It won’t come as a surprise to many hairdressers to read that the Cost of Living Crisis has affected hair trends, with clients opting for lower-maintenance cuts and colours to help cut back on spending. However, clients looking to spend less in the salon don’t have to quit their appointments all-together; services such as face-framing highlights and colour glosses are great alternatives to offering a full-head or global colour.
It’s also worthwhile to consider suggesting darker colours to your clients, which often provide a more effortless regrowth. Plus, with shades such as Glossed Ink and Jet Brunette, your existing dark clients can also join in on the fun, as with these new trends, it’s all about the undertones. Here's what three colour experts had to say...
How would you describe the Glossed Ink hair trend?
“Glossed Ink hair is a one-dimensional brunette/black colour that has subtle blue reflects,” explains Rachel Valentine for L’Oréal Professionnel. “It’s a rich, full coverage colour which is perfect for creating a healthy, shiny look,” adds Marney Lian from Gritt London.
Every colour trend seems to have a unique name these days – how can this name benefit clients?
While not all hair professionals are fans of micro-trends, Rachel highlights the benefits of embracing a unique name such as Glossed Ink. She says: “It’s helpful to have a name as it creates excitement around a certain colour, and for me it’s really nice to see a trend for those who have naturally dark or black hair. This can give people a reason to get to the salon and have a change, whilst maintaining their dark.”
Becky Sutherland, OSMO Ambassador, agrees, adding: “I love the name; it definitely paints a clear picture of the tone and helps create an image of a rich, shiny colour.”
Mark Leeson, Revlon Professional Global Ambassador, also shares his thoughts on Glossed Ink as a name, explaining: "It's beneficial to clients as it’s moving away from the harsh-sounding terminology of blue-black. Clients are now given an image of glam, luxurious colour, which is on-trend for the looks of 2024."
Which clients will Glossed Ink suit?
Like Rachel, Marney agrees that this is the perfect trend for clients with dark hair to get involved with, sharing: “Glossed Ink is great for dark bases wanting to add a blue reflect to their hair. This can be adapted to suit most skin tones, making it a popular choice in salon.”
However, Rachel does highlight one pressure point to consider when creating Glossed Ink hair, adding: “While this colour will be achievable on most pre-existing hair colours, it may be tricky to create the blue reflect on someone who has a lot of warmth in the hair.’
Do you have any tips on ensuring a glossy finish?
Rachel shares her approach to ensuring a high-gloss finish, explaining: “Running an acidic, blue-based toner over the top of the dark as a second colour application could work really well here, while blue-based shampoos can help the client keep this up at home; I love L’Oréal Professionel’s Chroma Crème for this.”
Marney also stressed the importance of at-home maintenance, recommending the Revlon Professional Re/Start range. “Its Color Protective Micellar Shampoo reduces hair porosity, boosts shine, and enhances colour for a radiant finish and long-lasting vibrancy,” she says.
However, when it comes to the colour itself, Becky says: “To create this look I would use the OSMO IKON Black Blue 1.1 – it’s the perfect colour for this trend.”
Feature image credit: Stuart Matuska
