Milan's Backstage Beauty

Milan's Fashion Week

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January/February 2012

Style was in full force during Milan's Fashion Week, which presented a preview of what's to come for Spring/Summer 2012. Retro and ultra-feminine fashions will be making quite a fashion statement. Although many of the styles shown on the runways are easy and appear rather effortless, there's still a very glamorous feel to the collections. Backstage, Redken's creative consultant Guido worked his beauty magic as he expertly styled the models' tresses and readied them for the Italian runways. From beachy and casual to clean and simple, to a bit edgier, Guido and his professional team translated each designer's signature style into glamorous hairstyles that truly complemented the clothing.

Straight from the runways of Milan, HOT uncovers the season's most coveted trends and the most captivating beauty looks.

HOT presents a special fashion report from backstage at the Versace show in Milan.

Versace
A bit of sexiness and a contemporary edge certainly turned heads at the Versace show. Luscious, full-bodied blowouts complemented the ultra feminine spring and summer looks that paraded down the runways. "We've created a big, bouncy blowout that has a light feel. It's gorgeous and rich like a real Versace woman, and works really nicely with the clothing," says Guido. Redken's Aerate 08 All-over Bodifying Cream Mousse was the stylist's secret weapon for creating the big, bouncy locks.

Create the Look:
All of the models had hair that hung past their shoulders
● Apply Aerate 08 All-over Bodifying Cream Mousse to damp hair to create body and lots of volume
● Blow-dry the hair using a large round brush and set the hair in pin curls
● Release the pin curls and shake out hair for a full-bodied look with a slight curl at the ends

Versace

A casual, beachy look ushered a summery feel to the runways of the Alberta Ferretti show.

Alberta Ferretti

A "hippie, beachy" look created a casual, easy vibe at the Alberta Ferretti show. The vibrant, exotic looks that debuted on the runways came alive in a bold palette of colors that included vivid oranges and bright greens. Guido collaborated with the design team and together, they decided to create innocent, clean hair looks that had a hint of an edge. "The collection features beautiful dresses, so the girls needed to feel easy and young, and not too "mumsy," says Guido. A shiny, almost wet texture complemented the casual, beach-inspired style. "It's more exciting than dry hair at the moment."

Guido and his creative team used Redken All Soft Argan-6 Multi-Care Oil to add a bit of shine during the blow-dry phase. To up the shine factor even more and almost create a wet look, the stylists overused the Shine Flash 02 Glistening Mist. The look was finished off with Forceful 23 Hairspray, which cleaned up the hairline and kept the hair very tight to the head.

Create the Look:
All of the models' wore their hair mid-way down their backs
● Apply All Soft Argan-6 Multi-Care Oil to damp hair and blow-dry
● Create a clean center-part
● Use a curling iron to create some bend
● Overuse and apply Shine Flash 02 Glistening Mist to the ends for a wet look
● Spray Forceful 23 Hairspray all over the crown to keep the hair around the face in place

Alberta Ferretti

HOT presents this special report from Milan's Fashion Week. Here's the beauty and fashion update from D&G.

D&G

Long, flowing dresses in energetic patterns brightened the runways at the D&G show. To complement the styles of summer, gorgeous blow-outs added a hint of drama. "We're creating a bouncy blow-dry to complement the rich Spring/Summer 2012 collection. "Although the styles look effortless, they require a few steps to make sure the hair flows on the runway," says Guido. To achieve the look, Guido used Velvet Gelatine 07 Cushioning Blow-dry Gel.

Create the Look:
● Apply Velvet Gelatine 07 to damp hair
● Section the hair and blow-dry it with a round brush, moving away from the roots for added volume
● Create a center part and brush hair out to make it bouncy and full

D&G

Prada showcases the latest hair and beauty looks for Spring/Summer 2012. Here, HOT provides a sneak peek at what transpired backstage during Fashion Week.

Prada
While embracing femininity, Prada showed a bit of an edge for Spring/Summer 2012. "The look is a bit like a girl curling her hair and putting in a bobby pin before going out at night-she did her hair herself. It's kind of homemade, not finished-the hair of a woman with a 'David Lynch' darkness. She's more night than day with her hair. But overall she is a Prada woman because there is a refinement to her quirkiness," says Guido. This star stylist used Satinwear 02 Ultimate Blow-dry Lotion, Hot Sets 22 Thermal Setting Mist and Fashion Work 12 Versatile Working Spray to create the sophisticated looks at Prada.

Create the Look:
● Apply Satinwear 02 to damp hair and rough dry
● Create a clean left side-part and secure hair with a bobby pin on the right side
● Tuck the hair behind the ears
● Section the back and apply Hot Sets 22, and then curl sections using a 1" iron
● Leave the curls as is (don't brush them out)
● On the crown of the head, apply Fashion Work 12 to create a slicker look and ensure no fly-aways

Prada