Colour NOTES

We spoke to Seung Ki Baek on the ‘Old Money’ aesthetic, his new take on chunky highlights and UV colour

What do you love most about being a colourist?

The flexibility. With cutting, I feel like you limit yourself. Now we have treatments and products to protect the hair, we have more creative freedom. Clients are braver than they used to be and are willing to try something more creative and I just love to push the boundaries.

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

I always ask, ‘are you happy with the colour you have?’ I find out what they think about their colour and open them up to different suggestions. I then discuss trending colours, or slight changes we could try, to create a look unique to them. This also builds their trust in me. I also talk in detail as clients' terminology is different to ours – it’s all about good communication.

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

I really like the ‘Old Money’ aesthetic. There was a time everyone was talking about icy blonde, and wanting to be as bright as possible but now we’re seeing people heading towards warmer colour.

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

Chunky highlights! But with more precision. I’d also like to take it a step further and instead of a straight striped line, take the sections more diagonally to create a softer version.

What are the challenges facing colourists right now?

Social media is developing so much and with fashion trends changing so fast, clients bring in a picture they see that has either been retouched or is AI. The expectations are so high, and clients don’t understand that those looks are going to take time and money due to the process and the precision.

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

Cool tones mixed with warm tones. For example, a warm brown tone mixed with a metallic brown creates an espresso-like colour – there’s richness from the warmth and deepness from the cool.

What colour technique are you known for?

UV colour and my 2017 British Hairdressing Awards collection. I made my own colour chart, testing all the colours and the quality of the glow. I’m also good at blending and creating shadow colours.

What colour creation makes you most proud?

I created a hair piece collection which was inspired by sea creatures and ocean pollution. I used plastic bottles and UV colour to represent this and the underwater creatures that are killed because of plastic entering the water. There’s an unknown world underneath there and I want to protect it.

What advice would you give to a trainee colourist?

Don’t give up. Try your best – practice makes perfect. And don’t be scared to mix colours and see what happens.

What is the biggest lesson you've learned from being a colourist?

Never repeat the same colour as a previous visit. I never look at previous notes until I have finished a consultation with the client. I always talk to them face to face, asking what they want first before checking the colour formula they had last time.

DEEP SEA CREATURES