Get Trendy with Pantone’s Colours of the Year

The annual release of Pantone’s Color of the Year is an event that sparks so much creativity—especially in hairstylists and colourists. And after the year we’ve all been through, it’s exactly the jolt of encouragement we need. With a lack of in-person gatherings, hair shows and Fashion Week—our go-tos for trends—have all gone virtual. With shows being few and far between, you can imagine the excitement our community felt when Pantone announced not one but two colours for 2021—Illuminating (13-0647) and Ultimate Gray (17-5104). “I was surprised to learn that there were two colours, but it makes a lot of sense for what salons and stylists—and everybody—is going through right now,” says Erinn De Luca, an Ontario-based colourist and education supervisor for Schwarzkopf Professional. “Over the last couple of years, we’ve been seeing a return to embracing warmer tones. When I saw the juxtaposition of the two Pantone colours, I thought it would make a lot of people happy. Some people weren’t ready to give up the grey, silver and ash tones, but I think these sunnier and happier colours really do make the hair feel healthier and look brighter.”

Mellow Yellow

Although yellow hair was trending just a few years ago, it’s now making a resurgence with Illuminating, which according to Pantone is “a bright and cheerful yellow, sparkling with vivacity.”While there are many who won’t necessarily opt for rocking this shade as an all-over colour (unless they’re Lady Gaga!), some experts say it’s a big indicator of the direction we’ll be seeing blondes move towards. “I don’t think yellow went anywhere, but it’s evolving and will continue to do so as it relates to hair,” says Chelsea Mann, an Edmonton- based salon owner, stylist and field education trainer for Wella Professionals. “The idea that all blondes should be ashy is out now; this shade lends itself well to seeing more warmth in hair.” “I think there may be a bit of a shift coming,” adds Thomas Melong, co-owner and master stylist at Vivid Hair Studio in Antigonish, N.S. and an international educator for Pulp Riot. “I’ve been warming up a lot of my blondes and I’m enjoying the brightness that you get with a warmer blonde. I think a lot clients are enjoying it, too, because it almost makes them feel like they got their hair done more, because it’s brighter and more noticeable.” To achieve warmer results, Celene Dupuis, owner of Revamp Hair Company in Saskatoon and an international artist for Redken, recommends looking to ’90s-inspired trends and techniques. “I suggest trying to create more colour-blocking with a bold money piece and chunky highlights reminiscent of the ’90s, but with a softer root area,” she says. “It keeps it modern looking with softer grow-out, which consumers need right now because of our current state.” For something even bolder, Mann says ’90s-inspired trends like the E-Girl or K-Pop looks are the way to go. “I think we have a lot of inspiration with social media. There’s the E-Girl with the panel in the front, which you can change quite often, and K-Pop. Panelling and colour- blocking are great for this,” she says. “Now, it’s all about feeling more comfortable in your skin and having permission to wear the tones that you love.” I think a lot clients are enjoying it, too, because it almost makes them feel like they got their hair done more, because it’s brighter and more noticeable.” To achieve warmer results, Celene Dupuis, owner of Revamp Hair Company in Saskatoon and an international artist for Redken, recommends looking to ’90s-inspired trends and techniques. “I suggest trying to create more colour-blocking with a bold money piece and chunky highlights reminiscent of the ’90s, but with a softer root area,” she says. “It keeps it modern looking with softer grow-out, which consumers need right now because of our current state.” For something even bolder, Mann says ’90s-inspired trends like the E-Girl or K-Poplooks are the way to go. “I think we have a lot of inspiration with social media. There’s the E-Girl with the panel in the front, which you can change quite often, and K-Pop. Panelling and colour- blocking are great for this,” she says. “Now, it’s all about feeling more comfortable in your skin and having permission to wear the tones that you love.”

Greys for Days

While cooler tones have been in high demand, Ultimate Gray, described by Pantone as “solid and dependable,” is sure to be a welcome shift that many have been waiting for. “I know a lot of stylists want grey hair to go away because it’s so much work to achieve and maintain,” says Melong. “There are a lot of options with grey. Ultimate Gray is more of a medium, neutral grey, which I find easier to achieve, as opposed to a light silver.” “Grey is a hard colour to achieve because you need to have such an even canvas,” adds De Luca. “That’s not always achievable, so I suggest going in with something like a slate grey or a charcoal or a deeper grey, and applying it on areas that are warmer, to drop the root. Create some dimension, let that process and rinse out, and polish with silver all over. Even though it’s multidimensional, it actually gives the illusion of everything being more even and with less banding.” With more clients embracing their grey hair due to pandemic-related lockdowns, Ultimate Gray couldn’t have come at a better time. “People are growing out their grey and learning to love it a little bit more,” says Mann. “It’s just a great neutral base to add anything to. We’re able to use that grey in balayage techniques, use grey toners, and have conversations with the client to maintain a colour like that.” Unlike Illuminating, Ultimate Gray may be deemed a more wearable shade that clients can sport as an all-over colour, with colour-blocking or even as a shadow root.