BEINGTREND-SAVVY

Natasha Naegamvala, Director, Nalini of Nalini and Yasmin Salon, Mumbai, does crystal ball gazing with Kanishka Ramchandani to get trend-savvy for Year 2024.

What do you predict will be the dominant haircuts or styles for 2024?

Big, voluminous, flowy hair! The ’80s are making a comeback with loose, flowy styles. One of my all-time favourite cuts is the one which every stylist has to master at the beginning of their career. A forward graduation! It has face-framing external layers that keep the look together. For 2024, we will add a slightly disconnected fringe to this classic cut to create a fresh vibe.

Another big trend to watch out for is the curly hair one. We are now experimenting with different patterns on the curl spectrum – from tight and kinky curls to coils and loose waves.

Are there any specific influences (celebrities, social media, fashion, etc.) you believe will heavily impact hair trends in 2024?

Influencers today are certainly calling the shots. Earlier it was actors, now it’s the influencers that are leading the fray. Again, this changes from region to region. In Mumbai, I have noticed influencers are going bold with colour, even opting for pre-lightened hair. But the role of influencers is changing, especially when it comes to hair, as hairdressers have changed the way they do influencer marketing. It is no longer just a barter system. Influencers are seeking out stylists for guidance and feedback on trends and taking this information back to their followers.

Do you foresee any significant changes in hair colour preferences or techniques for the upcoming year?

The hair colours and techniques have definitely become bolder but it doesn’t mean that the blended placements are not still contemporary. I’m not a fan of chunkier, stripier colours, which are making a comeback, but if a client were to ask for them, I would definitely do it. But as a stylist I have scope to interpret it differently. For example, I may blend out the root slightly more, leaving the rest of the hair chunky and stripy. In terms of colour too, there is scope for experimentation. With a red, you can go for a vivid shade to keep it contemporary or go at the other end of the spectrum with a soft and subtle red.

What challenges do you anticipate in adopting these new trends in your services?

When clients come to you asking for changes in their hair on a frequent basis, you need to take into account the quality of hair. That’s a big challenge for a stylist.

For instance, a stylist needs to understand the deliverables of semi-permanent colours and demi-permanent colours. If as a stylist, you don’t communicate to the client details about the longevity of a permanent toner then your client will end up being dissatisfied.

If you understand colour correction and other such techniques, you will find it easy to adopt and adapt to these new trends.

How do you plan to keep your team updated and trained on the latest techniques and styles for 2024?

I find myself staying motivated and keeping my team motivated much more now than before because the trends are changing so fast. We definitely need to keep up with the frequently changing styles. As the head of my team, it is my job to see to it that they are delivering the trends properly. For example, I had a client with a 12-inch regrowth of dark virgin hair and running coppery tone. She wanted global soft browns. I stayed back with my team to ensure that the client’s hair quality wasn’t compromised and quality work was delivered. So, yes, as stylists we have to follow trends and as team leaders, we also need to ensure that our team members are able to deliver those trends in a technical and aesthetic manner.

Keeping up with trends makes good business sense for hairdressers. What is your opinion about this statement?

This is a little bit complicated. It makes tremendously good business sense to keep up with trends and to keep your team updated about what’s going on. But on the flip side, you are also empowering them. I have battled with this myself, but I’ve realised that the client comes first. The client wants what the client wants! You have to equip your team to be able to deliver that.