Hello Elite Socialistas,

Our good friends over at BeautyPress – in collaboration with Guido Palau and Redken – gave us access to hair trends seen globally – from the Spring/Summer 2012 collections at fashion week.

Images courtesy of Redken
All About the Natural Order of Things.

“This Spring/Summer 2012 season was all about natural beauty, which was reinvented in modern ways. Each city had its own distinct personality—in New York we saw more casual and sporty hair, Milan had a very rich feeling, and in Paris we stepped out a bit more and really pushed the envelope.” — Guido, Redken Creative Consultant

Spring & summer totally redefined the “wet look,” moving it beyond the usual slicked-back tresses. These styles boasted texture, body and movement—for style that’s anything but watered down. Was last seen trending at Alberta Ferretti • Bottega Veneta • Diesel • Lanvin • Ports 1961 • Victoria Beckham • Yves Saint Laurent.

Designer Hair Style courtesy of Diesel, Alberta Ferretti & Bottega Veneta

Did you know that the low ponytail – seen at Diesel, was inspired by a French girl’s hairstyle in the 1980s? “It’s easy and effortless, like she’s just come off the beach,” says Guido. “It has that wet look without actually having sopping wet hair.” If you want to get the look, wet hair and apply a generous amount of Guts 10 Root Targeted Volume. Spray foam from roots to ends. Scrunch to create a wavy texture, then pull into a low pony, leaving out some pieces around the face. Finish with shine/glistening mist.

The long, center-parted tresses seen at Alberta Ferretti, were not only demure, but dramatic as well. “I wanted the hair to look very innocent with some edge,” says Guido. Get this look by blow-drying the hair, curled all the way to the ends, to create a slight bend, then finished with shine/glistening mist, concentrated at the ends for edgy appeal.

Guido took texture one step further at Bottega Veneta, where he created a chic fresh-from-the-pool knot. “It’s sexy, summery and uncomplicated,” he says. Pull hair back into a low ponytail, then wrap the tail around the base and secure to create a messy bun.

Strong shapes set the season’s styles – whether sculpted into a high-drama pinup do or even woven into intricate braids. The shape shifter trend with artistic appeal — was seen at Dolce & Gabbana • Jean Paul Gaultier • Jil Sander • Louis Vuitton • Marc Jacobs • Rag & Bone • Valentino.

Hair style tips from Valentino • Marc Jacobs • Jean Paul Gaultier

All fashion forward mavens knows — braids are here to stay. The braided updo Guido created at Valentino epitomized the beauty and elegance of this timeless style. To get the look, blow-dry hair. Divide hair into three sections, and French braid, starting in the middle and continuing counter-clockwise around the hairline.

The tousled French twist seen at Marc Jacobs was a nod to the 1960s, with a hint of inspiration from the 1920s. “It’s the look of a girl who was dancing all night,” says Guido. Start with damp hair and let air dry to add a rough dry texture. Create a left side-part, then pull hair into a French twist and secure with bobby pins. Tie headband 2 inches from crown to enhance the shape.

With models sporting tattoos and piercings, the look at Jean Paul Gaultier was anything but tame. Guido relied on body and control – needed for this highly sculpted shape. To interpret it for everyday, roll your sides back and slick hair into a neat bun.

Think of it as texture with a point of view—tough, chic and utterly cool. This trend started with Alberta Ferretti • Alexander Wang • Balenciaga • Lanvin • Miu Miu

Balenciaga • Lanvin • Alexander Wang Hair Tips

Casual-chic-cool was the look at Balenciaga. “It’s as if a girl is wearing the most amazingly designed clothes, but hasn’t bothered with her hair,” says Guido. To style models’ roughed-up waves, Guido created a messy center or side part, tousle then blow-dry hair until it was 80% dry. Hair was then left to dry naturally, to bring out texture.

Building on the look seen at Balenciaga, the models at Alexander Wang walked the runway with a sporty, just-out-of-the-shower look that contrasted perfectly with the high glam collection. Get the look by creating a clean center part, then rough-drying to enhance texture. Guido created the “wet look” effect by over-applying All Soft Argan-6 Multi-Care Oil. For everyday, apply a small amount to ends to boost shine.

Want to ramp up your own natural texture? It’s simple. “Just toughen it up with more product,” says Guido. Try forceful 23 super-strength finishing spray to add strength and control to any style.

Whether wavy or straight, hair that’s worn down has undeniable elegance. “This style is always in fashion—it’s about updating it in new ways,” Guido says. Seen trending at Akris • Celine • D & G • Loewe • Prada • Sonia Rykiel • Versace

Akri • Sonia Rykiel Tips

Inspired by the “minimal and controlled” aesthetic of the house, the look at Akris was clean and defined. Guido applied blow-dry lotion to damp hair, blow-dried hair straight, then flat-ironed the lengths for a super sleek look. Finish by tucking the sides behind the ears.

The healthy, shiny hair seen at Sonia Rykiel is something every woman wants. “It’s 1940s meets 1970s, very flirty and pretty,” says Guido. To get the look, apply satinwear 02 ultimate blow-dry lotion to damp hair and blow-dry with a round brush, lifting the roots away from the scalp to create volume. Once hair is dry, create a center part, mist on hot sets 22 thermal setting mist section-by-section, and curl hair with a 1-inch iron. Brush out the curls gently to smooth, then finish with fashion work 12 versatile working spray.

Sometimes, nothing but the perfect blow-dry will do. That was exactly the look seen at D&G, where models’ bouncy blow-outs stole the show. Get the look by applying velvet gelatine 07 cushioning blow-dry gel to damp hair and blow-drying with a round brush, then smooth on a small amount of All Soft Argan-6 Multi-Care Oil