By Gina Rivera, Phenix President, Founder and Hair Expert
Fall is here. Technically, it arrived this week with the equinox. Temperatures are cooling (we've already had our first snow in Colorado), days will grow darker and, if we haven't already, we begin to move our hair toward darker shades and update the styles.
This is also a great time to plan for the Holiday Season, and, specifically, we should make appointments to see our stylists. Schedules quickly fill this time of year and you don't want to be left in the cold.
Many of us will head toward reds, and this has been predicted for months, that the deep, rich reds will be popular again. Also expected are some dark browns and I'll be looking for some black shades. What I don't anticipate are the ombres, giving way to soft highlights instead. This move away from ombres is well underway with hair headed toward more natural, gentle, less dramatic tonal transitions.
In haircuts and styles, wavy bobs and romantic updos are showing a lot of strength. I'm curious about the fate this fall and winter of slick-back looks. These have been so strong on the red carpets and runways lately, including the Big Four Fashion Weeks finishing soon in Paris. These shows are for spring and summer styles next year but "who's waiting?"
Intermixed we've seen some softer, less controlled looks working their way in. Betsey Johnson presented her line in New York (these shows are for clothing primarily but we see trendsetting hair, too) with some beautiful bobs with lots of sexy, messy volume, some of them teased out madly. This was the antithesis of the slick-back look. It wouldn't be a surprise at all to see more of this and maybe sooner than later.
Sarah Hyland of "Modern Family" wore a high bun at the Emmys recently but it wasn't ballerina tight. Her hair had a soft, loose look with romantic wisps around her face and soft highlights, a great transition style into fall. "Mad Men" costar Jessica Paré at the Emmys wore a tighter bun in back but even this had a softer look and shine than some of the more severe finishes we've seen. Halle Berry was among several stars at the Emmys with a pixie. Hers was soft and feathery.
In addition to the buns, a lot of hairstyles incorporating braids have been popular heading into fall and winter with both soft, wispy looks and controlled, shiny finishes. Some of these braids are tracing the hairline along the forehead, others are featured in a chignon.
Remember, if you're thinking about a transition from summery shades of honey to something dark and deep, you'll probably need more than one appointment with your stylist to make that happen beautifully. With the Holiday Season nearly here, don't hesitate to line up a date with your stylist. If you're looking to have something done for a Halloween party, better make that call now.
As always, be open to change!