction of your curls, but be sure to never clamp your hair, while wrapping it around the outside of the iron. Shake it out (and upside down for added body), mist with a light hold spray, and don't get mad when people stare.
Ombré:
Letting your true colours shine, both on and off the runway, has been all the rage this season. Trendsetting fashionistas from Rachel Bilson to Cameron Diaz to Alexa Chung have been sporting major roots, but fear not, rather than making you look like you missed your latest appointment at the salon, this stylish “wear for hair” gives off the laid-back cool vibe.
The trick, however, to making this “look” look on purpose, is to ensure your roots are a maximum of two shades darker or lighter, than the colour on your ends. Any more and it quickly goes from trendy to tacky. Any fad that is encouraging me to show my true colours, while saving cash, I'll take! Both my wallet and damaged hair are thanking me...as will yours.
Almost a year later (and still saddled with an immense amount of regret for putting my locks through irreparable damage), I have learned the “art of the updo,” and will continue to pile my hair upon my head, until it's long enough to look normal again. According to my hairdresser, this will take YEARS, but she's too nice to give me the, “I told you so,” speech, even though she expressed initial apprehension to the bleaching, toning, and then the bleaching of my hair for a second time that were the requisite steps of achieving the non-colour that I so desperately sought.
Lucky for me, I'm a product junkie, and this “bad hair day” merely provided me with a whole host of new reasons to slather, massage, wrap, heat, and slick on a slew of miracle creams and masks to my damaged and split-ended mane. Hopefully, after a few more weeks of using Redken's Heavy Cream, along with Ojon's deep conditioning masks (which are AH-MAZING!), my hair will be long and luscious enough to attempt to re-create the stylish and chic hairdos that dominated this year's spring runway.
Plaits, please:
Seen on the runway from the likes of Rochas, Oscar de la Renta, Alexander Want, and my personal favourite, Giambattista Valli, a major reoccurring trend, in the hair department, is the school-girl braid (albeit taken from “elementary” to an “A” in fashion).
While popular styles differed greatly in design, the braid can really be worn any way this season, and still hit the “trend bulls-eye”.
Some of its variants spotted on the runway included: a simple, loose, and off to one side style; a more complicated, twisted updo; a “milkmaid” version; and even inspiration drawn from Heidi to Pippi Longstocking was evident.
At Giambattista Valli's do, the hair of the models was pulled into big, voluminous ponytails, before being teased and braided simply, or given a “fishtail” feel. A style so easy we were doing it in junior school? Guess I'll have to come up with another excuse for being late!
Polished and pretty:
Looking “slick” has also been a reoccurring trend for a few seasons now. But unlike previous years in which hairstyles looked hard and shellacked, this spring's “slicking” is created with just a few mists of water and shine serum, as opposed to an entire tub of super-hold gel.
Hair can be either parted (centre or side, it's your call), or pulled back and off the face. Let the rest frame your visage, or pull it into a pony; both were seen on the catwalk recently.
She's come undone:
Last week, part of my intern duties included transcribing an interview with one of the hairstylists from the set of the Sex and the City sequel. After rewinding and listening to the interview about 700 times over in order to catch every. single. word, the “undone-styled style” was the only thing that I could think of for days.
After catching a glimpse of this look at the shows of Gucci, Chloé, Giles and Tommy Hilfiger, to name a few, I finally understood the aforementioned stylist's obsession.
Loose, big waves with lots of movement and texture, fall right in the very centre of the spectrum of prom queen curls to bed-head. It's hair that looks styled, but not as though you spent hours styling it.
Tips on how to achieve this bouncy coif: use a texturizing product (my personal favourite is Bumble & Bumble's Brilliantine), and a few different wide barrel curling irons. Switch up the direction of your curls, but be sure to never clamp your hair, while wrapping it around the outside of the iron. Shake it out (and upside down for added body), mist with a light hold spray, and don't get mad when people stare.
Ombré:
Letting your true colours shine, both on and off the runway, has been all the rage this season. Trendsetting fashionistas from Rachel Bilson to Cameron Diaz to Alexa Chung have been sporting major roots, but fear not, rather than making you look like you missed your latest appointment at the salon, this stylish “wear for hair” gives off the laid-back cool vibe.
The trick, however, to making this “look” look on purpose, is to ensure your roots are a maximum of two shades darker or lighter, than the colour on your ends. Any more and it quickly goes from trendy to tacky. Any fad that is encouraging me to show my true colours, while saving cash, I'll take! Both my wallet and damaged hair are thanking me...as will yours.
