Redken Spring/Summer '09 Trends with Guido Palau

Ladies, my NY guest editor - the awesome Felicia Sullivan (writer extraordinaire - her book The Sky Isn't Visible from Here is her deeply poignant memoir ) attended this event and has all the tips for spring and summer hair.  This arctic blast of goal here are on the east coast has many of us dreaming of sun, summer, and sand. 

There was the Kate Moss unkempt chic of the 1990s, the sleek, iron-straight locks of the 2000s, and now the loose, bohemian waves made popular by a certain Gossip Girl – but what’s next? Luckily, Redken Creative Consultant and runway hair stylist since the 90s, Guido, offered his take on the future of hair as styled and seen on the Spring/Summer 2009 runways. Guido also revealed how you can easily transform your hair from runway to realway with quick styling tips and protective products. And good news: classic is back!

From the runway shows in New York, Milan London and Paris, there was no defined look for the SS09 season. Perhaps it’s a reflection of our climate of global economic uncertainty, but designers opted for a more subdued look, with styles that stayed close to the head. Loose hair was the exception, not the rule.

Gone were the staid red-carpet glam and architectural coifs, rather designers returned to simplicity with a twist. At Prada, Guido kicked up the classic chignon by molding Greek waves at the crown giving the hair height, and then he used Redken’s forceful 23 super strength finishing spray until he achieved an extreme, lacquered look. Whether swept up or slicked back, the hair at Prada, Balenciaga, Lanvin and Louis Vuitton, was kept away from the face, yielding a clean, simple style.

At Peter Som, it was all about soft, deconstructed looks with a matte finish. The casual-chic half-ponytail was decidedly disheveled, yet easy to replicate at home by incorporating Redken’s ironing spray on dried sections, curling sections with a 1-inch curling iron, gathering hair into a half-ponytail with added volume at the crown (secured with bobby pins) and pulling pieces loose to acquire that playful effect.

At Ralph Lauren and Marc by Mark Jacobs, simple accessories – from the simple black headband to a masculine fedora – instantly elevated ponytails and loose waves. Believe me when I say that I nearly sobbed when I learned designers had embraced the return of the headband! Because on the days when I wake up and my hair decides to behave like the Bride of Frankenstein, it’s comforting to know there is a fashionable and affordable, solution.

Do you dream of waking up with Blake Lively hair? Trust me, we all do. However, Guido emphasized that great hair – whether it’s a foxy afro or the Beckham bob – is all about confident, individual style that you can rock out as opposed to copying the trends, and more importantly, products should be used as a fashion accessory to re-invent classic shapes or instantly update your look, not serve as the cure-all solution. So if you think Redken’s iron silk 7 ultra straightening spray (part of Redken’s revamped heat-styling line, which is available in salons now!) will magically give you easy, straight tresses, you might want to give yourself a reality check. I have thick, coarse, curly hair and after using the product post blow-dry, pre flat-iron, my hair was infinitely more manageable, frizz-free, and shiny, but I had to put in the muscle to achieve my desired look. Before I styled my hair, I referred to Guido’s tips on how to avoid lifeless flat-ironed hair:

Apply the silk 7 to sections before using the flat-iron. This protects the hair from the insane heat it will inevitably suffer. And knowing my hair, I need all the heat I can get.

Kick the ends out! Just turn your wrist slightly as you’re bringing the iron down to the end of the section. It gives the hair movement and texture, so hair doesn’t look severe. And it worked!!! Who knew?

Gone are my fanciful visions of deceptively effortless Gossip Girl locks. And here are some new products I’ll be incorporating into my styling mix in a continuous effort to tame my unruly hair.

Comments

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[cheer bows]

Thanks for the funky tips. I'm thinking if I can use this product for my 8 year old daughter. I think I need this for her hair but I'm afraid that it is too harsh for her.

[Debbie Stier]

Keep the product tips coming I can't get enough. I'm obsessed with skin products myself these days. I felt like Idd aged 10 years in 6 months...which called for desperate measures.....so I spent WAY too much money at a spa on anti-wrinkle products. I think they've worked....but I can't afford to buy more.