HAIR THAT SETS THE TREND

The summer months are well and truly approaching and not only are we changing our wardrobe looks but we are also looking for this season on trend hair styles! Staffordshire Living has spoken exclusively to Nicky Clarke to get his tips on creating the sizzling looks of the summer… 

MESSY DRESSY

(photo by John Shearer ©WireImage) Kate Beckinsale

Recently we’ve seen The ‘Relaxed Textured Up-do’ seen on Kate Beckinsale, Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Lopez, Nicole Richie, Vera Farmigia and Rachael McAdams. The textured up do is going to become more prominent this season due to its versatility and off the cuff texture that creates individual drama.  It’s also perfect for quick styling. Use a ‘Nicky Clarke Straightener’ curl for organic movement and separation within the shape, ‘Nicky Clarke Ultimate Hairspray’ is essential for any ‘messy dressy’ to give the look hold whilst allowing the woman to have the ability to re-shape at any moment.

When creating the relaxed textured up do, stick to these rules:

•             The face shape and dress are the most important things to consider, use your hair as an accessory, it is there to compliment a look not dominate it at such an event

•             If the neckline on the dress is really high and you have a low hairline, hair should be kept up

•             If you have a heavy eye lid, I would do a tight up-do or ponytail to give a mini facelift

DECADENT PONYTAIL

This year we will see lots of ponytails, they have dominated the season’s catwalks and are a huge look for spring summer 2012, as we saw on the runway at Gucci, Louis Vuitton recently. 60’s Volume at the crown and the ponytail mid length at the back will become a favourite, Use ‘Nicky Clarke Tease Me’ and the ‘Sensor Dryer’ for immediate impact volume at the roots and mid lengths.

There was something beautiful and seductive about the way the girls wore their ponytails, it was simple and girly but elegant and decadent at the same time, a look all women should aspire to. I was fond of the really sleek ponytails we became accustomed too at Louis Vuitton; they were powerful and beautiful full of shine. Try my ‘Allure Straightener’ which has tourmaline coated plates that offer shine to the hair and a variable heat settings, the high temperature of 230° makes these straighteners suitable for any hair type – from fine to thick. This look works well from beach to night out and for those with unruly frizz on holiday as it is such a simple look.

Dry the hair and brush through with a paddle brush. Work a small amount of product from the crown and smooth into your pony tail, catching any stray strands along the way.  Brush they hair back and using a good elastic band, fix in place.  Using straighteners, run through the end of the pony tail with a curved action to give a more girly flick to finish the style.

Lastly….

I often look at this way, summer holidays are a great opportunity to dress up and show off your tan and your figure. There is something beautiful about a woman with her hair up, the exposing of the neck, the bare shoulders and top of the chest are all seductive, flirtatious parts of the body, this is hair working at its most powerful, creating a mood by not doing anything.

I think we will even see glossy hair almost bordering on being wet; this will be the stand out trend for 2012 so expect somebody adventurous like Diane Kruger to experiment with the idea, Nicky Clarke Instant Calmer on dry hair is ideal for this. Big over styled hair, over hair sprayed looks simply aren’t working anymore and as I mentioned earlier you need to be able to touch the hair.