From pastel and pearl to ash and gloss, we’re breaking down the ways to finish your hair colour this season.
Pastel
“It’s a trend that doesn’t seem to be going away,” says Susan Boccia, education manager for Schwarzkopf Professional Canada. And while pastels are now considered a mainstay, not every client wants mermaid locks—especially in the fall months. But that’s not to say you can’t offer clients a pastelled version of their colour for a refreshing take on their go-to shade.
How-To: Schwarzkopf Professional Pastelfier
“It allows you to give clients sheer, translucent shades, while still keeping their colour light and dusty,” says Boccia. The Pastelfier can also be used with any of the brand’s Igora Royal shades for endless possibilities
Ash
From ash blondes to browns to greys, this muted finish can transform the everyday to the extraordinary. “When you go with a shade leaning to the ash side, it’s going to look more matte,” says Celene Dupuis, colour ambassador for Redken Canada. “It doesn’t have that high-shine finish because ash colours absorb light. It’s not too matte or too glossy, so it’s very natural looking.”
How-To: Redken Shades EQ Natural Ash
“It’s really nice for fall and moving into winter, because it will settle down the colour and make it more like a winter blonde—it will cool it down slightly without over-ashing the shade,” says Dupuis.
Gloss
While hair glosses have been around for ages, the technology and shade selection keep getting better. But even a clear gloss can go a long way. “Our hair tends to be a little duller in the fall and winter,” says Boccia. “I think because we’re doing so much to the hair with colour—ombrés, balayage, babylights, and there’s still a lot of pre-lightening going on—people want to have that extra layer of gloss and shine. It’s a short, in-and-out service that doesn’t take a lot of extra time.”
How-To: Schwarzkopf Professional Igora Vibrance Clear Gloss
“It’s a great way to refresh colour. There’s no pigment, so it won’t change the colour,” says Boccia. “It can help the colour last longer because you’re putting on another layer of protection into the hair and helping increase the colour’s longevity.
For clients that don’t colour their hair, or may only get their greys covered, glosses can benefit them as well. “Natural hair also loses its shine and protection over time. The longer your hair has been around, the older it is and the more abused it is with wear and tear, shampooing, sun, etc.,” says Boccia. “Gloss makes hair look closer to what it looks like before it’s chemically treated.”
Pearl
Try adding a pearly effect to your blonde and brunette hues for a pearlescent finish. “Pearl is definitely an on-trend look because it’s so different,” says Cecile Washington, a Pravana educator and owner of Washington House Salon in Innisfil, Ont. “It sets it apart from the everyday tones. It requires biweekly toning, so it’s a great way to get your clients to come back for a service.”
How-To: Pravana ChromaSilk Express Tones
You can create stunning metallic finishes from pearl to smokey silver that process in five minutes or less, says Washington. “For example, lift your client to a true, pale-yellow level 10 and apply Express Tones in Pearl to create a true, pearlized, iridescent effect.”
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