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“I’m doing a Valentino hippie,” explained hairstylist Guido Palau at today’s Fall 2017 show. To match the darkly romantic clothes designed by Pierpaolo Piccioli for his sophomore solo outing, which further honed his dreamlike aesthetic, Palau also revealed a subtle evolution from last season—exchanging the hip-grazing Rapunzel braid for the tiniest micro versions.
Washed backstage with Redken Diamond Oil shampoo to achieve a “beautiful, light texture,” models’ lengths were left to air-dry, before being smoothed into a clean center part. Then, two delicate, childlike plaits were carefully placed on each side to frame the face, while a few twists of the curling iron in the back gave the finished look sophistication. “It’s very easy to wear, very Valentino,” said Palau.
As models strode down the runway, the braids appeared as the slightest bit of ornamentation, adding a deliberate, yet playful elegance that promised to look just as good as they stepped off the runway and into their street clothes. No doubt stylish festivalgoers are already thinking of ways to co-opt the look’s subtly pretty nuances when they head West next month to Coachella.
