The shift in how my clients talk about their hair color has been wild lately

For years, clients would come in asking for 'ash blonde' or 'warm brown' based on a chart. Now, maybe in the last eight months, I'm hearing way more specific requests like 'I want the color of that sunset picture I sent you' or 'make it look like it's been sun-bleached from a summer in Greece'. It's less about the technical name and more about a vibe or a feeling. I think social media, especially TikTok, is a huge reason. People see a mood or a lifestyle and want their hair to match that story, not just a shade. It's actually pushed me to get better at custom mixing on the spot to match these ideas instead of just grabbing a tube. Has anyone else had to totally change how you consult for color because of this?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_wyatt1mo agoMost Upvoted

Isn't it also pushing us to become better translators? A client shows me a picture of a foggy morning and says "that gray, but soft." I'm not just thinking "level 8 ash," I'm mixing to capture that cool, muted light. It feels less like following a recipe and more like painting now.

scott.drew1mo ago

Had a client bring in a photo of a wet sidewalk at night. Streetlights reflecting off the pavement. She said "I want that dirty gold." Had to mix a Level 6 with a tiny bit of green and some violet to kill the brass. Took three tries before she nodded. That moment when they see it click is better than any formula book.

the_susan26d ago

Has anyone noticed how this shift is making us lean way harder into color theory than we ever did in beauty school? Like I'm actually pulling out my old art class notes to explain why a bit of violet cancels that streetlight yellow.