On the Milan runway, Dolce & Gabbana successfully married the socially incompatible pair of food and fashion. But backstage, there was another party. A party where pasta, chilli, cheese and clothes weren’t invited, but an entry was guaranteed for Sophia Loren and other Italian women with equally seductive hair.

We’re talking about the hair inspiration at Dolce and Gabbana’s spring 2012 runway show. As seen on the runway, the loosely tousled curls were pulled back together in an effortless French twist. But, just like all other catwalk shows, watching perfectly groomed hair on a model is one thing, and interpreting it in your daily regime is a completely different story.

This spring 2012 hairstyle translates for a glamorous woman who’s on a holiday. The kind of style you’d pull together while you’re sunbaking on a Mediterranean island. We are anticipating this look to be a winner during 2012’s sultry summer.

At the Dolce and Gabbana spring 2012 show, hair tongs were used to create more elaborate waves. Here, following the Redken team’s instructions, you can recreate the look with a more natural and fast-paced approach.

Follow the step-by-step how to guide after the break. If you’d like to make sure that you don’t miss any of the other looks in this year’s hair trends guide, you can subscribe to our newsletter or RSS feed.

The Sophia Loren-inspired French Twist at Dolce & Gabbana. Image: Imaxtree.

The how to:

“(The hair) looks a bit as if the woman was dancing all night,” says Redken’s Creative Consultant, Guido.

Guiding you through the look, Guido shares with us his top tips to achieve this “effortless gorgeous” hairdo at home.

To build volume in your locks, massage a thickening lotion all through damp hair (at Dolce & Gabbana the hair team used Redken’s Thickening Lotion 06 – All Over Body Builder). The key is to maintain a natural movement, so avoid using a brush when your hair is still wet. Let the hair naturally dry.

If your hair still lacks beach-like texture, apply a texturizing cream to the roots, especially around the crown. Guido suggests Redken’s Soft Texturizing Cream-Wax.

The hair should be completely dry by this stage, don’t proceed to the next step if it isn’t. Dry hair is essential for styling this look.

dolce gabbana spring 2012 hair
Backstage with the hair team at Dolce & Gabbana SS12. Image: Imaxtree.

Backbrush (not back comb – very important to know the difference) the hair to add more texture and rough volume to the roots of the hair. Start from the nape of the neck and work upwards.

Once your hair has the volume and texture, finger comb the hair back, away from the face, and pull hair back into a French twist. Secure with bobby pins.

Blow-dry the fringe in an upward motion to create a quiff bouffant, and then pull it back and secure with bobby pins.

Don’t pull back the hair too tightly; make sure to keep the hair loose around the face. You need to maintain the naturalness of the look here.

Finish it off with some hairspray, if needed.

dolce & gabbana french twist back
The completed tousled French twist. Image courtesy Redken.

The tousled French twist: how to wear it

There’s really no better inspiration than Dolce & Gabbana’s spring 2012 collection. The key is to emphasise the female form with a ‘60s sex kitten twist. With this hairstyle, you can’t go wrong with clothes that accentuate curves, draw in the waist (or indeed, give a bare hint of it) and extend the legs. Flicked out eyeliner is another perfect pairing for this La Dolce Vita holiday hairstyle.

For more inspiration from the Dolce & Gabbana spring 2012 runway, follow that link for a full gallery.

Our thanks to Redken for sharing their tips from backstage.