CHROMATIC. FASHION. DRAMA.

Think pop culture or high fashion and a huge spectrum of colours opens up in front of your eyes. Thanks to innovative technology. you can now transform this colourful vista onto your client’s hair. Elton Steve Vessoaker, Hair and Makeup Artist and Educator, talks about the techniques and trends of fashion colours.

Chromatically dramatic

“Regular colours are seen ‘naturally’ on human hair all over the world - whether it’s different tones of blondes, brunettes or reds. High fashion shades are very expressive and bold, creating an illusion of fantasy. These are not naturally seen on humans.

Vivid funky colours tend to fade with every wash. Regular colours are mostly permanent.”

Tally the technique

“The hair first needs to be prelightened, and this can be done with bleach. One needs to create a light enough slate, depending on the colours we are choosing to place in the hair.

For pastel tones, blues and violets, you need the hair to be lightened to the palest blonde. For red, magenta, teal and green, the hair may be lightened to a 7 or 8 level. Regular colours are available in a multitude of tones that don’t necessarily require prelightening, unless the client is trying to get into blondes.”

“It’s all about strik ing the right balance by understanding your client”

The colour confab

Elton Says, “client consultation is the most crucial part of colouring process, especially if they come in with fashion hues on their mind. Vivid colours are an expression of personality, state of mind, fashion and so much more. During the consultation try and get a good understanding of your clients personal style and vibe”. A few important to consider things are:

•How long does the client want to maintain the same colour? •Are they likely to change hair colours often? •Are they willing to come in to refresh the colour when it fades?

•Since the hair will be bleached, home care is a must for maintaining its health. Is the client committed to do so?

What’s in vogue?

•Block colouring, which was quite popular in the late ’90s, is back with a bang.

•Chunks of pop colours, placed strategically to bring out the shape of a haircut, are making a comeback. But here’s the twist - it’s less pop and more pastel!

•Free flowing colour in blues, pinks, greens and coppers is also on the cards for 2024.

Who, what, where!

•An individual’s personality is instrumental to pull off fashion colours. As you do a thorough hair examination and consultation with the client, look out for their personality traits and suggest them colours accordingly.

•For a bold and vibrant personality, you can go with brighter colours for the fringe or around the crown where it’s more evident.

•For someone who is shy and prefers being understated, you can give them something subtler at the nape, behind the ears or just at the tips.

•For afun personality that also has acorporate job, create adual look. During the day, the vivid colours can be tucked away and after-hours, the fashion hues can come out and play.

-As told to Priyanka Parshurami