Redken doesn’t just make great products, they have a roster of experts that offer advice to other color pros. Redken Hollywood colorist Tracy Cunningham along with Haircolor Consultant David Stanko were recently at NYC’s Morgans Hotel to discuss summer hair color trends and new Redken haircare and color launches.
Tracy Cunningham, whose clients include the likes of Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Nicole Richie, Molly Sims, and Lindsay Lohan, says that “blonde and blonder” is the most popular color request she gets from her A-list clientele. However, she says that it’s not wise for everyone to go blonde. When a client demands a color Cunningham really thinks won’t work well, she will try to convince the client to do something more flattering. Luckily, rich brunette and auburn tones (think Isla Fisher) are also very popular, and Tracy’s calm demeanor and loads of experience would be hard to resist, even for a celebrity client.
Tracy says that the trend is moving away from highlights and focusing more on rich, overall color (this can be emphasized with Redken’s Shades EQ), for example. The three models here offer a visual example of what’s hot in hair color. Tracy said the trend is now for the blonde to frame the face instead of highlights. It used to be that East Coasters and West Coasters had different color preferences, but now, says Tracy, they’re pretty much the same.
Even though these are challenging economic times, Tracy asserts that women are not scrimping on their hair or hair color — there are just some things you can’t do without. But if you don’t buy your color from a box, you’ll want to protect your investment by using at-home products that have UV filters, moisturizers, and other ingredients that pamper your hair and help you keep the color looking fresh, longer. The re-packaged Color Extend collection from Redken, with cranberry oil and uva/uvb protectants, for example, helps maintain color, with a shampoo and conditioner, two treatment products, and a finishing shine serum. She also suggests that you bring photos of the color and style you imagine yourself in when you go to the salon. A picture is worth a thousand words!
Charismatic David Stanko followed Tracy’s presentation with tips about fixing faded color (or color that needs to be “tweaked” such as faded reds, off-tone blonde shades, or warming up a brunette tone). David talked about Redken’s Shades EQ a color depositing conditioner, to adjust or re-energize color, without making drastic changes in it.
David also talked about the new, Redken Blonde Glam collection, featuring products that protect and correct blonde colors with in-salon treatments and at-home maintenance. David is holding a jar of a salon treatment called “Blonde Icing,” an in-salon, Conditioning Cream Lightener that luminizes and lifts hair to the palest shades of blonde. He told us that Blonde hair has specific needs, can be fragile, and is more sensitive to light that can change and fade the color. Blonde hair also tends to be dry, and can look a bit dull since it’s less reflective. The new blonde glam products contain good-for-your-(blond)-hair ingredients that moisturize, protect, and boost shine!
Event Photos by Alison Blackman