The new Balayage – with a fresh year comes fresh trend, and Tiger Eye colour is sure set to be 2017’s blow up style. We’ve watched it bubbling under the surface over the past few months, but studies (of Instagram and Pinterest) are now suggesting this is the moment it finally explodes. With the likes of Thrifts And Threads fashion blogger Brittany Xavier and Youtuber Negin Mirsalehi already on board, this is the moment to take on the beautiful trend.
This style takes its name from the beautiful sought after rock Tigereye (or Tiger’s Eye) with bronze, gold and dark brown stripes – and transports this gorgeous colour scheme directly into your hair.
We teamed up with L’Oreal Professionnel and Percy and Reed salons to, firstly, find out more – and then I opted to try it myself.
Having enforced a strict ‘no dyeing’ rule for many years, after my slightly-erratic teen hair colours, I can’t deny I felt more than a little scared. I took my picture research into Percy and Reed’s Ellenora Dean (who I have been recommending since to anyone who will listen), and after an in depth consultation, she worked her magic.
The finished result? Probably the best hairdo I’ve had in years. What I adore about this trend, is it that adds a little something to an easy-to-up-keep style. I personally love creating loose tousled curls, so that each colour tone can be seen easily. I find I can take my make-up bolder now, with darker eyes or brighter lips, especially a gorgeous vivid red.
My second favourite thing, is the L’Oréal Professionnel Smartbond treatment. After using it in the salon to lock in my colour, I was sent home with a bottle to use on a weekly basis. It makes my hair softer and shinier than ever before, and means that I get the just-after-salon-visit feel all the time. It instantly revitalises my colour and each tone seems more vivid than before. I honestly couldn’t love it more.
Grazia spoke to Percy and Reed’s Ellenora Dean to find out all there is to know…
What is the Tiger Eye colour trend, and who should be getting it?
The 'Tiger Eye' colour trend is working with a warm palette - a deep rich root with softer warm caramels running throughout. You create stronger lightness at the ends which stretches up into the deeper root area. This trend is suitable for everyone with a warm complexion by using golds, coppers and warm beiges but can also be adapted to suit a cool complexion by tweaking the colour formulas to neutral/cool beiges.
Firstly, it's important for your colourist to determine what tones work best for you, and then secondly, the amount and placement of colour lightening. It is important for your base colour to be glossy and rich, so unless you're blessed with this naturally, then a soft mahogany brown can be applied before to create the foundation.
The lightening stage can be adapted to enhance/diminish facial features and work with hair texture and can be a combination of freehand painting techniques, predominantly balayage (this is soft, blended and has no harsh lines). Then finally, your do is glossed over using a soft golden mahogany tone. L’Oréal Professionnel Smartbond can be added into every step of your colour service to maintain the best hair health and colour longevity.
What specific colours were used on this specific style, if we wanted to recreate?
The colours used in this Tiger Eye colour makeover, were L’Oréal Professionnel DIA RICHESSE 5 for the global base, the balayage was L’Oréal Professionnel Platinium Plus and the final tone was done using L’Oréal Professionnel DIA RICHESSE 7. These colours can be used to re-create a Tiger Eye colour in any UK L’Oréal Professionnel hair salon. (To find your nearest salon head to www.lorealprofessionnel.co.uk/salonlocator.)
What do we ask for when in a salon?
When visiting the salon for your 'Tiger Eye' makeover it's a good idea to do a bit of research. Most good salons should know and understand the trend, but just in case they don't it's a good idea to take in a few pictures or show the Instagram hashtag #tigereyecolour
How much maintenance does it require?
The Tiger Eye trend is quite low maintenance actually! Once the colour has been done and starts to grow out, it's just a case of topping up the root area, toning over the rest and ensuring that between visits you are using the best colour protection.
I recommend using L’Oréal Professionnel’s Smartbond both in salon and at home with the step 3 conditioner – it’s great for making hair shinier and softer and also works to repair the hair during the colouring process. For at-home treatments try the L’Oréal Professionnel Vitamino Colour A
So, who’s going to be jumping aboard 2017’s Tiger Eye trend with us?
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