So I may be the most boring person alive when it comes to haircolor: I never color my hair! Although, I’ve been thinking about it lately… Maybe going a little darker. And it seems like I have the right idea: “Small adjustments can help update your look from season to season,” explained Tracey Cunningham (Redken Creative Consultant for Color) to me recently. “When summer comes to a close, I plan to cool my clients’ shades down this fall/winter season with Redken’s new Color Gels.”A
Here are Tracy’s top haircolor trends:A
Trend #1: BrunettesA
“Brunettes will go to a whole new level this fall/winter with an overall cooler base. Think Fergie’s shade; her lighter highlights really show through her dark, chestnut base making her haircolor look so flawless and effortless.”A
Trend #2: BlondesA
“Blondes will be blonde this fall — think Drew Barrymore’s cool, nearly platinum blonde shade for this inspiration. Clients can often be concerned with the cost to achieve and keep the perfect shade of blonde, but I find that women cut back in other areas rather than haircolor as it’s one of a consumers’ most prominent and most seen everyday accessory!”
Trend #3: RedheadsA
“I brought Lindsay back to her original roots as a true redhead. This fall/winter, redheads will be more sophisticated, and playful with their beautiful shade, with deep red tones and a few cool, blonde highlights throughout to enhance the red even more.”A
Tracy also had the following tips, which I thought were really helpful, for pre-salon prep:A
“Walk into the salon with your everyday look, so your colorist can get a feel for what you’re comfortable with. If you have the time, do a little research into color science. Knowing the difference between terms like demi-permanent and permanent color can help you and your colorist communicate more efficiently. Study up with Redken’s
glossary. Your colorist is there to work with you to achieve beautiful color. The more you can explain what you want, the better the collaboration will be. If you are going in for “corrective color” — to correct color results you are unhappy with from a prior coloring experience — be prepared for a longer visit, as your colorist may need to remove old color and then recolor your hair.A
Bring your inspiration: Photographs and examples of haircolor you love will help you and your colorist explore your color options — and ensure that you both mean the same thing when you say, honey blonde or scarlet red.A
Know your history: Be prepared to tell your colorist about any prior color services, whether it was highlights last year or a color gloss last month.A
Trust your colorist: Listen to your colorist’s expert opinion. During your color consultation, he or she will consider your desired result, then evaluate your hair’s condition and look at your skin tone and coloring in order to create your custom color formulation. And finally, ask questions: If you hear a color term you don’t understand, don’t hesitate to ask your colorist for an explanation. Remember to inquire about maintenance — how often you’ll need to return to the salon for touchups, and how to best maintain your color at home between visits!”
I love drinking water so much that my friends have dubbed me an honorary water buffalo. But the worst part of drinking agua, if you ask me, is schlepping a bottle around with you. They’re heavy, they can be bad for the environment, and inconvenient if you’re traveling. Enter Vapur! Vapur is a line of really rather brilliant water bottles. They’re collapsible (so you can take them through security sans water when flying, or stow one in your backpack for when you need it), reusable and dishwasher safe, freezeable… The list goes on! I am obsessed with mine and it’s now a yoga/workout staple for me. Find Vapur at www.vapur.us!A
