ESSENTIAL LOOKS from Schwarzkopf Professional brings you the Spirit Collection, distilled into four NEW visual moods for spring/summer 2008. These looks capture the essence of the season - defining the spirit of our times, creating a cultural snapshot and presenting a story book of style. Each season, a handpicked team of hair professionals immerses themselves in the fashion weeks of London, Paris, Milan and New York and emerge inspired to create a collection of distinct trends that will lead hairdressers and their salon clients to progress their personal style for the coming season.

Steve Hogan, Creative Director for Schwarzkopf Professional Essential Looks says “I’m excited about the Spirit Collection because it’s populated by wearable and beautiful shapes and tones that have great commercial application. Essential Looks is our enduring commitment to placing fashion driven skills directly into the hands of hair professionals around the world. The Spirit Collection is set to ensure our tenth year will be our best yet.”

Essential Looks Spirit Collection is presented in four fashion moods:

New Romance
Ultra feminine styles hit just the right note of classy glamour: the floral chiffons or the cool tailored safari suits of Stella McCartney; the fit and flare sundresses and rich brocades of Dolce and Gabbana and even the pastels, prints and layers of the usually garish Galliano. Rose lips, doe eyes and peachy complexions team with length, volume and super shiny organic shapes. Curls are piled and tumbling, straight hair is either full and natural or sculpted. Colours are deep darks or golden; soft highlights or warm lowlights add interest and intense tones deliver glorious gloss to every strand.

East
This trend capitalises on the influences of all things Asian from the worlds fashion stage. It is a blend of functional discipline and chaotic textures and shapes. Think Issey Miyake’s origami inspired gowns and Comme des Garcons experimental shapes and high impact colours. Hair shapes come in rounded head hugging bobs with shorter internal shapes or longer lengths of anarchic loose waves or ripples of thick healthy hair. The East trend revels in brunettes that embrace playful individuality with shots of cool and warm tones through the depths.

Brigade
Defined by the muted palette and scaled down silhouettes of Prada or the beautifully suited and booted elegance of Jil Sander, this trend gives men fresh licence to ditch scruffy in favour of dapper sophistication. The clean cut tailoring, clear complexions, defined jaw lines and well crafted head hugging styles delivered hair outlines kept lean through the sides with length through the crown for variety and expression. Texture is modern matte or styled flat for a super groomed, just washed gleam. Colours are kept natural and solid. Brigade is set to really separate the men from the boys with grown-up masculine glamour.

School’s Out
Fresh faced super model Agness Deyn is the poster child of the Schools Out trend, aim somewhere between prim and punky and you will nail this look in no time. Luella’s button down blouses and liberty print Ra Ra skirts twinned with a pale complexion DM’s capture Schools Out style. Strong hair looks come in deconstructed shapes, hidden lengths and shattered outlines all caught up in bobs and asymmetric bangs. Colour adds quirkiness with blondes and silvery grey or brunettes with chocolate and caramel. The effect is all sweet rebellion.

The Essential Looks team for spring/summer 2008 was led by Global Editorial Ambassador Tyler Johnston who says “The Spirit Collection has both depth and breadth and is a fantastic opportunity for hairdressers to learn and practice new skills. From undercutting to dressing – it’s all here and set in a true fashion context.”

Schwarzkopf Professional is focussed on bringing fresh seasonal ideas, vigour and energy to commercial salon work. The creative minds behind Essential Looks and the Spirit Collection give salon hairdressers a window on the world of catwalk fashion and an ‘access all areas’ pass to what’s truly hot in hair.