COLOUR NOTES

Medusa’s Peter Mellon chats about his love of the glass hair trend and being a self-confessed colour science geek

What do you love most about being a colourist?

I love taking a client on a journey and working on a canvas to change and upgrade the client’s hair. Colour is such a powerful thing; it allows you to push boundaries and makes you stand out from the crowd.

TRAVEL: “I’ve been lucky enough to travel the world from London to Paris, Australia, Japan,Thailand, and many more. From the hair texture to the architecture, it gives me so much creative energy.”

What is the most important question you ask in a colour consultation?

The most important question I ask in a colour consultation is ‘How much do you want to invest in your colour?’ And I’m not talking about money. Clients need to be educated on the length of the service, frequency of visits, the regrowth and colour fade. When clients tell me how much they are willing to invest, I know how far I can push their colour.

FASHION: “Alexander McQueen’s work encouraged me to think outside the box and push boundaries further than I thought possible. I love the dark luxuriousness of the tones he used.”

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

I’m so pleased to see the grey/silver hair era is over, particularly for young people. This era was bad for hair – having to lighten the hair to an inch of its life, managing client’s expectations on how grey/silver their hair would go, how the colour would fade, the amount of upkeep and the amount of money they would spend to achieve this. All of this means I’m happy to see the back of it!

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

I’d love to bring back highlights; let’s go back to basics and blend balayage with highlights to increase client visits.

FLOWER SHOPS: “My ultimate inspiration for colour. You see all colours, different shades, vibrant to soft, black to beige, pastels and everything in between.”

What are the challenges facing colourists right now?

Managing clients’ expectations is the most common challenge. Making them aware that we are not magicians and that we can only work with what we have. Social media and Instagram play a big part in this. There is a lot of false content out there, and clients never understand how many visits a look takes, or the cost involved.

What do you think will be the next big colour trend?

I think the next big colour trend will be glass hair. It’s all about working with highs and lows to create a glass-like gloss.

NATURE: “From landscapes to weather, textures to tones, nature is a neverending source of inspiration.”

What colour technique are you known for?

I’m probably known for my balayage, babylights application and working with highs and lows in the hair. But I’m also known for my rich vivid colours.

What colour creation makes you most proud?

My high magenta colour transformations always make me happy. They are vibrant, luxurious and expensive looking.

PEOPLE: “From their energy to their clothes. Personality inspires me and I like to get to know the client before suggesting colours. It all leads to a more bespoke service.”

What advice would you give to a trainee colourist?

Don’t think you’re ever too good to stop learning. You need to practise and learn your craft, and then practise even more. Start by learning the basics, then push them because you can never be too creative. But don’t confuse confidence with arrogance.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learnt as a colourist?

Don’t just learn the basics, dive deep into the science behind colour. Having an in-depth colour knowledge helped me stay away from just bleaching and toning and allowed me to utilise the whole colour bar and mix bespoke colours. Understanding the science stops me thinking ‘what if?’. By knowing how to push colour, you can stand out to your clients and get them to rebook.