Colour NOTES

Medusa UK creative director Peter Mellon shares his top tips and a memorable consultation (it includes naturism!)

What do you love most about being a colourist?

I love the creative freedom. I love that not only can colour enhance and change hair, but it can also completely change and uplift the client sitting in your chai . There is no better feeling than the satisfaction of seeing the client leave the salon with a skip in their step.

Where do you go for your colour inspiration?

Everywhere! The sky when it turns pink, the cracks on the flooring, my client’s clothes the colour in their cheeks, the colours running through animal’s fur, the runways each season… Inspiration is all around us! I love looking at magazines like Love, Danske, Dazed and Vogue. I adore Lady Gaga's style and fashion houses such as Alexander McQueen and Gucci.

Animal's fur

What are your favourite colouring techniques at the moment?

Right now I am living for vivid colour, clashing colours, statement pieces and also 90s highlights.

What colour trends are you pleased to see out of fashion?

I am pleased to find less people ae coming in and asking for ‘silver’ hair… don’t get me wrong I loved that trend, but the upkeep, and how much you need to lighten up the hair before it can go silver, is a lot of work.

Are there any colouring trends you’d like to bring back?

I would love to bring back capped highlights… I genuinely feel like they’re going to make a return. Watch this space!

What are the challenges facing colourists right now?

Clients are introducing more of their natural colour into their hair or growing out their colour. There’s always ways to counteract these challenges though, such as glossing services. Just because clients are growing out their colour it doesn’t mean they need to stop colouring.

Lady Gaga

What’s been your most memorable consultation?

I once had a client with red hair and she was a bit wild, which I loved. She wanted a change, a big change. Picture this, I was sitting on the chair next to her, showing her some colours, when she started rubbing my leg… I was showing her pinks, blues, yellows and she was loving it. However, she then looked at me dead in the eyes, and said, “The reason I booked in with you was because your profile on the websit says you’re a naturist.” I could have died!

I instantly regretted having a little fun with my profile. I’m am NOT a naturist, but to thi day she still believes I am!

What colour creation makes you most proud?

This year I teamed up with Paul Paterson of Medusa, Hanover Street to create a stunning colour collection, and we finalise in the British Hairdressing Awards, sponsored by Schwarzkopf Profesional in the Colour Technician of the Year category. We worked incredibly hard on this and really pushed each other’s creative boundaries.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I love the day-to-day interaction with my clients as well as the social side of our industry. My salon is a real community where all clients and staff get involved wit each other’s consultations and everyone compliments everyone.