How to Work the Pantone Green 2017 Colour ‘Greenery'

Global colour authority, The Pantone Colour Institute has announced their colour of 2017 as Greenery.

The shade has been described by Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director at Pantone, as the colour “of hopefulness, and of our connection to nature. It speaks to what we call the ‘re’ words: regenerate, refresh, revitalize, renew. Every spring we enter a new cycle and new shoots come from the ground. It is something life affirming to look forward to.”

So what’s the verdict from the UK’s hair colourists?

Jack Howard at Paul Edmonds is the L’Oreal Professionnel UK

Colour Spokesperson (enlisted to colour the hair of A-listers including Poppy Delevingne and Gillian Anderson amongst others),

I’m tipping a move from Rose Gold to other metal-shades, with metallic green one of the most prominent trends; it’s already started filtering through to mainstream with Kylie Jenner showcasing it on Instagram. It was also one of the shades I created for the Marques Almeida LFW show in September.

Tasha Stevens at Jamie Stevens Hair (Winner of the L’Oreal Colour Trophy Winner and colourist to Emma Willis, Zoe Hardman and Caroline Flack) is using the fresh green shade alongside other shades using the Matrix Watercolour Sync range,

There are five shades in the new Matrix Watercolour range: berry violet, moss green, quartz pink, coral peach and sapphire blue. The built-in Cera-Oil Priming Complex provides seamless colour from root to ends. We can either work with these pure colours, or we can mix with clear gloss to create a multitude of tones. The Watercolours work best on pre-lightened hair and last up to 20 washes.

Karine Jackson, organic colour specialist at Karine Jackson Hair & Beauty (winner of Most Wanted Hair Trend and former London Hairdresser of the Year) has a word of warning on the trend,

Black, green and blue are large colour molecules that expand once they permeate the hair shaft, so in many cases that colour will not come out. When changing hair to green, it’s so important to be aware that a permanent bright green will not be possible to revert back to a lighter/blonde shade – the hair will have to be taken darker afterwards. If you want to have colour, it’s so important to be aware of the implication should you want to strip it. But it’s an incredible colour, and we have a PPD-free, ammonia-free, Vegan friendly shade that’s made in Hampshire – green by name and by nature!

Ken Picton’s Colour Director and former British Colourist of the Year Paul Dennison says,

Colour trends have definitely been shifting from soft pastel shades to bright 90’s acid tones. We’ve seen pinks, blues, greys and lilacs so it was only a matter of time before green came into the mix. There are so many options for this shade, from deep teals and greens through to soft mints via pine and emerald. There’s a green out there for everyone – the only question is how bold you dare to go!

This trend suits the girl who wants to go right when everyone else is going left. It’s a bold statement and not for the faint-hearted. It’s predominately a trend that the younger generation will adopt, but I never rule out the older clients with a rebellious punk streak. Once you’ve dipped your toe in the pool of rainbow colours, it’s only a matter of time before you progress to this new cool colour trend. It can work in lots of different techniques from toning the lengths of existing balayage for a softer textured appearance or going global after a full head bleach for maximum impact and coverage. If you’re the type of person who just wants to wear this trend for a weekend, then have a look into wigs or clip-in extensions for a non-committal look.

If you’re looking for something more permanent then you have to be prepared to invest in your hair to keep the condition great and the colour vibrant, as it requires regular re-toning and a lot of bleaching. Starting with hair that’s in good condition gives your colour a strong foundation and lasts longer. I’ve been using L’Oreal Smart Bond with colour to help maintain the condition of the hair during the colouring process.