Trend-watching: back to black hair for 2015

Black hair is firmly back in the spotlight for 2015, following a spate of supermodel transformations. Leading the way for the Autumn/Winter 2015 shows was Edie Campbell, who was catapulted to fame when she chopped of her hair and coloured it black a couple of years previously. She's since returned to a more natural shade of brown, but at the Hugo Boss show in New York she shocked us all with an inky-black shade once again. Guido and the Whittmore House salon team were responsible for Edie's new look, which was created with Redken Espresso Shades EQ. [hji-gallery-legacy] But Edie wasn't the only model going gothic for the season. Ashleigh Good switched mousey brown for inky black, Isabella Emmack went super-short and super-dark, while previously white-blonde Esmeralda Seay-Reynolds had a dramatically dark makeover too. We asked HJ's British Colour Technician of the Year, Clayde Baumann for his verdict on the trend. Here's what he has to say: "Black hair can be likened to a LBD and is unparalleled in its impact and simplicity. Not only only is it a guaranteed way to get hair to take on a beautiful gloss and shine, it is known for making clothing and makeup choices far easier when placed next to the correct skin tone and eye colour. It is also a great option to create a strong perimeter line and gives the illusion of density, complementing solid shapes like the box bob. "This trend is one that re-emerges often because of its simplicity and versatility, but for those fashionistas who like to see a little more in the hair, the look can be given a more punk vibe by adding hunter green or aubergine in for tonal variation and interest. "As always, consultation when transitioning to this trend is pivotal. One key point to remember when considering this colour change for a client is the permanency of black. Ensure that your client is aware that even if you use semi-permanent colour, the dye-load of black pigment is quite saturated and very difficult to remove once it is in. Also remember that the regrowth and demarcation lines on clients with fair hair are more noticeable and so maintenance is higher in this instance. "In this case I would recommend scaling the client down to black slowly by doing a dark brown application first and allowing the client to acclimatise to this first. Furthermore I would personally only ever apply semi-permanent gloss when doing black so that you can re-apply globally every six weeks to maintain a sheer result." [Image: GuidoPalau]