Melissa Meisel, Associate Editor04.24.12
Grace, Blaze, Celeste and Roxy…not the next gossip blog boldface names or supermodels, but the “faces” of Wella Professionals that embody the hottest hairstyles for 2012. At the brand’s 2012 International Trend Vision conference in New York, Wella Professionals tastemakers showcased these looks to an audience of over 2,000 international top stylists and influencers from Asia, Europe, Russia and North America. Here’s a preview of what to look for this Spring!
The Modern Muse
The “modern muse,” Grace, is the leading lady, poised and perpetually glamorous without even trying.The main inspiration for Grace is nature, although there is nothing natural about this look.Celebrity stylist Andy LeCompte foresees this look’s effortless elegance will translate into an exceptionally premium finish with shine and fluid texture to the hair.
He said, “Grace’s luxurious look is the perfect statement for the red carpet.We’ll see celebrities with more pristine, polished styles and glamorous, bouncy blowouts.”
The voluminous look Wella Professionals’ Global Creative Director Eugene Souleiman created for DKNY at the Spring ‘12 runway show perfectly illustrates the simple, flowing style Grace embodies.The color palette is soft and light, with a warm glow to emphasize healthy, shiny hair, noted LeCompte.
The Femme Fatale
Blaze, the “femme fatale,” focuses on stealing the spotlight. High gloss hair gets even more dramatic with Blaze’s statement styles and Latin flair. Passionate colors like black, grey and fuchsia will come to life in dark, shiny tones so strong they command attention. Graphic styles and daring shapes heighten the drama for this look.
When adapting Blaze trend into a hair look, Souleiman revealed, “I wanted the style to feel like a ‘30s felt cloche hat or be reminiscent of a burlesque dancer from the ‘20s. The whole trend is about the girl feeling like an entertainer.”
This concept is conveyed with sharper and sculpted styles, much like the look he created on the runway for the Antonio Marras Spring ‘12 show.
The Free Spirit
Celeste is an ethereal, otherworldly “free spirit” persona of pure perfection that cannot be pinned down, which lends to the futuristic trend she represents.Style and color harmoniously illustrate a clear style and translucent and jewel-toned palette.Shine is very important as it creates the glistening, futuristic sense of Celeste.The style appears simplistic and sleeked to perfection.
Colorist Aura Friedman drew upon this trend when creating rose gold and peach-hued hairpieces for Peter Som’s Spring ‘12 show.
“This look is universally flattering and very wearable for the everyday girl,” she said.“Women on the streets are sporting a few subtle tones in their hair for a modern, sophisticated take as the pastel trend has evolved.”
The Scene Stealer
Roxy is the natural center of attention as the life of every party. This “scene stealer” is reminiscent of the ‘70s club culture.For hair, this is manifested into a bold and attention grabbing style that does not shy away from size, shape, and texture.Eugene styled deconstructed buns at Missoni’s Spring ‘12 show, alluding to this raw, textured look.Color also plays an integral role with a cool red palette, deep enough to make a statement but with an edge of sophistication.Wella Professionals Global Creative Director of Color Josh Wood said, “There is a real shift to a cool red tone, rather than warm in this trend. There are also bursts of violet coming through to give depth.”
Also at International Trend Vision, Jake Unger from Hob salons (Great Britain) won the prestigious Young Talent Gold Award and the highly coveted Gold Award for Color went to DeLing Wu from Di Qiu Cun salon (China), as previously reported in Happi.
“The spirit of Wella Professionals ITVA event is truly captivating, providing a global stage for top stylists as well as the up-and-coming talent. The competitors have shown yet again this industry is full of creative potential and the shows were awe inspiring,” said Adil Mehboob-Khan, global president, P&G Salon Professional.
More info: www.wella.com