Marlon Hawkins is bringing the graphic pattern into the world of hair colour.
Published:Pinstripes have long been associated with fashion, but Brooks & Brooks artistic director Marlon Hawkins is bringing the graphic pattern into the world of hair colour with a technique designed to create playful, edgy and highly visual results.
A fashion staple since the 19th century, pinstripes are now inspiring a fresh approach to colour. According to Marlon Hawkins, the Pinstripe trend is about looking at colour differently and exploring creativity through a relatively simple but impactful technique.
“The Pinstripe trend is about seeing colour from a new perspective and exploring colour creativity. It’s simplistic with a playful meets edgy aesthetic,”
– Marlon.
The technique works particularly well on longer hair and can be adapted using different colour palettes. Contrasting shades can create a more graphic finish, while complementary colours offer a softer interpretation while retaining the distinctive Pinstripe effect.
Marlon recommends starting with a one-length haircut when first working with the technique, although it can also be adapted for layered hair. The first step is to take a fine veil of hair from the top of the parting, ensuring the density remains consistent through the lengths and ends.
“If the hair becomes fine, I will look at a second veil for the length and ends of the hair.”
On the second veil, Marlon colours only the tips, creating seamless bands using either backcombing or air touch. The first veil can then be coloured as close to the root as desired.
Once the desired shade has been achieved, Marlon washes and blow-dries the hair before finishing with a white comb and L’Oréal Professionnel Infinium from root to tip to showcase the Pinstripe colour.
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Think about your colour palette before beginning the application.
Make sure the density is even throughout the lengths and ends to prevent the Pinstripe effect from disappearing.
Marlon recommends mixing techniques, from foiling to air touch, to help create seamless symmetry.
Don’t rush the placement. Precision is key to achieving the desired effect.
Avoid overloading the hair with hairspray and apply it in one single sweep.
When using the comb technique, hook the teeth of the comb into the point where the previous Pinstripe line finished before combing through.
The result is a colour technique that can be tailored to the individual client, from bold, contrasting combinations to more subtle complementary shades. Rather than being restricted to a particular colour palette, the Pinstripe trend gives colourists scope to experiment with placement, tone and contrast.
Find out more about Brooks & Brooks:
Website: www.brooksandbrooks.co.uk
Instagram: @brookshair
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