Neon/Nude Contrast

With the right balance and placement, just about anything can work these days when it comes to color. Bold brights paired with a nude base can make a strong statement.

 

Fashion today is quite expressive. Color and textures are layered, and although they appear to clash, it works if done properly. Layering haircolor is not new, but so many unique shades have been introduced into the mix. Gentle hues placed next to stronger pigments can look tasteful. Ordinarily one would think this would be distracting, but with the right placement and proportion, it can and should be quite beautiful.

 

For this look, Deb Gavin, color expert and International Artistic Director, Color Therapy for Keratin Complex celebrates this layering trend with nude base juxtaposed with a yellow “racing stripe.”

 

“ You can amp up your nudes by adding something neon or unexpected.” —DEB GAVIN International Artistic Director, Color Therapy for Keratin Complex

 

“It’s not soft or quiet,” she says. “It does not take a backseat. It is a focal point, used as a strong accessory.”

 

The key, according to Gavin, is that a colorist must train the eye for proper artistic placement. “We must remember the principles of color,” she says. “The brightest shade will draw in the eye. Knowing the law of color helps me to create that balance. In this case, I wanted a hard focus point, allowing it to contrast with a nude shade, while offering balance and design throughout.”

 

Proper pre-lifting can make or break a color design and ultimately determine your color choice. “A canvas cleanse guarantees I will get to my desired end result,” Gavin says. “It is my insurance policy to get what I want, not just close to what I want.”

 

Gavin uses a compact layering technique that she has found is the most efficient technique—preventing the need for multiple lightening applications.

 

“Because you don’t fold it, the foils do not slide,” she says. “This lifting technique allows me to address color in zones and allows for an even lift.” Using clean, fine sub sections, 1/8-inch or finer, is just one key to success and how Gavin begins this transformation.

 

“A canvas cleanse guarantees I will get to my desired end result, it is my insurance policy to get what I want, not just close to what I want.” —DEB GAVIN

Get the HOW-TO here.

 

Haircolor: Deb Gavin

Cut: Laurie Haney

Assistant: Ciara Cipriano

Photography: Roberto Ligresti

Makeup: David Maderich

Fashion styling: Rod Novoa, assisted by Dennis Pinto