Conversations on colour: nathan walker

Nathan Walker joined Trevor Sorbie at 17 and now, 20 years later, is still there as international technical director and head of technical education. As well as his salon work, he's also a colourist to the stars - including Cheryl Fernandez-Versini. Nathan is also a member of the L'Oreal Professionnel 20:20 Colour Collective; an elite group of colourists from across the UK. Here, we find out more about his life in colour. What do you love most about being a colourist? For me colouring is the art of science. It's art because colourists paint and create using depth and tone. Our placement has to be perfect to add to and enhance the shape or style. Then it's also science because understanding our medium and our tools is the only way to create truly beautiful hair colour. What do you think are the biggest challenges facing professional colourists in 2015? DIY. The huge rise in how tos being published by people who often don’t know what they're doing can be seen all over video sharing media and every major producer of home colour backs it up with supporting videos on how easy it is to do at home. The professional difference is what sets us apart. We need to face this challenge head on and I’m confident colour 20:20 will help get this message heard What do you think is the most exciting thing about being a colourist in 2015? This era is one of the most liberating times to colour hair. If you take a walk around any fashion-conscious area, you see everything from single block colouring to soft balayage and every tone of the rainbow from fuchsia pinks to soft greens. This is truly a time of colour. What colour trend or technique are you most excited about for 2015? I think that variety is the colour of life. I’m excited to develop well-known techniques and update and apply these creatively, while always bearing in mind that change is embraced more now than ever before. I think we can look forward to bolder personalities really pushing the way colour looks. No more classic work - now it's the more different, but beautiful, the better. I’m also keen to push the beauty of blended colours and applications that allow more change of tone or depth. What one piece of advice would you give to trainee colourists who would love to be where you are now? Never ever stop playing with colour. Practise every idea - probably not on clients, but certainly playing has allowed me to develop ideas and techniques and grow my own confidence. Finally, remember to look around and see with your eyes and translate with your hands.