The summer months are always a fun time for hair trends. Warm weather often inspires dramatic chops and shorter styles, while others opt for light-colored tresses or even undergo multicolored transformations to match the vibrant atmosphere of the season.

Wella colorcharm has launched the second volume of its “What’s Trending in Hair Color” report just in time for summer 2021. The report, which surveyed a representative sample of 1,000 U.S. women ages 18 and up, uncovered the hair coloring behaviors as well as sought-after trends.

In addition, Wella also interviewed two stylists from the colorcharm Top Artist team. Oliver Adams (@kolorking) and Luis Rodriguez (@luisfernando_hair) shared what’s trending in the salons.

Y2K Beauty is Back

According to Rodriguez, “Looks from the early 2000s are definitely coming back. Chunky highlights, colorful streaks and especially rose gold and pink are some of the top requests in the salon today.”

The report found:

• The colorful streaks trend interested 39.47% of survey respondents.
• Chunky highlights interested 36.71%.
• Pink highlights interested 34.06%.
• The money piece interested 32.78%.
• Black streaks interested 26.77%.

Rushing to Red

Adams stated in the report, “Red is one of the most requested shades in the salon. Clients with a lot of warmth in their skin’s undertone (orange, red or yellow) wear cooler tones better, such as red-violet, merlot, crimson and burgundy. Clients with cooler skin tones (olive, beige or taupe) wear warmer reds like copper and a traditional red better.”

The report found:

• Burgundy had the most interest among survey respondents with 44%.
• Red interested 39%.
• Ruby red interested 35%.
• Strawberry blonde interested 34%.
• Copper interested 29%.
• Red highlights interested 61% of at-home colorists.

Hair Color Behaviors Among Consumers

• Six in 10 women change their hair color at least once every six months.
• Of those surveyed, 79% plan to undergo a hair transformation in the next two to three months.
• More than half of women surveyed are looking to color their hair at home and plan to do so even as salons conduct business as usual. 

The Top Hair Transformations

Of those looking to undergo a hair transformation in the next few months, the report found:

• Blonde highlights were the top pick for 18%.
• Vivid colors were the top pick for 17%.
• Red hair was the top pick for 17%.
• Brown hair was the top pick for 15%. 

Is it really July already?
 
Are you as excited about things opening back up as I am?  I know we still need to be very mindful and taking precautions, but boy howdy, it sure is nice to see sporting arenas full of cheering fans again.  Not to mention seeing concerts and other events being scheduled once again.  Watching clips of recent games and events and seeing those empty arenas is a stark reminder of where things were just a few short months ago.  

I’m a little late getting this out this month.  The excitement of heading to Colorado and spending time with my Mom took priority this month.  

I hope you’ve had a safe 4th and enjoyed the extra days with family and friends.
 
+++++

Summer is here and I am here to help you (and your hair) make the best of these lazy days of summer.

First off are essential tips for summer hair care.  Cover it up, wear it loose, wash less often, and condition, condition, condition.  You might even want to consider following a no shampoo method.  

With summer, comes the Summer Trends.

• For you ladies: “Looks from the early 2000s are definitely coming back. Chunky highlights, colorful streaks and especially rose gold and pink are some of the top requests in the salon today.”
• For you guys:  Looks are leaning toward longer, looser locks—think variations of mullet shapes (yeah, I know) and shags, heavily ’70s-influenced.  Much of this trend can be attributed to men visiting their groomers less often in pandemic times—but, that reality places even more of an emphasis on the quality of the cut.

​I’m sure you’ve heard of purple shampoo, right.  But did you know there are blue shampoos, too?  It’s all about the color wheel. Opposite colors neutralize, or cancel each other out.   Purple shampoo and blue shampoo work in a similar way, canceling brassy tones in your hair color. Because purple and yellow are opposites on the color wheel, violet pigments cancel out brassy yellow tones, which makes it great for making blonde hair more neutral. However, the purple shampoo will not work as well for caramel highlights or ash brown hair, as brassy orange is best neutralized by blue pigments.

Have you put your summer reading list together yet?   Audiobooks are prefect for road trips or lounging by the pool (or not).  There's no better place to check out that audiobook you've been meaning to "read" than your local library.

