Translating the trends of Summer 2020
Ruksher Malik, founder of Pastels Salons, Dubai talks to us about the working from home phenomenon and the emerging trend of loungewear and undone hair.
The COVID-19 crisis has left a legacy in every aspect of our lives and from what I can see when I visit the salon floor, it has impacted how we wear our hair.
With post-lockdown and the work from home phenomenon, the emerging trend of loungewear or undone hair, which was instigated a few seasons ago, has become the new norm, and there is now a greater appreciation for accessories and how the clever placement of a band, barrette or scarf can transform your hair (and during lockdown disguise how overdue a salon visit is)!
There were a number of kitschy hair accessories on the Marc Jacobs runway this SS2020 fashion week, but the 70’s inspired faux orchids were among the most wearable and fun and are a great choice for summer.
For scarf hair 2.0, there are several options. As braids are going nowhere, you can simply replace one of the sections in your braid with the scarf of your choice to generate a cool interpretation or you can finish your topknot (another popular style during lockdown) with a scarf wrapping. Talking of braids, boho braids, pigtail braids - with or without accessories - will continue to dominate.
In the salon we have noticed that many clients experimented with fringes during lockdown, not many achieved success! In a bid to stave off boredom and inspired by celebrities such as Bella Hadid, these at-home fringe cuts needed their hairstyle blunder fixed when they came into the salon. As a result, fringes will be commonplace; whether a floating-over-the-eyebrow solid number, which has length and shape that you can play around with, or a micro-fringe that takes inspiration from Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday and opens up the face beautifully.
In terms of length, bobs – in their many guises - dominate. An asymmetrical bob with a solid baseline showcases healthy thick ends and you can wear this either poker straight or with a wave. Another popular option is the tousled French girl style. This bob cut is amazing because you can wash-and-wear it. Letting this air-dry is the key to creating amazing texture with this super chic look, and so it is perfect for summer.
As people had no access to their colourist for more than a month, it is not surprising that low maintenance colours including those with obvious roots prevail. Margot Robbie has championed this trend for a while at her Red-Carpet appearances. Her natural, dark root regrowth mixed with strands of caramel highlights show dimension, and by leaving the roots natural the hair gains additional texture.
If roots are not something you want to show but you like the idea of a more natural look, then bronde might become your go-to colour. A warm and glossy look, the main benefits of this hair colour are that it is achievable and low maintenance, keeping hair super healthy while offering light and shade for pops of colour and brightness.
Whatever look reigns supreme, one thing is certain – it will most definitely be relaxed and low-key, an enduring memory of the months that have gone before.
Top image, low key colour hair: Karl Warner, Senior Stylist at Pastels Salon
Body images: hair by the Pastels Salon Artistic Team