There is no denying that Nordic white is the hair colour of the year. Ask Daenerys Targaryen. When Emilia Clarke first burst on the screen with her icy locks in Game of Thrones, the style went on to become a worldwide trend. The first to follow suit was, of course, Hollywood, with almost the entire Kardashian-Jenner clan sporting silver at some party or the other. The likes of Cara Delevinge, Taylor Swift and closer home, Kangana Ranaut and Lisa Haydon soon followed. The shade now comes in a variety of hues and styles including bronde-like toasted coconut, the coffee-inspired cold brew and the mermaid-esque oil slick.
And if white makes a splash, can greys be far behind? Says Irene O’briene, international colour expert at Silhouette Salon de Beaute, The Oberoi, Delhi, “We have seen all the colours of the rainbow in the previous year. The best solution for Indian hair is the shatush method—a free-hand hair technique, which leaves your hair looking naturally lightened. Similar to balayage, the result is a soft transition of colour from root to tip. The hair is lightened in two to four tones.”
Celebrities such as Rihanna soon dabbled in grey colour. And if Rihanna starts a fashion trend, can it not pick up? A host of possibilities soon flooded Instagram and Pinterest— silver streaks, frosted grey tips, metallic hair extensions, global lilac-ombres and what have you. What was once #GrannyHair had suddenly become the most glamorous sought-after look. Even men are not behind when trying out a lighter colour. While bleached hair may not be for the fashion-savvy—think, Kanye West’s terrible homage to Trevor McDonald—in recent years people such as Zayn Malik and Jonah Hill are making a strong statement.
With Nordic white and grey firmly ensconced in fashion palettes it was not long before pastels bobbed their pretty heads—literally. From statement-making shades such candy pink, silver grey, and ultraviolet hues, one had peachy colours with clear influences of 80s fashion making a strong comeback. Says Mumbai-based hair stylist Pranjal Arora, “Pastels are all the rage now. Every day I get almost four clients who want this shade. Though the hue does not always suit the Indian skin tone, one can still get streaks done. Or maybe, even get the ends coloured light.”
Stylists predict that pop colours such as tangerine and acid yellow will make a comeback. Many are going in for balayage or ombre hair—both of which flaunt the darkness of the natural hair colour at the top. Another trend that is fast catching up is mushroom blond hair. It may sound boring to some, after all who wants a mushroom on the head? But if searches on Pinterest are anything to go by, style divas are looking it up a whopping 308 percent more than any other shade. The ashy look is the perfect in-between colour for those not ready to make the jump—neither blond, nor quite brunette.
From Halle Berry’s sunset ombré hair colour to the red carpet or runway-worthy unicorn hair, if you please, fantasy colours in brights and pastels are here to stay. Even the Duchess of Cambridge, who is known to keep things simple, or our very own Deepika Padukone have added some blonde highlights to their solid brunette hair. So, go ahead. Make the Mother of Dragons proud.