SUMMER COLOUR FOR 2007

Today I would like to talk with you about colour:

It is estimated that 50% of Europeans are now colouring their hair.

These days, I am seeing tremendous improvements in the colour products available, both in their performance and the exciting colour ranges on offer.

You can choose pastel colours to wear with blondes as well as brighter, lighter shades and that is so much fun for the younger clients – it really inspires them, it is easy to achieve and it means we can change their look at will.

We are not just talking tone on tone, or demi-, semi- or temporary colour. The colour houses are increasingly adventurous and innovative, giving us the tools and techniques to achieve great effects such as glosses, translucent finishes, 100 per cent grey coverage, and of course, the all important colour correction too.

Colour correction is a key area, although home hair colour products are improving all the time, they cannot make up for the one thing that a trip to the hairdressers can give you – experience, professionalism and above all that ‘honest’ opinion on what is best for you”.

And What About Men?

Men are much more aware of their total image and the younger generation have strong ideas. They know what suits them and see colour and skincare as part of the total package for their image.

Arguably colour for men started with trying to cover grey (fond memories of the Grecian 2000 advertisements, eh?) and then progressed to the boy-band inspired blonde tips for a beach bum sunkissed look. Today, fashion trends include ash, blue, green and khaki tones which all look good on men.

Colour has become an exciting fashion accessory for hair, just like a funky belt or piece of jewellery on an outfit, with both women and men using colour to emphasise their haircuts.

The over 4o’s man, working in an ever increasingly aggressive and competitive workplace - knows the importance of success and good grooming. We have been cutting the hair and manicuring the nails of this particular specimen for a long time now, however we are now being asked about colour. We are being asked for advise on covering grey and looking younger, and we are able to make key suggestions with consideration to these two critical areas:

· We make sure the change is gradual enough not to be immediately obvious and become the centre of this weeks office gossip.
· We make sure the colour has enough ash undertone to avoid the unnatural red or yellow glow under the sun or as the colour fades.

Keeping Colour Longer:

Chemistry lessons never felt so good as they do with Redken, thanks to their Chemistry System personalised in-salon hair treatments, formulated to solve intense hair needs, especially hair damaged by heat. The system kicks off with a shot of active ingredients applied to wet hair to boost the hair structure and the good news for coloured hair is that special new Colour Extend Rich Defender is dedicated to conditioning coloured hair in particular – before a pHix-pHase, lock-in product is applied. Don’t worry about the science; we just know it gives great results, every time!

So Whats New For Summer?

The twice yearly L,oreal professional colour collections are an area that I look for pointers in what the most important colour trends will be. For Spring Summer this year their collection is showing a subtle and seductive play on the sensuous femininity that prevails throughout all fashion this season.(I can’t believe I have just written that) Therefore we are using tones of beige which are “sexed” up with suffusions of pinks, blues and greens. I know you may not be able to imagine what these concoctions would look like on your hair- but of course that’s where you need your hairdresser!

Every Salon Needs An Expert:

I am proud that we have many in the area of colour.The “degree” course for colour in our salon is the “Wella Master colour Award”. This is a total colour concept, designed to take us on ‘a journey to complete colour confidence’, this course is spread over 11 days (to be taken intermittently) and it opens up a whole new meaning in colour work. From there we move onto a Master Colour Award, “The Next Step”, and finally fill in any gaps with Wella’s ultimate colour qualification – becoming a Wella Master Colour Expert. As a salon owner I felt it imperative that my Salon is able to offer this expertise and therefore am pleased that one of my Consultants has reached this level of expertise.

For advise on colour for you or the man in your life telephone combers on 01823 334331 for a free consultation