HAIR SHADES TO DYE FOR

A change is as good as a rest – and switching up your hair colour is just the ticket. The UK’S top colourists share their hottest shades for spring

Spring has sprung, so give your barnet a boost

Truth bomb: there are few things in life guaranteed to make you feel good, bar, say, a bang-on-the-money Gemma Collins meme and playing with puppies. But TOWIE alumni and baby animals aside, there are some other safe bets you can rely on to perk you up, starting with giving your hair a colour boost. In fact, Nottingham Trent University research proved that women experience a genuine increase in confidence after dying their hair. No wonder, then, that so many of us are doing it. As a nation, we’re top of the colour leagues. According to a recent study by Garnier, 64% of UK women have coloured their hair in the past two years, compared with 61% in the US and 55% in France. ‘We’ve noticed a definite rise in demand,’ says Sarah Brass, director at London salon Taylor Taylor. ‘Particularly when the season changes; the UK has always been a leader in fashion, and that translates to hair, too.’ ‘Colour can have a profound effect on your sense of wellbeing, especially during periods of transition, like the arrival of spring,’ adds psychologist Gill Thackray. ‘It makes sense to update rich wintry hues with light shades that mirror spring’s sense of new beginnings.’ While the idea of reinventing your style for the new season might not be new, today, the tech behind it is. Thanks to innovative pre-colour bonding treatments such as Taylor Taylor’s Olaplex and L’oréal Professionnel’s Smartbond, it’s never been easier to change your shade while ensuring your hair remains in optimum condition. ‘Olaplex repairs the disulfide sulfur bonds that are broken when you colour your hair,’ says Brass. ‘These bonds are the ones that give hair elasticity and strength, so with Olaplex, colouring can improve the condition of the hair and help it become more resistant to breakage.’ Win. So, with hair damage a thing of the past, now’s the time to embrace the dye and switch up that colour.

BLONDE AMBITION

The easiest way to reboot blonde locks? Put them on ice. Metallic blonde is having a moment, so the easiest update if you’re already blonde is to add a little platinum to your current warmer incarnation. But if you’re looking to go lighter, celebrity hair stylist Daniel Galvin Jr suggests you do it in stages to prevent your hair being damaged by the bleach. He recommends his taliage technique, a method whereby colour is applied in sections to hair around the face. ‘Weave in subtle tones and never go more than three shades lighter,’ advises Galvin. ‘As for colour, warm blondes should add cold silvery tones, brunettes should try golds and bronzes, while redheads can opt for either. This will create a translucency that beautifully reflects the light, plus brightening in stages will mimic the progressive natural lightening of the hair by the sun.’ Think of it as creating a permanent halo around your head – angelic behaviour not required.

THE NEW NORMAL

With 43% of British women sporting brown hair, brunettes are leading the way in the UK. According to Hershesons expert colourist Mitra Mirlashari, this season’s go-to shade for the dark-haired crowd is chocolate brown with added honey accents. ‘It’s the juxtaposition of light and dark that adds dimension and definition and transitions brunettes into spring,’ she says. Balayage remains the most popular way to do this – with over 10 million #balayage posts on Instagram, what more proof do you need? For those unfamiliar with the trend, placement is pivotal. One overall colour is ditched in favour of sweeps of lighter tones through the ends of your hair, accentuated by the warm brown beneath. But for those who aren’t already brunette, the look can still work, says Mirlashari. ‘Ask your colourist to dye your locks chocolate brown and protect the lighter parts with foil.’

FIRE STARTER

According to colour trend forecasters Pantone, we are embracing colour like never before as a means of selfexpression and exploration. Along with the tried-and-tested springtime faves, more vibrant

colours and experimental hues are garnering attention this season. ‘Chilli red is a deeper earthy red that’s wearable and can be adapted to suit most complexions,’ says Lauren Watson, senior colourist at Windle & Moodie. While blazing shades might be fresh and unexpected, they’ll also push your confidence boundaries. If you’re not ready to go full Rihanna circa 2010, but like the idea of adding a little spice to your mane, try dropping in microlights of chilli instead. ‘Microlights are a subtler version of a highlight,’ explains Watson. ‘They’re sporadically placed and fewer in number; yet add an extra dimension to the hair.’ Perfect, then, if you just want to be kissed, rather than full-on snogged, by fire…

SHADES OF GREY

Silver-grey is set to be the huge colour trend this spring. ‘Although it’s viewed as an ageing colour, it is, in fact, the total opposite,’ says Lisa Whiteman, colourist and founder of Whiteman Soho. ‘It’s a shade that suits most skin tones.’ But while the end result might wow, it’s not exactly the gentlest makeover you could give your hair. Expect to bleach your locks to pale blonde before toning down to achieve the perfect silver-grey that’ll need retouching every six to eight weeks. It’s a high-maintenance hue, so Whiteman suggests that you follow up with deepconditioning treatments once a week to keep it looking healthy. The maintenance is totally worth it, though. ‘You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the way grey reflects the light and how versatile the shade is when it comes to spring outfit choices,’ Whiteman adds. The message? Dedication pays off.