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“Hair Color and Care and a Red Flair”
 By Tex Martin

2021 is underway.  New possibilities, supported with proven strategies, abound.  Personal well-being and feeling attractive spices life in good times while intensifying in challenging times. As a professional hair colorist, with a family, I feel this.

As we know “getting your hair done” can raise your spirits.  Women walking into the salon are all smiles.  They are so excited that their next 2 hours are for themselves.  And that is so important.

When it comes to hair color, I find that delicate shadings of a natural hair color can enhance a natural look:  biscotti highlights on a brown eyed brunette is appealing and very beautiful.  Or a blue-eyed blond might flick a little drama by adding some hazelnut dimension to her sugar cookie tresses.  But what if wintry times call for a bolder reply?  On the grey backdrop of winter nothing compliments like red.  

Red, from “fire yellow” to “carrot” to “cherry” with all its variations, can be subtly intriguing, intimately charismatic, and compelling.  Beautifully “out there”, beautifully soft, personal, and intimate, red might just be the spice that warms these Zoom moments.

What are some options?  Leaders, and standouts in the media and movies can be a sunrise of inspiration:

Let’s look at Elizabeth I, The Virgin Queen, whose persuasion and leadership skills unified England against foreign enemies.  She governed her people while sporting curls of California Poppy Orange.

Jen Psaki at the Presidential briefing setting a new trend of awareness of fiery repartee with her single length locks of “cider-rust”.

What about the “Fire & Brimstone Copper” tresses of Practical Magic's character Gillian Owen, as actor Nicole Kidman casts a spell with dramatic flair.

The “Copper Auburn” of The Queen’s Gambit’s Beth Harmon, podium put into play by actor Anya Taylor-Joy.

The “Glitz and Glamour Orange-Marigold” of Far from Heaven's character Cathy Whitaker, as actor Julianne Moore survives all the challenges in style.

Of course, wading in might be preferable. Adding golden brown will soften any of those above colors. The Honey Blonde of Jessica Chastain, the epitome of 40’s glamour, the Rust Auburn of Bryce Dallas Howard, and the Auburn Chestnut tresses of Katy Perry are great sources to see. Oh, I almost forgot, the Strawberry Blond of Cynthia Nixon, with her inimitable style and bags of sass.  Once you start playing with these possibilities you might say, “Hmmm, I like this!”

Introduce yourself to some new possibilities by visualizing yourself with a slight color modification.  Then take a step and Google some of the people mentioned above.  Look at pictures. Pinterest is also a great resource, as is purecolorbytex.com. I offer some wonderful inspirations there.

Make an appointment for a consultation. It can be a great time to sharpen your desired color effect and learn more about options that support your inclinations. We will discuss the pre-coloring process and the role of clarifying shampoos and integrity treatments play to promote color longevity. And we will discuss the elements that degrade color.

Imagine how your color can be beautifully bold and “out there” or beautifully soft, personal, intimate, and compelling.  Play with these visual ideas.  Then come see us.  Bobbie Freitas Hair Salon is a spacious salon and has been serving Lafayette since 1975.  

Tex Martin, Pure Color by Tex
At Bobbie Freitas Hair Salon, Lafayette, California 

(A special thank you to Joe Wiseman for his ongoing inspirational editing and support)