We’re familiar with the standard block hair colours – blonde, brown and red – but what about in-between shades? You know, the almost but not quite shades that sit comfortably between the spectrum?
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We spoke to JOICO celebrity colourist and spokesperson Denis de Souza about all things hair, and one thing is clear: in-between shades are in for spring. Here’s why you need to jump on the bandwagon:
#1 They’re already popular
Block colours are behind us, with shades that are a bit of a mixture taking the spotlight. Not convinced? Gisele Bündchen has been rocking her infamous bronde locks since we can remember. More recently, Selena Gomez mixed her dark brown strands with a deep shade of honey. And Denis believes we are only going to see more and more of these types of shades.
“None of my clients have one solid colour as it looks very flat,” he explains. “You need to add a few highlights to hair to look more natural and like you don’t colour your hair.”
#2 They suit everybody
Regardless of your hair type, style or colour, there’s a shade out there for you. When making a change, it’s always best to consult your stylist – there’s a reason they go through years of training – but as a general rule of thumb, you should work with what you’ve already got. The best thing about in-between shades is that they don’t require 100 per cent commitment.
Dennis says, “If you’re doing an overall colour you should always stick to your natural colour or one shade lighter or one shade darker. Then you have fun by going lighter or darker using highlights and lowlights.”
As for the cut, get chopping. “Any hairstyle should have a bit of layers, especially if you’re having highlights or lowlights, something that creates dimension. The layering of the hair will showcase the colour much better. If it’s just one solid length and you have highlights or lowlights it will feel very heavy at the bottom.”
#3 The options are endless
Denis details three main colour trend predictions for spring:
If you want a subtle change…
“Contouring: This technique is when you contour using highlights around the face. It is perfect for someone who doesn’t have much time to spend in the salon but wants some brightening up around the face.”
If you want to channel celebs…
“Bronde beach glow: This is a highlighted look for brunettes who want to have that J. Lo, caramel look for summer.”
If you want a more dramatic change…
“Laguna beach blonde: This is an overall blonde colour that is heavily highlighted so you have a blonde look from roots to ends.”
#4 Maintenance is easy
In-between shades are low maintenance, cause minimal damage to the hair and offer high impact – they may well be the solution for lazy girls worldwide.
“If you’re working with your natural hair and you’re just highlighting it, it not only looks much better but is much less maintenance as you are looking at colouring it every three months,” Denis explains.
“But if you’re doing a one-colour process you’re going to have a line demarcation which is very harsh and noticed immediately, which means you will need to colour every four weeks,” he adds.
So before you see your stylist, make sure you weigh up how much time and money you’re willing to put into your new style.
#5 Celebrities are in on the trend
“All of them [Denis’ celebrity clientele] are fans of subtle, natural colours. None of them have one-block colour.” Nuff said.
What do you think of this trend? Is it one you’d try for spring?
