With an ensemble cast of Hollywood’s biggest stars, snatching big-screen attention was always going to be a push-pull mission for the cast of Ridley Scott’s film “House of Gucci”.
Of course with her captivating manner, it’s hard to tear your eyes away from Lady Gaga playing the central character of Patrizia Reggiani.
However there was another element of her performance that seriously held our attention and admiration – the constantly evolving hair looks that serve as a key support to the narrative of the story, the era and the passing of time.
The visually-stunning film centers on the true story of of the Gucci family, in particular Patrizia Reggiani and the events leading up to her conviction for murdering her ex-husband Maurizio Gucci (played by Adam Driver).
As Reggiani, Lady Gaga’s transformation involves a stunning number of dramatic and evocative hair looks.
To help tell the story and help Gaga embody the role of Patrizia, each was created by her long-time personal hairstylist and Joico Celebrity Hairstylist, Frederic Aspiras.
For Aspiras, designing Gaga’s spot-on looks meant taking the character of Patrizia on a multi-decade retrospective, from the 1970s to the 1990s with hair that clearly spoke to elegance, luxury and the trends of the time.
Aspiras created 55+ looks from 10 hero wigs for Patrizia and was part of a team nominated for an Academy Award in the category Best Makeup and Hairstyling for the film. Key in each of the hair looks created was the use of a range of Joico styling products.
“I had to be as authentic as possible by using the exact techniques as [a] hairdresser of the 1970’s says Aspiras at a Joico event to acknowledge Aspiras’ work on the film.
“Wet-set rolls, back-combing, French lacing… spiral perms – you name it. It was done exactly to T from that era….”
Joico Celebrity Hairstylist, Frederic Aspiras
It was important to both Aspiras and Gaga that what came across on the screen was the character of Patrizia rather than Lady Gaga herself.
Because of a lack of photos of Patrizia early in the timeline of her life covered in the film, Aspiras undertook significant research, getting into the history of what an Italian woman of the era would look like – her style, what she might be influenced by – vital to creating the hairstyles as authentically as possible.
“I wanted the texture, I wanted the vibe, I wanted the feel, the way it moved… because it needed to transport you to that time,” confirms Aspiras.
Joico styling products were essential for the looks created by Aspiras including Joico Rise Up Powder Spray; K-PAK Color Therapy Luster Lock Multi-Perfector Spray ; JoiWhip Design Foam and Joico Power Spray Fast Drying Finishing Spray.
Alongside the genuine techniques of each era, Aspiras says the right products were essential. Apart from colouring and styling “ten-thousand-dollar wigs” that were fragile, Gaga also wanted her normally platinum blonde-coloured hair coloured brown to be as true to the character as possible and then back to blonde for the press tour and premieres. Joico hair care and colour were key in keeping both Gaga’s hair and the wigs’ integrity and style.
In a special sneak peek into the prep of a number of key looks in the film, Aspiras has revealed the styling steps and Joico products used to create these key moments for Lady Gaga as Patrizia Reggiani in House of Gucci.
THE LOOKS
Look 1: Young Patrizia
1. Spray towel blotted hair with K-PAK Color Therapy Luster Lock Multi-Perfector Spray to detangle
2. Using JoiGel Medium Styling Gel, wet set the hair on rollers
3. After hair is cooled remove wet set rollers, with a couple drops of ColorFul Glow Beyond Anti-Fade Serum in your palm, run fingers thru the hair to break up hard roller partings
4. Using a boar bristle brush, brush all the hair back then upwards to blend the curls together and bring hair to the side
5. Make a soft side parting
6. Use a boar bristle brush to smooth out “French lace” waves throughout
7. Finish with JoiMist Firm Protective Finishing Spray
Look 2: Shoulder-length layered bob with Spiral Perm
1. Gently towel blot curls without disturbing curl pattern. Spray hair with K-PAK Color Therapy Luster Lock Multi-Perfector Spray throughout hair
2. Apply drops of ColorFul Glow Beyond Anti-Fade Serum to palm and fingers. Begin to piece out individual strands of curl and twist around finger, repeat all over head
3. Using JoiWhip Design Foam, hold can upside down and dispense into hand, distribute evenly onto damp hair
4. Use a diffuser attachment to blow dryer with low heat and speed until hair is dry
5. Use a hair pick to open curls up to create even more volume 80’s style
6. Finish with Joico Flip Turn Volumizing Hair Spray
Look 3: Power Blowout:
1. Apply Dream Blowout Thermal Protection Creme throughout towel-dried hair and blow-dry
2. Using PowerWhip Whipped Foam, shake well, hold can upside down and dispense into hand, distribute evenly onto damp hair
3. Style hair with a 1-inch barrel round brush. Blow dry hair up and away from face and frame the sides
4. Use a 1-inch curling iron and Heat Hero Glossing Thermal Protector to add barrel curls. Clip each curl down and allow to cool.
5. Apply Rise Up Powder Spray directly at the roots and/or throughout hair for instant volume and light texture.
6. Brush hair out using vented flat brush to create a feathered look.
7. Finish using Flip Turn Volumizing Hair Spray.
- For more hair inspiration, haircare and styling products, advice and tips visit joico.com.au.
Film images: Courtesy of Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures Inc.
