hair

HAIR COLOR GUIDE (HINT OF RED)

post/graphic design: Kristin Ess

Tis the season, hunnies!! This color guide revolves around “hints of red”. This is my absolute personal favorite family of all because it introduces people to the world of warmth in a non-commital/non-scary kind of way. Scenerio: let’s say you’ve been a blonde or a brunette forever but you’re suuuuuper bored with your color. And let’s say you want to venture out and try something new! “Hints of red” would be a great way to test the waters because, again, you can try this out using a gloss or temporary color before going with a more permanent option. Glosses and temporary colors will fade out nicely over the course of 6-8 weeks so if you decide warmth isn’t for you, you don’t have to keep it– just let it go away. Ask your colorist about a gloss or if you’re buying a temporary box of color to use at home, look up the reviews and make sure it fades nicely. When I talk about hints of red with my clients, I use fun descriptive words like apple cider, pumpkin latte, cinnamon stick, and copper penny. They’re not quite reds, but they have more warmth than anything in the gold family. These are all a bunch of “almost colors” that never fully cross over into the red family. BUT… this color should come with a warning– it’s extremely addictive and a total gateway drug to real reds (which are the next hair post). Here are some things you should know when considering “hints of red”.

• Contrary to popular belief, reds are actually GREAT for those with pink/redness to their skin. Red tones in the hair will often “upstage” the red tones in your skin and make blemishes, acne and rosacea less obvious. I speak from experience– I have red hair and I have a lot of pink/red in my t-zone and the it downplays the tone of my skin. When a client is going through a really rough time with their skin, I tend to take them to the “hint of red” if not red family because all of the sudden the hair color pops and the redness in the skin takes a back seat. I know this is a sensitive subject for many of you, but believe me, this is something can really help. The red tones of the hair does not make the red tones in the skin stick out more. It’s magic and it’s one of my all time favorite tricks for helping someone through a hard moment/trying to repair their skin.
• Conserve that color! You paid for it and if you like it, you should try to keep it! Use a color conserving shampoo instead of your normal shampoo. My favorite is this one but it gets very expensive, so if you’re on a budget, try the cheaper version here! I like to get both and alternate!
• What if you hate it? If you try a having a “hint of red” and you decide you hate it, use a clarifying shampoo once or twice a week to make it fade a little faster. One I really like is this.
• Who can wear hints of red? Pretty much anyone can wear hints of red. I would suggest putting a tiny bit of color on your brows though. You never want to be that girl with warm hair and grayish/mousy brows. It pulls everything together and makes it look so much more natural. Don’t leave the color on your brows the full time. You just want to take the ashe away, not make them too warm. I tend to apply mine with a clean mascara wand (called a spoolie) and leave them for 10-15 min max.
• Play with your makeup. The makeup you used before may not be the right makeup after you get your “hints of red”. Maybe instead of black liner, you try a dark brown. Or maybe instead of lipstick, your new go to becomes a gloss. Who knows! Play around. Go to a counter and ask for advice. If you were terrified to wear an olive based shadow before, maybe now is the time! My favorite makeup tones for red hair tones are bronzes and rosy pinks. Luckily a rich cherry red lip still works with red hair so feel free to go bold there.

Next up: Full on REDS! All types!