Colour notes with siobhan haug

It’s an area of hairdressing that’s always evolving. It feels like being on a wave that’s growing fast. Colourists are the air that push the wave forward, and product innovations, trends and our clients help it grow. Where do you go for colour inspiration? Paint and print. I love wallpaper brand House of Hackney for interesting colour combinations, and of course Farrow and Ball for a polished version of vibrant tones. We always have swatches lying around! What are your favourite colouring techniques at the moment? We’ve been working with LumiLights on our latest TONI&GUY collection. It’s a contemporary take on highlights. We use a changeable weave that incorporates luminous baby-lights with textured pieces. I love that you can adapt it depending on the level of illumination that your client wants. Are there any colouring trends you’d like to bring back? If so, why? I miss the early 90s trend of super dark underneath and bleach blonde on the top – it was around just before I started my apprenticeship, but I remember thinking it was the coolest thing ever! I’m not sure that it still is, but it would definitely be fun to recreate. What are the challenges facing colourists right now? The biggest challenge we have with clients is skin testing. It can be hard to say no to a colour service without a skin test, but it’s really important that we do to make sure we look after our clients. What's been your most memorable colour consultation? I’ve been given a few baby photos and asked to replicate the hair clients had as a baby... What colour creation makes you most proud? The Rainbow Re-Mix for my British Colour Technician of the Year collection. There were so many fine layers of detail that came together to make the look so exciting. What do you enjoy most about your job? Other hairdressers. Wherever you go, hairdressers are naturally friendly, chatty and interesting so it’s always easy to find a connection with them. What advice would you give to a trainee colourist? Be consistent. Firstly, in your training, keep bringing the models and keep persevering. Then continue that in the next steps of your career – keep showing up for training sessions, say yes to every course offered and keep your eyes peeled on what’s going on in the industry. There are so many inspiring colourists to look up to. You can see the full article in the July issue of HJ. Don’t forget to catch up with our Colour Notes with Gunel Kelly. And stay tuned for more Colour Notes.