Looking for simple ways to switch up your hair this summer? Lucy Slight takes retro style cues from the runways of New Zealand, New York and Milan.
Look 1: THE MODERN MUSE
Rebecca Vallance ‘Pop Noir’, New York Fashion Week
If you’re still on the fence about the 70s trend then it’s time to leap off, because the look ain’t going nowhere. While it’s fair to want to draw the line at a flicky Farrah Fawcett ‘do, you can try a subtle take without the OTT. Taking inspiration from Australian designer Rebecca Vallance’s NYFW show – think volume without bulk; smooth, brushed-out, super-shiny waves. Joico celebrity hairstylist Paul Norton, who created the show’s look, focused on
a modern take on the decade by adding texture and volume at the roots and leaving a more contemporary curl through the mid-lengths and ends.
Get the look
Step 1: Wash hair with Joico Body Luxe, then spritz damp locks evenly with Joico’s Heat Set to help reduce drying time and frizz.
Step 2: Create a centre part, then blow-dry hair with a round brush, starting from the roots, angling the nozzle down so hair is smooth and flat at the crown, rounding ends under slightly.
Step 3: Once dry, spray with Joico IronClad and flatiron from your parting to around two inches down the hairline.
Step 4: Using a large curling iron or wand, curl one-inch sections of hair away from the face, avoiding the flatironed area.
Step 5: Use a large paddle brush to vigorously brush through the curls to create full, bouncy waves.
Step 6: Finish the look with Joico’s Hair Shake texturiser, spritzing from the ends and using your fingers to lightly backcomb sections, working your way up for instant texture and volume.
Toolkit: Joico Body Luxe trio gift set, $55.80 (proceeds from every sale go to Starship Foundation); Joico IronClad, $26; Joico Hair Shake, $34; Joico Heat Set, $26.
Look 2: THE 70s ICON
RUBY ‘Tonight, Tonight’, New Zealand Fashion Week
Ruby’s look was yet another nod to the 70s, but this time the vibe
was much more undone and carefree. “I wanted the look to resemble that of a dancer post-practice, like she has just let out her bun and tousled her hair back to its natural state,” says Ruby designer, Deanna Didovich. “The fringe is something that’s quite nostalgic to me and very Jane Birkin-esque.”
Get the look
Step 1: Spray towel-dried hair at the roots with a volumising root lift spray or mousse, followed by a heat protectant through the mid-lengths and ends.
Step 2: Centre part hair using a tail comb to get a straight line, and, if you have one, brush your fringe forward.
Step 3: Blow-dry using a round brush to create smooth volume and once hair is dry, spritz the mid-lengths and ends with a curl hold or texture spray.
Step 4: Divide the hair into six small sections and braid each section, then apply heat all over by running your ghd along the individual plaits.
Step 5: Once cool, undo the braids and shake them out. Loosen by running a brush lightly over your hair and finish with a medium-hold hairspray.
Toolkit: Schwarzkopf Osis+ Session Label Spray Mousse, $28.95; Kevin Murphy small roll brush, $75; L’Oréal Elnett Satin Medium Strength Hairspray, $8.99; ghd V classic styler in Arctic Gold, $310; Eleven Australia Sea Salt Texture Spray, $32.
Look 3: THE WOODSTOCK
Altuzarra S/S 2016, New York Fashion Week
Summer is all about low-maintenance ease, and when you just want to get your hair off your face, but still look chic, nothing beats a half-up, half-down ‘do. At Altuzarra, the style was inspired by the easy, unstructured hair of folk-rock musos and we’re pretty sure it doesn’t get much easier or breezier than that.
Get the look
Step 1: Finger comb hydrating styling cream through damp strands from root to tip, then apply heat-protection spray.
Step 2: Rough dry hair with the diffuser attachment, twisting random sections with fingers as you go to create natural texture.
Step 3: Take a section of hair from the front of each side of the head and pull these sections away from your face. Twist hair back and secure together with a clear elastic. step 4: Set with a mist of luminous hairspray and pull wisps of hair out to frame the face.
Toolkit: Remington Pro-Air Turbo, $99.99; Bumble & bumble Classic Hairspray, $42, from Mecca Cosmetica; Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream, $60; Kérastase Soleil Micro-Voile Protecteur, $41.
Look 4: THE FLOWER CHILD
Alberta Ferretti s/S 2016, Milan Fashion Week
In line with their renowned aesthetic, the styling at Alberta Ferretti was beautifully feminine, with a nod to the soft hairlines
of the late-70s and early-80s. It’s a simple look made special with twists of gold thread throughout – the perfect way to combat humidity or make the most of
the natural hold of second-day hair.
Get the look
Step 1: Work a blow-dry balm or spray into damp hair and comb through, then use a round brush to blow dry and add volume at the roots.
Step 2: Thoroughly spritz a finishing spray all over hair for added texture and use your fingers to create a deep side part.
Step 3: Take the back section of hair and twist up into a ponytail, securing with gold elastic or ribbon. Twist the length of the ponytail around the hair and secure with hair pins.
Step 4: Wrap the gold elastic multiple times around each of the two front sections of hair and then twist each section around the head, securing in the back with hair pins.
Step 5: Remove baby hairs and random strands around the hairline before finishing with a mist of hairspray.
Toolkit: Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray, $60; R+Co Blow Out Balm, $47; Witchery barette, $29.90; Witchery hair tie set, $12.90 for five; VIA hair pins Super Grip 4.5cm, $7.99 for 80.
Look 5: THE STUDIO 54
Diane von Furstenberg RTW s/s 2016, New York Fashion Week
When it comes to 70s icons, there are few who top the elegant-yet-bohemian style of Diane von Furstenberg, who used her Studio 54 self as inspiration for her show. “Whether Ibiza, Portofino, Los Angeles or Bali, I love seeing all the girls head out at night with their natural waves fresh from the beach just tucked behind their ear with a flower,” says the designer. “It reminded me of how I used to wear my own hair back in the 1970s and I wanted Orlando [Pita for Trésemme] to inject that carefree vibe into the show.”
Get the look
Step 1: After rough-drying wet hair with a towel, create a deep side part then divide hair into two-inch-wide sections, applying a wave-enhancing foam as you go. Twist and secure each section into a bun using a hair pin until the whole head is complete.
Step 2: When short on time, use a hair dryer to dry each twisted bun. Otherwise, leave to air dry. Once dry, unravel each bun, pulling apart the twists as you go.
Step 3: Brush out waves with a soft-bristle brush. Lightly tease the front section for soft volume.
Step 4: Tuck hair behind one ear and spray with flexible-hold hairspray. Secure with pins or a hair accessory behind the ear.
