The bigger the better

Jan 30 2010 by Liz Lamb, The Journal

PAUL MITCHELL

THE spring/summer 2010 catwalks encompassed a distinct romantic feel for fashion and hair alike. Soft styling dominated the shows, with texture a key element, from crimping to dishevelled buns.

Many designers infused glamour into their commercial creations, whether opting for sculpted elegance or leaving hair with a more relaxed natural feel. So go on – flirt with these playful spring styles.

KEY LOOKS

Loose and lovely: Opt for this very wearable trend for a relaxed style, as witnessed on many catwalks. Curls are left loose and the up-do is given a seductive slightly bed-head feel. Christopher Kane and Eley Kishimoto gave hair a fresh, youthful and relaxed look. Hair was left loosely tied up with flyaway strays left untouched at Mark Fast. At Topshop Unique, hair was swept into a messy heap on one side for an effortless rock-chick attitude. (7)

Key products: Soft Spray (£4.10) – a finishing spray to help you achieve soft, natural-looking, touchable hair with a light hold. Round Trip (£10.75) – a fast-drying liquid curl definer especially formulated to provide flexible hold, while helping to reduce frizz and static flyaway.

Body language: Let your hair do the talking with head-turning volume and texture. Big hair is as much a focal point this season as the voluminous lines apparent in clothing. Texture was added as locks were coifed in various forms, from softly crimped styling to waves and frizz. (8)

Key Products: Hot off the Press (£12.50) – a new versatile spray with hold that speeds up styling while protecting hair from the wear and tear of heat styling. Spray Wax– a light aerosol spray mist to help add texture to your style, leaving a soft, flexible satin finish.

Give us a twirl: Buns are a timeless classic for creating effortless glamour. Most prevalent on the London catwalks were ballerina buns, representing a youthful look. (9)

Hair was shaped into tightly knotted buns placed at the front of the head at Amanda Wakeley and Richard Nicoll, giving a stunning elegant look.

For a more casual style, tie hair up loosely at the back of the head. In contrast, structural knots and buns were seen at Matthew Williamson.

Key Products: Super Sculpt (£4.60) – a quick-drying, flexible-hold styling glaze; Extra-Body Finishing Spray (£12) – to provide a firm hold to any style with amazing volume and shine. Vogetti easy-style 998 Sculpting Brush, (£4.60) designed for smoothing and shaping all hair types including wet hair.

Adorned to be adored: It’s all in the detail and spring/summer wouldn’t be the same without an array of plaits and embellishments adding creativity to the hair.

Designers went in a playful direction with plaits, braids and twisted loops as they were piled on top of the models’ heads and wrapped around the head, as seen at Antonio Berardi. Decoration and splashes of colour complemented the quirky styles. (10)

Key products: Worked Up (£7.15) – helps create detail and volume while working in texture, body and shine for the perfect finish. Fast Form (£14.25) – a new cream gel that tames hair and speeds up styling. Use to create clean detail and longlasting flexible hold that keeps your style right where you want it.

Paul Mitchell Luxury Hair Care is available from selected salons. Call 0845 659 0012 to find your nearest salon.