Have you ever wondered why people started wearing powdered wigs?  And why we don’t anymore?   

That’s just some of what I have for you this month.

I know I’m probably sounding like a broken record, but I really do appreciate you.  It’s because of you that I’m still here for you and your hair needs.

As always, I am available by email, text or phone if you have any questions or concerns.
 
Looking forward to seeing you soon!
​
Be well. Take Hair!

Natural hair rules in the summer! Now is the season to let go of perfect, sleek hairdos and embrace that loose, natural look. Learn how to protect your hair from the heat, sun, and humidity without turning it into an endless battle.

1. Cover up!
​Use a scarf or hat to cover your head when you’re out in the sun. Not only does this provide extra UV protection, but it also helps your scalp to retain moisture. A hat reduces damage caused by wind, especially if your hair is prone to tangling, and protects colour-treated hair.

​2. Put your hair up in loose, comfortable styles
​A messy braid is ideal for keeping your hair under control and minimizing exposure to the sun. Tight hairstyles can be damaging because they tend to pull and tear hair, especially if your hair is dry from the summer heat.

4. Reduce the heat
Try to blow-dry your hair as little as possible. It is already exposed to a significant amount of heat on a daily basis in the summer, and it will probably air-dry quickly anyways, so give the blow dryer a break and go au naturel if you can. Avoid flat-irons, too, as they will do further damage to already-dry hair. Plus, a sleek hairstyle only makes that frizz stand out more.

6. Condition always
​Rinse with apple cider vinegar diluted in water for a quick natural conditioner. Use some coconut oil or shea butter (careful with this, since it can be heavy) to smooth, de-frizz, and moisturize your locks after washing. The oil will give some shine and, if you have wavy hair, create natural, air-dried curls. Try a natural deep conditioning treatment once a week to get that extra bit of moisture into your hair.​

7. No more swimmer’s hair
​If you’re a blond who turns green after a dip in the pool, try rinsing out your wet hair with 1⁄4 cup apple cider vinegar and 2 cups water to get rid of discolouration and dullness. It helps to get your hair wet before entering the water because then it won't absorb as much chlorine.

8. Add some sunscreen
​There are shampoos that contain UV protection, but most of those are chemical-laden, conventional shampoos that I’d recommend avoiding. One quick way to add some protection is to run your hands lightly through your hair after applying sunscreen to your body.

9. Try a hot oil rinse
​Coconut, olive, and avocado oils are good at penetrating the hair shaft. Shampoo hair as usual, then work in oil from ends to roots. Rinse, then condition as usual. Your hair should feel moisturized afterward, but not greasy.

10. Fake that beach look if you haven't been there
One blogger recommends this homemade sea salt spray, made with 1 tsp sea salt and 1 tsp coconut oil, mixed with water in a small spray bottle. Spray and scrunch to get that desirable wavy beach look. The coconut oil will counteract the dryness of the salt.​

 11. Use a wide-tooth comb instead of a brush

This section is for the "Follically Challenged".  There are so many conversations and articles on the topic and I want make sure you are getting good information. 

​This month's article

Add this word to your vocabulary: trichology. It’s the study of scalps and hair, and how they relate to one another. Trichologists specialize in the root cause of hair loss, since, not surprisingly, it all starts right there in the scalp. I always use the metaphor of soil and plants: You need fertile, nourished soil in order for plants to grow strong. (OK, sun usually helps, too, but spare me the finer details.) If the soil is subpar—either there is a dearth of nutrients, or it’s simply an uninhabitable patch of land—then the plants will die, if they even grew in the first place. It’s important to think of your hair growth the same way. Just as any number of issues could cause the soil to go south, the same can happen with scalp health.

I’ll be the first to admit that, when I talk about my own hair loss experience with readers and friends, I'm quick to suggest medical remedies as a way to thwart hormonal assault on your follicles, and to boost nutrient delivery. Yes, these and other hair loss prevention methods work, but it can frequently be mitigated by any number of tactics, says trichologist Bridgette Hill. She’s the founder of Root Cause Scalp Analysis, a scalp therapy platform that helps clients fully understand their own unique variables affecting hair loss.

