Defining Fashion Trends With Hair Colour
Just a few years ago, dyed hair was a rarity in Bhubaneswar. The only hair dye prevalent was henna, the go- to hair product for people who’d started greying. However, from henna to the most the eccentric of shades, hair colour has witnessed a sea change in trend from being a necessity to an essential fashion statement. The tide has definitely turned and how! The advent of social media networks like Instagram and Snapchat has certainly made hair colour become a truly universal fashion trend. People in the city have overwhelmingly embraced this global trend, with more and more salons cashing in on it in recent times.
Today, the world of hair colours and dyes have evolved so much that it can be considered a prolific form of art; it encompasses a vast and varied assortment of bold, elegant, soft as well as funky shades. The year of 2017, in particular, has seen ground-breaking styles with many hair colouring videos trending on social media. The past year was all about natural colours like buttery toffee-blonde, sunset peach, rich browns, soft copper and techniques like ombre and balayage. Colours like platinum, icy blue and other pastel shades were popularised by celebs like the Kardashian clan.
Ashish, hair expert at Devine salon says, “Earlier, basic highlights, dip dye and a few isolated streaks were the norm. Now, subtle colours are in; workspaces are becoming more inclusive and informal, so a lot of young professionals who want to dye their hair are opting for trendy, neutral colours. Of course, college students request funkier colours, but they’re mostly temporary. I would say that the most popular style is strawberry blond ombre. “Ombre and balayage styles are definitely the ‘in’ things right now; most of our customers request these by name,” says Armaan, stylist at Indulge salon.
Acclaimed actor Chinmay who is considered an exponent of hair fashion tells MCL, “I change my hair when I want a different look, or if it is required professionally. For a recent music video, I had an orange hair-do, and received quite a few compliments!”
No longer, a sign of deviancy, dyed hair has been integrated into the regular style trends so much that every second teenager on the street sports a fashionable mane. Samapika Pattanaik (21), architecture student says, “It was a trendy thing to do! I dyed my hair robin blue because I wanted something different; I was apprehensive about how it would look, but it turned out to be great!”
To this, 19-year-old Dipshikha Hota, an engineering student adds, “With so many of my peers doing it, I was very excited to try it. It was a way to simultaneously pamper myself, as well as make a style statement!
Her friend, Stuti Panda (24) has a more experienced perspective. She says, “If you read up on hair care and be specific about what you want to get done, whether it’s full highlights or streaks, you will achieve the level of perfection you’re aspiring for.”
On a similar note, Ashish explains, “If you consult your stylist and use products suited to your hair, your hair style will look great!
Other than just a stylish thing to do, hair colour has also become a medium for expressing one’s personal evolution. According to Panda, “It is a tangible manifestation of my soul and an extremely trendy one at that!
Picture Courtesy: polkacafe.com
Leesha Rath, 24-year-old lifestyle blogger cannot agree more. “I coloured my hair on a whim, and haven’t looked back since then! Four years ago, I shifted from having pitch black hair to blonde. It was a big change. Faced a lot of flak rather than acceptance, but it’s all about empowering yourself. For me, it added a lot of dimension to my personality, it’s a great way to experiment with hair, especially for people who don’t want to cut it. It’s always a good idea to try things, and with the vast array of options available, it’s a lot of fun!”
Sharing a view similar to Leesha on empowerment, Shristi Roy, an MBA student says, “When I graduated from college and started working, I got my hair dyed to signify the change I went through, a new beginning.”
So, is it different for professionals in formal sectors? She echoes what Ashish said. “Professional places are slowly evolving, becoming increasingly flexible, so I chose a colour (burgundy) that was bold yet not out of the box.”
For a lot of people, colouring hair also has a therapeutic effect. In her early twenties now, Varnalee Mishra says, “When I graduated from school and went to college, it wasn’t a very good transition for me. At the end of the year, to emphasise my growth as a person, I decided to dye my hair. For the first time, I wanted something bold yet understated, so I chose a very deep plum shade. It’s a visible milestone for how far I’ve come!”
It’s not just the youngsters, though. Plenty of people have embraced the magic of fashionable hair dyes and colours; after all, 50 is the new 30!
“There’s definitely a higher number of older women, who are interested in the trendier colours!” quips Ashish.
A high-ranking educationalist says, “I got blonde highlights mostly as a way to cover up my greying strands, but it’s acted as a feel-good factor and boosted my confidence as well. Eminent Odissi dancer, Aruna Mohanty also thinks that hair colours have become extremely versatile. “I love the shades these days. I am still quite hesitant to try it, but I hope to try it soon in the future.”
While it may not be accepted by all of mainstream society, one thing’s for sure, the trend of hair colour has arrived in the city. With more and more branded salons popping up in the city, this is just the beginning of Bhubaneswar’s fashion revolution.