If you’ve long envied the sultry, raven tones of Bella Hadid’s hair colour, now is the time to think about joining her on the dark side. The trends have decreed that black is the new blonde and as we kiss goodbye to summer’s brondes and balayage, we welcome in a new wave of vibrant, multidimensional blacks and brunettes. Whether you’re a blonde who’s looking to go over to the dark side or a brunette wanting to add a deeper dose of vibrancy; this versatile hair colour is cropping up everywhere, and it’s anything but boring. We got the lowdown on going dark the right way from Sophie Grant, Lockonego’s Senior Stylist and Colour Technician…
By Rebecca Hoffnung
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1 Smouldering dark hair colour is best achieved with a layering technique
Anyone can go dark, but it’s the glossy, lustrous finish that sets this new-season shade apart from other copycat colours. To achieve this eye-catching look, the colour can’t be one-dimensional or ‘flat’ – it should pick up light and always look super polished, and for this you’ll need a killer stylist. ‘Layering different depths & shades of brunette on top of each other gives a beautiful multidimensional finish. You want it to look soft and natural,’ explains Sophie. ‘We are lucky to work with REDKEN CHROMATICS in the salon and this in itself is a multi-tonal colour rather than a dense ‘flat’ finish.’ If you’re looking for some inspiration, why not take some style notes from models-of-the-moment Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid, whose shiny raven hair shade is a great place to start at when scheming with your stylist.
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2 Blonde to black can take time (but is worth the wait)
Whether you’re a natural or bottle blonde, the prospect of going super dark can be daunting. Is that inky Adriana Lima shade really achievable? And what happens if I want to dye it back? Admittedly, the dying process can be trickier, but an experienced stylist will know how to guide you. ‘All colour fades and if you’re fair wanting to go dark it may take a couple of applications for the brunette to stay. Be prepared for your colourist to pre pigment your hair – this means replacing the warm tones you’ve taken out to go blonde. As scary as it can be a brunette needs a warm undercoat or it can turn out flat and khaki,’ explains Sophie. And what happens if you eventually want to go back? Just like going super dark, it’s not a simple or quick job to take someone who has dyed their hair brunette back to blonde. To maintain the condition of the hair it can take several visits to the salon, so be sure to bare this in mind before you book in. When picking your shade, skin tone is also an important point to consider. Are you a warm or cool tone and how dark is your natural colour? If you go too dark or the wrong tone you may find yourself having to overcompensate with a lot of make-up.
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3 Regular colour top ups will keep you looking luxe
Many people assume that maintaining a vibrant brunette shade is far easier than blonde, but in reality it takes just as much upkeep. From too much sun to chlorine and everyday hair products, there are plenty of factors that can break down the shine and lustre of your colour. If you want your hair to stay superior looking, dropping in to see your stylist for a top up every so often wouldn’t go amiss. ‘At the salon we do an emergency colour boost which is an amazing treatment for both natural and coloured brunettes,’ explains Sophie. ‘We use REDKEN SHADES EQ GLOSS to add tone and shine to even the most lacklustre hair.' And while you’re at it, don’t go to all this trouble with dye jobs without taking your cut into account too. Often overlooked, a good haircut can be key to complementing your new raven look, while the wrong style can ruin it completely. ‘Dark hair looks best when it’s shiny and healthy looking,' explains Sophie, 'so I would keep weight in your cut, avoid anything with feathering and if your face can take it a strong dark fringe looks amazing!'
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4 Need-to-knows
Don’t: overcompensate with super dark brows – they don’t always need to match
Do: style it thick and heavy and keep feathering to a minimum – remember it’s all in the cut
Don’t: be afraid to top up your colour – brunette hair needs love too and requires regular upkeep
Do: match your colour to your skin tone – discuss this with your stylist in advance to make sure it’s the right shade for you
Don’t: go through the trouble if you’re not 100% convinced it’s a colour that will work for you – going dark takes dedication