It’s not exactly new information that the less time we spend on hair color, the better (sorry, salons and stylists). Master colorist Tiffanie Richards of Louise O’Conner Salon in New York knows it to be true and says she’s seeing more and more brunettes coming to her chair this season, specifically looking for what she calls “no-color color.”
“No-color color is enhancing your natural color with either a gloss or the most subtle of highlights. Clients want a better, amped-up version of their natural shade,” she says. “This easy-to-maintain color will last all winter long.”
Featured Experts
- Tiffanie Richards is the master colorist of Louise O’Conner Salon in New York
- Kylie and Reyad are the founders of Suite Reyad in The Pierre in New York
- Laura Polko is a celebrity hairstylist and John Frieda House of Frieda Ambassador
Why Gloss Is the Secret to No-Color Hair Color
To achieve the no-color color look, Richards applies a gloss onto dry hair (similar to a single process) to maximize shine and deposit. “Because the technique doesn’t ‘lift’ hair color, there are no telltale lines of demarcation as it grows out. It’s a low-maintenance color with a boost,” she explains. “It’s a great option for those who are color curious, coloring for the first time or want to lessen those salon trips. It’s basically ‘Botox for hair.’ No one knows what you did, but you look refreshed!”
Over at New York’s Suite Reyad in The Pierre, founders Kylie and Reyad are seeing the same, as their clients also love a good low-maintenance look.
“The glossy look is very much in right now—that rich, natural brunette. Think the Parisian French girl with healthy, shiny, flowing brown hair. The natural blonde with graduated balayage is also a thing.”
Besides preference, the duo also chalks it up to the sheer amount of hair health products currently on the market. “There are a ton of low-maintenance looks that are in right now. And it all has to do with hair health. The thick, shiny look can be achieved with healthy-hair products,” they say, adding that color lines such as L’Oréal and Redken have amazing gloss options that are rich.
Their suggestion for getting that “just-right” shade: “Go see a professional and expect to spend at least 10 minutes with it on. Go with clear or half a shade darker than your natural so the fade is close to your own. The other half of the equation is having a good shampoo-conditioner, such as what we have at Suite Reyad. A good shampoo and conditioner will maintain the moisture and shine and help your hair grow out healthy.”
Winter Blonde Is a Big Trend, Too
Richards says it’s not just brunettes looking for some low-maintenance magic. “Winter blonde is in full effect right now. Contrary to what trends typically portray, most blondes like to go brighter in the winter to counteract their pale winter skin. Shades of blonde, such as coconut cream or butter blonde, are going to be beautiful in the cooler weather. While you are lacking the summer tan, the undertone within your blonde can be tweaked to give you a winter glow.”
Also on the lower-temp list are Halo highlights. “This is a big one that never fails in the cooler seasons,” Richards says. “With very minimal maintenance, highlighting the entire perimeter of the hair gives you brightness around your face and the depth of darker shades throughout the rest.”
With this trend, Richards stresses that you want to do the entire hairline, including the back underneath. “This will allow the long pieces of the back hair to connect with the highlights in the front. This trend can be done on any shade/color of hair and look amazing.”
Sign of the Times
One other off-the-radar reason for the lean to low-maintenance: The times we are living in, says celebrity hairstylist and John Frieda House of Frieda Ambassador Laura Polko.
“Most people, as they get older, tend to lean toward brunette naturally,” says Polko. “More gloss and less color is much easier to maintain and also, more importantly, less expensive. I’ve noticed that during election years people tend to cut down on expenses, with hair color being one of them. During COVID, people were embracing their natural hair color more and that trend is still happening. Embracing your natural hair color is a huge trend that I am seeing this fall/winter.”
