Women no longer have a lock on hair coloring, says Shane Talbott, owner and colorist at Oak Street’s Troupe Salon. His growing clientele? Male professionals 40 and up.
“There’s such a change in the market, and it affects men,” he says. “They’re thinking, ‘I’ve got to have more of an edge.’ “
These guys are going for a cool and classy, not drastic, look. Most are simply reducing the gray in their hair by half or a third.
“That can make a huge difference in how you look,” Talbott says.
Up for such a cover-up, men? Talbott provides these tips:
– For convenience, get your hair colored at the same time you get it cut. Add 30 to 45 minutes–and, at Troupe, $50 to $65–to haircut time and cost.
– Semi-permanent color will last 8 to 12 shampoos, if you take care of it. If you regularly swim in a chlorinated pool, it could last half as long. The sun will mess with your head, too, so before you hit the golf course or bike path, remember to wear a hat or use styling products with sunscreen. Finally, use a very gentle shampoo.
– Be game for a touch of experimentation. As many a woman could tell you, it usually takes a few tries for you and your colorist to nail down a look you love.
– The look of all-over color is lame. “You never want that shoe-polish thing going,” Talbott says.
Consider adding subtle streaks of highlights that complement your base hair color. You’ve seen women sitting in salons with foil wrapped around sections of their hair, right? That’s how highlights are applied, and more men are showing up under the foil.
“I’ll tell the clients, ‘This is going to make you look fresher and complement your skin tones,’ ” Talbott says. “And since my clients are professionals, we don’t do anything extreme. It’s done in a natural, blended way.”