“A lot of men simplify [to finasteride and minoxidil], but there are so many lifestyle changes, as well as holistic and plant-based solutions out there that can help you,” Hill says. “Many men want to think it’s genetic hair loss, but it could be an overbuilding of proteins from their workout regimens. Sometimes it’s inflammation from over-shampooing. A lot of times, you can end up doing more damage when you treat androgenic hair loss with [prescriptions], when you could just treat it holistically.”
​
Read on for a little more insight into how trichology might help you understand the correlation between your own scalp and hair health, plus a few other ways brands are getting into scalp care.

What does a trichologist do?
“Trichologists are the bridge between cosmetology and dermatology,” says Hill. Again, no two hair loss experiences are the same, and that’s because you have to factor in things like geographic location, gender, medical history, ethnicity, age, lifestyle and habits, nutrient deficiencies, stress and anxiety, grooming products, and (believe it or not), much more. A cosmetologist might look at the surface, or only focus on the hair, while a dermatologist might jump right to the medical and anatomical stuff, oftentimes relying only on prescriptions.

“Trichologists ask a series of strategic questions that help us respond to [hair loss] triggers,” Hill says. “Doctors might take a biopsy and define it in general terms, like ‘this is dermatitis or folliculitis’ and leave it at that. But hair loss is very personal. It’s one thing to blame, let’s say, diabetes, for hair loss, but what medication are you taking? Your medications might be creating inefficiencies in your minerals and vitamins that would otherwise help [the hair follicles and scalp].”

So, consider adding this to your roster of routine health screenings: a visit to the trichologist (many, like Hill, have transitioned to digital consultations this past year). Even if everything seems balanced and healthy, a trichologist can help build a plan that will get ahead of future hair loss problems.

How can I care for my scalp regularly?

Here are four ways you can prioritize scalp health on your own—even if hair loss isn’t a primary concern.
 
1. Get the right nutrients, but not an overdose: More brands are making scalp- and follicle-fortifying supplements that take a natural, plant-based approach. In the case of Prose, the aim is to cut back the reliance on medicines, and provide consumers with exactly the amount of nutrients needed. You can also prioritize a balanced diet centered on Vitamins A, B, C, and E (leafy greens, sweet potatoes, berries, nuts), fatty acids (nuts, avocadoes, fish), proteins (eggs, nuts, beans), among other natural, whole foods.

2. Scrub a dub dub: Scalp exfoliation might seem counterproductive: Wait, so you scrub the scalp over and over in order to promote hair retention? Sure, you might lose a few hairs in the process (ones that were bound to fall later that day, before restarting their growth cycles), but doing this scrub also stimulates nutrient delivery to your scalp and hair follicles. It even clears the scalp of dead skin cells, excess dirt and grime, as well as product accumulation. This allows follicles to grow stronger and uninhibited, while also mitigating fungal breakouts and flaking. And if you prefer a topical scrub (versus a physical brush), the product might even contain scalp-balancing ingredients like tea tree oil. But it’s important to note that you should only scrub 1-2 time weekly, max.

3. Do a weekly scalp treatment: At-home scalp therapies can range from leave-on masks to rinse-away treatments, but they all have a similar aim: To neutralize bacterial and fungal buildup, and deliver a high concentration of nourishment to the scalp and hair follicles, often while promoting circulation. Some might prioritize dry-scalp revival, while others may mitigate excessive oil production.

4. Blow dry less often, and at cooler settings: The heat from a blow dryer is not just damaging to your hair; it can also wilt the follicles themselves. There’s no recovering from that kind of frying, so keep the dryer on cool, if you must, and pick up an ionic dryer, which causes less damage to hairs. (Oh, and take milder showers, while you’re at it.)

More often than not, it seems like we’re telling you to put more effort into your lifestyle. Get your suits tailored. Up your grooming game. Revamp your apartment. Upgrade your gadgets. Learn to drink like a classy bastard.

Just once, wouldn’t it be nice if we simplified things instead?
​
Today we’re going to do just that, and tell you how rock dishevelled-but-dapper bed head hairstyles. It’s the best of both worlds: handsome as hell, but doesn’t try too hard to be that way. Keep these pointers in mind if your locks are ready for a new look: