Shining a Light on Colour
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
Whether you’re creating a beautiful balayage or getting creative with colour, the most important element to getting it right is lighting. “Getting the right lighting in-salon is so important as it really helps the clients to see exactly what they are getting, and also helps the hairdresser to analyse the hair colour effectively,” explains Lloyd Court, creative director and co-owner of seanhanna salons, Wimbledon.
It’s also worth thinking about the effect a ring light has on the colour before posting an image on social media.
“Try to get a ring light that can adjust brightness and warmth; you want to make sure it’s kept at a nice sunlight setting – it’s not too warm, not too cool and not too bright. I find it best when you put your ring light about one metre from your client to ensure it doesn’t add too much artificial light.”
Four top tips for getting colour right in every kind of light.
When working with colour, try to find a space with as much natural light as possible. This will give the truest reflection of the colour you are creating, without making it look cooler or warmer than it actually is.
If you're looking at hair colour in the natural light it's going to appear a lot warmer than if you're looking at it in a blue light, in a bathroom for example. It’s worth educating your clients on the effects of different types of light. Then they won’t wonder why their new shade looks cooler when they look in a mirror at home.
If your salon or workspace doesn’t offer a natural light source, a good alternative is soft strip lighting. This type of lighting will offer an even illumination across the hair that is neither too warm nor too cool.
The effects of light vary depending on the shade you are working with. Blondes tend to vary in tone more dramatically than other shades depending on the light source. However, brunettes and redheads can also appear very different under different lights. For example, if you are using a spotlight, every single red/copper client you do will look like they have root glow.
Use a ring light to take accurate pictures of your work. If it looks too fake, it’s going to backfire when another client asks for it and her hair looks like a different colour to your Instagram picture.
Find out more about Lloyd Court:
Instagram: @lloydcourthair
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