The retro flip is undeniably the hairstyle of 2022: a recurring fixture from the runway to the red carpet and most recently cemented into the zeitgeist by Lucia in the second season of The White Lotus.
The Sicilian escort, portrayed by 28-year-old Simona Tabasco, not only became one of the show's most popular characters, but also one of its most influential style icons.
"Instead of season one's more tropical beach overtone, the look of season two was created around a Mediterranean small-town vibe," The White Lotus hair department head Miia Kovero said in a recent interview. She was responsible for Lucia's head-turning hair – a chic, intentionally messy bob that oozed character. "We absolutely wanted to visually represent the new setting in the hair design by drawing from the local energy," Kovero added. "As a fan of such films as Stromboli, L'Avventura, and A Bigger Splash, I wanted to capture the distinct essence of what it is like to visit Sicily."
Make-up department head Rebecca Hickey explained that Italians "put a lot of effort, or at least it looks that way, into how they appear". For local characters such as Lucia and her escort-turned-singer companion Mia, Kovero and Hickey told PopSugar that they referenced actresses Maria Grazia Cucinotta and Donatella Finocchiaro – "strong and sensual women" – and enlisted the help of Italian beauty professionals to ensure authenticity.
Now making waves thanks to her Sicilian iteration of the flippy ends hair trend, Lucia consistently sported a healthy high shine and bouncy silhouette throughout the weekly episodes – amplified by her nonchalant, textured fringe – covetable styling that made her an instant it-girl for party season inspiration.
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From Florence Pugh and Maude Apatow to Jenna Coleman and Cate Blanchett, the big flip has returned in a huge way for 2022, each star adopting a tailored adaptation of flicked out ends based on their cut, length and styling.
When discussing this party season's biggest hair trends, celebrity hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimmons explained the flip's sixties origin and endorsed old-fashioned flexible hair rods as a lasting method of keeping these upturned tips in place. Alternatively, one of London’s leading hairstylists, Larry King, prefers a round brush blow-drying technique to achieve a voluminous curl, again proving the versatility of the playful shape.
And while the look is infinitely chic when accompanied by Lucia's array of head-turning outfits and unwavering confidence, TikTok was quick to remind us that the striking cut is not one-size-fits-all. Therefore, to avoid any unfortunate mane-related mishaps, we recommend consulting your hairdresser for a curated styling to suit your specific face shape before blindly braving the chop.
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