Hair color always makes a statement, as salon professionals know. According to the creative leaders at KEVIN.MURPHY, today's trending color message is more of an exhale than a shout. They point to contemporary neutrals inspired by "feeling confident in your own skin" and are helping salons bring the trend to life with COLOR.ME NUDES, a new collection of four shades to add a glowing, velvety blush tone to any blonde.  Are you ready to create—and profit from—the new NUDES look?

It's a natural shift, according to COLOR.ME Design Director Kate Reid. "High fashion naturals are a staple of celebrities and A-listers," she says, but also perfect for any client in your chair. "The beauty of our new NUDES is they create harmonious shades that compliment all hair and skin tones."

NUDES are powered by micro pigment technology and BEIGE.VIOLET tones that create glowing, blush hues. On natural hair, the NUDES create a powdery, mink-y result, and on pre-lightened hair, a pink-ish hue. Like all COLOR.ME shades, the NUDES are designed to deliver a multi-tonal finish and brilliant shine. The four NUDES shades are:

• 11.28 ULTRA.PLATINUM.BEIGE.VIOLET

• 10.28 PLATINUM.BEIGE.VIOLET

• 9.28 VERY.LIGHT.BLONDE.BEIGE.VIOLET

• 8.28 LIGHT.BLONDE.BEIGE.VIOLET

MODERN SALON asked Reid to coach colorists through the new COLOR.ME NUDES trend:

WHY NUDES, WHY NOW?

Simply put, COLOR.ME’S new NUDE colors are so easy to wear, Reid says. While the vibrant color trend had early adopters and was embraced by a wider demographic over time, the new NUDES and the overall neutrals trend is appropriate and exciting for everyone, right away.

WHEN TO  INTRODUCE NUDES:

Now, easily and often, Reid says. "High fashion, high shine and low maintenance, these SHADES can be applied for refinement, depositing, covering gray or even lightening up to three levels. We're also seeing salons introduce new high gloss services by mixing these new NUDES with pH.D ,our pH transformer, making the colors more acidic and even glossier. "

RESULTS AND RESPONSE:

"The feedback from top colorists and salons is nothing short of remarkable," Reid says. "It’s really the perfect new high fashion SHADE to create neutral, taupe and blush tones."

WHERE ELSE CAN BEAUTY PROS SEE THE NEUTRAL TREND REFLECTED?

"We found inspiration for the NUDE palette in makeup, fashion and on the streets," Reid says. Why is it so popular?  "The enhanced natural tones that we see are highly desired by clients because they know how to wear them, resulting in maximum confidence."

WHAT IS DRIVING THE DEMAND FOR A MORE NATURAL LOOK?

Reid notes two key drivers: wearable fashion statements and low maintenance color. "With the evolution of COVID-19 restrictions, guests desire color services that fade without harsh lines, but still have natural high fashion and brilliant shine."

HOW DO RECENT SHIFTS IN CONSUMER HABITS IMPACT MORE NATURAL LOOKS?

Quicker visits that cost less have been trending, Reid says. "We see clients popping back in for quick refining services to top up the tone in between major appointments and the NUDEs are perfect for that," she explains. "These shades fade out without a hard line – it's seamless."

WHAT ABOUT GUESTS WHO STILL WANTS A STRONG POP OF COLOR?

Trends are rarely all or nothing, Reid reminds colorists. Embrace the overlap!

"We love formulating our COLOR.ME NUDES with our BOOSTER colors," she says. "For warmer skin tones, consider adding RED or ORANGE to create warmer, natural, blush brilliance. For cooler skin tones, add in SOFT.VIOLET to create cooler minky, hazelnut, velvet and cognac tones."

Then it’s all about placement. "These are totally intermixable, so you can formulate to your client's desired results." However much they want the color to pop, with KEVIN.MURPHY COLOR.ME shades in your artist's toolbox, you can create the look they want.

At the end of the day—or color service—the consultation with the client and the vision of the colorist takes precedence over the trend. It comes back to that idea of being comfortable in your own skin.

"Color influences every area of our lives, from the clothing we wear to the environment we live in," says KEVIN.MURPHY COLOR.ME founder and renowned session stylist Kevin Murphy. "COLOR.ME delivers optimal color functionality and limitless creativity with the ease and convenience of a compact range."

For more details on the smart, conscious, ammonia-free and PPD-free COLOR.ME line and other salon professional products within the KEVIN.MURPHY portfolio, visitkevinmurphy.com.au.