How to create the perfect head of black hair

The Goth look is back and jet black hair is the most essential accessory for creating the hottest autumn/winter 08 look.

Christel Lundqvist, head of technical for hob salons, London, explains how to get the look spot on.

Do...

• Take into account your client's skin tone
  
  Porcelain skin is ideal for jet black hair as its cooler tone means it works well with strong colours.



• Get the right shade of black
  
  There is a huge variation in black hair tone, including matte black, charcoal black, ink black, blue black and purple black, giving a spectrum of shades. Always take this into consideration when deciding the right tone to work with.



• Think about what type of colour to apply
  
  A semi-permanent black will give a high-gloss finish, while a permanent colour will give you greater opportunity to get creative and vary the tone in colour.



• Ensure the colour and cut work in harmony
  
  Black shades work really well with shorter cuts complementing the strength of the colour.

Don't...

• Use too much product
  
  Be careful not to over apply a black colour, especially matte black, as it will lose its shine on the length and ends.



• Use permanent colour unless you are sure
  
  Black is difficult to remove, so avoid permanent colour if you're aware the client might want to change the colour again in the near future.



• Assume black suit all skins
  
  Make sure you take into account your client's complexion before application.



• Ignore the manufacturers' advice
  
  Black hair colour must not be over-developed and should only be applied in line with the manufacturer's guidelines.