With the fall season just around the corner, it’s time to explore and embrace new trends and opportunities to build your salon’s business.
Three Redken artists put together a breakdown of this season’s hottest colour trends with expert tips on ways to help boost business.
Fall Colour Trends
Barbie Blonde: “This is personally my favourite trend for the fall,” says Tasha Parker, a global Redken artist and New Brunswick-based hairstylist. “I love seeing clients transition out of the super ashy tones and darker colours into brighter tones, no matter what season it is. We could all use a little sunshine in the rainy months! This Barbie blonde hair is my favourite to create using Redken’s Shades EQ in the VG and GRO families for that perfect bright and balanced result.”
’90s Colour Blocking and Two-Toned Hair Colour: “The difference is (depending on your guest) softer colour blocking and more diffused finishes are seen,” says Tracy Catt, a Redken artist and owner of Cherry Bomb Hair in Red Deer, Alta. “You can achieve this by using colours that aren’t as contrasting in your colour blocking or you can use a backcombing technique with contrasting colours.”
Subtle Dimension: Catt adds that natural-looking colour is one of the biggest trends at the moment. “Whether it’s brunettes, redheads, or blondes, we’re seeing very subdued multidimensional colour with high shine,” she says. “You can create a multidimensional colour by marbling two to three similar tones of one to two level difference throughout the hair.”
In addition to these trending fall colours, Jaime Price, a Redken artist and hairstylist based in Richmond, B.C. says she’s been seeing a lot of up-styles this season on celebrities such as Pamela Anderson and the Kardashians.
“I find stylists always tend to overanalyze event styling, especially when it comes to recreating an inspiration photo a guest has brought in,” she says. “My biggest advice and hot tip when it comes to updos is to break it down into three steps: Step one is the foundation. Set yourself up to win. If your guest has come in with hair that she has styled with a centre part and wearing it all down but wants a high ponytail or even a different part, start there.”
“Step two is your execution,” she adds. “How are you actually going to get this hair where it needs to be? I like to start by breaking down the inspiration photo: Do I need to break the hair up into sections or am I able to put it all up in one go, for example. This depends not only on the look you’re going for but also on hair density. Lastly, step three is the details. Analyze what kind of details are in the look: Does your guest want it soft and lived in or sleek and polished? This is going to determine product choices while working through the updo.”
Tips to Building Business
Consultation: “When it comes to building business with colour services, I think it boils down to consultation, meaning what does the process look like today, at home and at future appointments,” says Parker. “It’s about getting the guest back in for smaller visits to maintain the look instead of waiting six months to a year and it ends up being a bigger project and more costly to the guest.”
Social Media: Parker adds that social media is a huge factor when it comes to building business in today’s world. “Your Instagram page is your business card,” she says. “It has helped me attract my dream clientele, which means doing hair that I want to do all day, every day. I recommend stylists of ALL experience to get posting. I know there’s always that little voice that prevents a lot of us from posting but keep in mind that in order to grow, we need to step outside of our comfort zone. Once you start posting, it’ll get easier. Just remember, clients are seeking out service providers online and if you’re not sharing your work, you’re missing out.”
Low-Maintenance Colour: “I know a huge worry with stylists in the industry is having all of these clients having lower maintenance colours and seeing our guests less frequently,” says Price. “With these guests, I really stress the importance of regular toning and haircut appointments in between their larger services for two reasons: One, it keeps their colour salon-stunning in between their appointments, and two, it makes our job a lot easier when it’s time to giving them a major overhaul. As well as toner and haircut appointments, I’ve introduced a lot of extension work on my guests as well, which keeps them coming back more frequently into my chair as well as being able to give those clients who show up with Beyoncé inspiration photos their dream hair—even if they can’t grow it themselves!”
Product Knowledge: “Know your colour lines very well,” says Catt. “Be as educated as possible with the colour lines you love to work with. This will ensure that, as a professional, you can make quick adjustments to your formulas, get a predictable result every time, and give you total freedom as an artist to create any formula you desire.”
Take Control: Catt adds that it’s important to take control of your own schedule (and your paycheck!) “Be sure to prebook your colour guests to ensure future stability in your schedule,” she says. “Every guest in your chair (while they’re still in your chair) should have the offer of pre-booking their next appointment. I like to pre-book my guests based on the colour plan I have made with them. This makes them feel like you’re on the same page as them for their hair colour goals and creates a great long-term professional relationship.”
Photos: Tasha Parker and Jaime Price.
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