In the beauty business, keeping up on the hottest trends and knowing how to perfect the techniques to get them is essential. We recently reached out to master stylist, educator, NAHA veteran and trend setterJohn Simpson to get the scoop on what’s trending now and pointers on perfecting the look. Here’s what he had to tell us…

Summer into fall is exciting and new! Here are some of my favorites.

The embrace of “Ombre” and “Hair Painting” have been some of the most requested techniques by many colorists, this shadowed diffusion of color is more than just “grown out” color though, it is truly an art form of knowing your tools and painting the canvas. There are many ways to approach this, though my preferred is to isolate in a compact foil method and work in a diagonal diffusion from high point at the face frame to a diagonal low toward the back.

Take all that you do and strive for perfection. As soon as you gain it, start over! There is always room to absorb more! ~ John Simpson

Have fun and detail every canvas. Some of my favorite ways of accentuating any and all traditional canvases is by working on and in the rounds of the head. You can utilize a simple diagonal slice or weave in a U-like section to enhance any shape from bobbs to long.

Another brilliant method is placing interlocking squares on the rounds of the parietal and front drop of the fringe. Inside of the squares, you may take diagonal, vertical or horizontal slices to move color according to the layers of the haircut. One of my favorite tricks right now:

• Isolate curved V-like sections on the four rounds of the parietal two at the occipital, and then one on the fall of the fringe.

• Take approximately a 1.5 inch open V at the rounds, taking a curve section to a  point just above the occipital

• Repeat on the opposite side of crown, then again in the front creating the V point to just behind the ear.

• At the top fringe fall, flip the shape to have the openings at the recessions and the curved point fall where the comb lifts off of the head.

• Within the section, you may slice or weave on a diagonal or, my favorite, a mixture of both from point to width of the section.

Another way is to make them isolated block colors for the season. This gives you a new spin on the ever craved “Ombre” and a master hair painter. Take gradation and diffusion which provide color movement from light to dark. The space is minimal, and provides the subtle contrast of color movement needed for the season. Add more or less and give the perfect color placement with purpose! Don’t smother… showcase your work!

The color palettes are exciting and unexpected for the summer into fall. The fashion tones versus years past take the traditional warm browns, golden blondes and red browns and rev them up! The Brunettes we’re seeing are rich and cool with warm accents spilled through the interior. The blondes are craving clean canvas creamy luxury and the reds are brighter and bolder than ever. Take shades of radiant rich reds and citrus-like colorations that are not screaming but glow from the inside out or another summer favorite accent of strawberry. Give the canvas a cleanse and paint in the new tones!

The new infatuation with texture waves and American waves continue in a huge way this summer, showcasing beautiful bounce, movement and texture. Today’s trendy youth and others are sporting a new beach wave that has not been around for quite some time. The difference in this new wave is it is not the tight rod or spiral permed effect, it’s a bender rod set that takes approximately a  one inch slice section wrapped from base to tips. The volume that is created by this is fresh and bouncy. From short to long lengths, take this and run for bender rods. It is a great way to add on a quick chemical service and give that disconnection of the cut a new life!

To get the look through styling:

• Create  the best round brush blow out with a medium sized brush.

• When complete, instead of teasing the hair, try a micro-crimping iron. This creates weightless beading to the hair which allows volume that lasts for days!

• Then, utilize a full-sized curling iron or wand in one inch vertical sections to the mid length.

This sophisticated street look gives new identity to the finish. The trick, versus back combing so much, is to slide your fingers, palm flat to the scalp, from underneath. Once at the base, shake, not pull. This will separate the curls and make them have an amazing airy tousle.

But most important… take all canvases and paint, perm and play! I do what I do in hopes that others can gain success through the tools, inspiration and techniques. I hope you enjoyed and happy styling!

About John Simpson

John Simpson is a GOLDWELL International Artist & GOLDWELL Art Director, and a salon partner at Lewis Hair Salon in Pittsburgh, PA. John’s passion is to educate stylists in all salon concepts and full beauty imagery, conveying the message of inspiration and discipline through technique. His motivational and creative teaching style encourages stylists to reclaim their passion and conquer new design fundamentals of hair color, cutting and finishing techniques. For more of John’s inspirations, visitjohncsimpson.com. Also, find John on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Linkedin and Goldwelllive.com.

Images courtesy of John Simpson and Goldwell.

I hope you enjoy!!!!

j

http://probeauty.org/news/blog/2011/04/18/pretty-anyone-in-the-head-of-a-performer/

Hit me up anytime for a chat, a question, a giggle or to stay inspired!

Visit www.goldwellnorthamerica.com for our academy education and my new program “See it, Think it, Create It!!!!!”

j

Heres the blog link….

http://probeauty.org/news/blog/2011/02/20/blackened-anyone/