Colour NOTES
Rush Artistic Team Members Kirsty Judge and Tina Mehmi talk strategic placement, colour melting, and chunky highlights
BERRY BOLD
PLATINUM PERFECTION
BUZZIN’
What do you love most about being a colourist?
Kirsty: Being able to unleash your creativity. You have a blank canvas to bring your client’s vision to life! I love my clients walking out the salon feeling the best version of themselves.
Tina: I love educating others on the endless possibilities of colour – my favourite feeling is when someone gets just as excited about colour as you.
What’s your favourite colour technique?
Kirsty: I love creating beautiful, bright blondes, so it has to be highlights. Creating high intensity dimension and depth with strategic colour placement and different levels of lift.
Tina: Colour melting has been my favourite technique recently – one which I think will be super popular in 2026. The ‘lived-in’ look will keep trending this year, and colour melting produces natural, healthy-looking results every time.
What’s your favourite colour creation you’ve done?
Kirsty: It has to be our British Hairdressing Awards, sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional, colour collection, Optical Art. This was a dream to create and working with one of your closest friends makes it all the better. The collection uses contrasting colours, light and patterns to create the illusion of movement and depth.
What’s the one thing you’d save in an emergency?
Tina: I’m saving all my colour notes! They’re all stored in my mind but it’s always good to have them close by.
What’s your colour predictions for the rest of the year?
Tina: Red/copper shades are having their moment. An infusion of red and brown tones which gives the hair a truly mesmerising shine, this shade puts hair health at the forefront, being both low-maintenance and completely bespoke.
What’s one colour trend you’re glad to see the back of?
Tina: Chunky highlights. While it can look cool if done correctly, the zebra look has to go back to the 00s!
What’s one thing you wish every client knew about colour?
Kirsty: Inspiration images are a great way for colourists to help customise a colour to suit clients and give suggestions of what they think will work best for undertones and hair type.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learnt from being a colourist?
Kirsty: You can never stop learning!
Tina: Find yourself a good mentor.
#COLOURINSPO
1 BERRY BOLD The contrast between light and dark berry shades creates a dominant colour pattern that lures you in. The relationship between movement and the harmony of colours is mesmerising.
2 PLATINUM PERFECTION This platinum, geometric bob with angular fringe is one of our favourites. Simple yet effective colour placement with the yellow gradient blending into the platinum base.
3 BUZZIN’ This gorgeous platinum buzzcut plays with light and colour to create the illusion of movement and depth. Here, we’ve used a beautiful marbling effect!