Dimensional Color Trends ~
Dimensional color trends are back! I’ve been watching this hair color trend develop. The natural lived in color look has been popular for awhile but it has peaked and is starting to become passé. When balayage became popular 5-6 years ago, it followed the ombre trend as a solution to “soft ombre” or sombre if you recall that trendy hair color term. Any grown out or gradient looks require a lower maintenance of about 12 weeks. But trends have changed to highlight’s that are brighter, blonder, and higher on the head.
Dimension versus “lived in” hair color.
What’s hot in hair color? MORE. More dimension, more blonde and more of both closer to the root. Trends have changed after the 2020 shutdown because 2020 changed everything in life. People grew tired of the “less is more” color and now they just want MORE. When society changes, there’s a ripple effect that leaves nothing untouched.
“Living your best life” became something we stopped saying, and started doing. Part of that is redefining our personal style. Color corrections and dimensional color trends were already increasing before 2020. Now we’re in a corrective color boom. Most salons couldn’t even properly identify what made color a “corrective” situation prior to shutdowns. Understandably many weren’t prepared for the amount of resources and skill that would be required upon reopening.
Even women who visited salons regularly before returned with corrective situations. Throw in many did home hair color, it was a recipe for disaster. We were prepared, BUT more contrast has more maintenance. Especially compared to ‘lived in” hair color looks of the past. If you’re wanting to update your hair color, you will need to update salon visits too. Partnering with a salon that can handle both is important.
Contrast & Depth Explained
Like the world of art, contrast is lighter and creates brightness. In hair color this is the blonde. Think of how the best indoor lighting looks soft yet bright because that is what blonde pieces do, they capture and reflect light. Face framing highlights are natural, so no need to worry about it totally changing how you look, but it can overall improve how your skin and hair look.
Dimensional Maintenance
A couple of salon visits a year will not maintain high contrast looks with more dimension. When color has a natural looking root we may call it a shadow root or color melt but even this look has more depth and dimension higher on the head. Color trends tend to last 3-5 years, chances are you’ll eventually want a change if you’ve been getting balayage or natural looking highlights.
The “money piece” highlight is a brighter bold blonde in the front and though it’s still in, it has evolved to all over thin pieces of blonde. Add a root tone 1 shade darker for “depth” and that is EXACTLY what’s hot right now! So whether you’re blonde, red or brunette, if you have a lived in looking highlight, eventually you may want to transition to hair with more pops of brighter color around the face to brighten up skin tone and make hair have some sparkle.
Dimension In Art & Fashion
Dimension is the depth of the hair color look and we achieve this through the color we either leave natural, or darken with lowlights. Beautiful hair color has warm, cool and neutral tones in similar levels. Bright pops of blonde create the contrast or the “trend” part of the overall color, but both dimension and contrast work together to create a complete look.
Just like interior design or fashion, using color opposites is common to balance and complement each other because colors have a complementary counterpart. Color pairings like red and green, orange and blue, and purple and yellow compliment each other because they also correct and balance each other. Using color opposites to correct and tone for dimensional looks is something every great colorist should do to create a contrasted ,yet balanced, overall look.
Color Contrast: Flattering on Everyone
Highlights reflect light so even a subtle highlight can make a big impact on creating contrast. Beige mushroom hued highlights on a brunette is flattering to neutral skin tones, and caramel shades are great for brunettes with warmer skin. Dimensional hair color can still look natural.
Appointment Accountability
The biggest factor in how your hair looks is what you do, not what we do. When we hear I want “blonder or brighter” plan on pre-booking every 6-8 weeks.
When a color client steps out of a maintenance schedule, it means we must spend more time and use more product to get your back to where it was. We’ve seen this many times when someone schedules a maintenance service like a partial highlight, but it has been 4 or 5 months since their last visit. Updating your look can be easy, but rethinking maintenance is important before changing your look.
Gyms & Salons: Results
That is why we always say pre-booking is important. Not only does it ensure an appointment with your stylist, it also saves you money because we charge less for maintenance services. If someone comes every 6-8 weeks for a highlight retouch, it actually costs less because it’s less work for us. Plus your hair always looks good. 😉
Consistency is everything! Just like good health, good hair works the same way. The more you visit the gym, the more fit you become. The same goes for great hair, skincare or any beauty routines in general. Especially anything that is custom because it must be professionally maintained. Speak to one of our color experts today for fresh insight on how your hair can be improved with a more dimensional look.
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