Colour NOTES

This month, Rio Agor Watts, southern technical educator at Revlon Professional talks texture, techniques and trends

Nigerian landscapes

Culture and history of textured hair

Museums and exhibitions

Social media

Real Housewives reality TV!

What do you love most about being a colourist?

I appreciate the freedom – Ilove the fact that I can blend and play with different depths and tonalities which gives me the power to bring something basic to life. Colour allows me to give my clients an outlook for expression, change and even empowerment.

Where do you go for inspiration?

You’ll usually find me browsing through WSGN, Pantone and Hairdressers Journal International, or fixated on a micro trend on social media. However, my hardcore inspiration comes from what is actively going on around me. I’m fortunate enough to be able to work alongside incredible creatives who all have different styles, opinions and businesses.

What are your favourite colouring techniques?

I’m currently loving textured hair colouring techniques such as curly lights, pintura, and wet balayaging, on T3-T4 hair types. These techniques allow me to achieve lightness that’s impactful but gentle and kind to curls, kinks and coil hair types. I’m also enjoying creating beautiful crystal, jewelled-inspired toners.

Are there any colour trends you’d like to bring back?

For the last 15 years, all the major trends we’ve seen have either been recycled or upcycled. Classic old-school techniques such as striped hair, half ’n’ half, pixel placement and even capped highlights have all made appearances in salons.

What has been one of your main challenges as a colourist?

Nearly a decade ago, my client would trust me as the professional to recommend the best route to achieve and maintain their colour. Now clients have so much accessibility, not only to trends and social media influencers, but to professional products and application methods.

What has been your most memorable colour consultation?

My mum’s last colour consultation before she passed away. It was essential to me that I made her feel incredible and that she was happy with her desired look. As colourists the pressure can be even more intense when colouring friends and family.

What colour creation makes you most proud?

I’m a sucker for a colour correction. It’s the MVP when it comes to knowing in-depth colour theory and knowledge to resolve a problem. And the fact that there’s no guarantee of what is going to happen weirdly excites me.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

On a day-to-day basis, I can travel anywhere between from 50 to 200 miles to visit salons and facilitate education on our brand. I enjoy the feeling of getting colourists excited to think outside of the box when it comes to in-depth colour knowledge and application techniques.

What advice would you give to a trainee colourist?

Be passionate, committed, consistent and most importantly, don’t be afraid to fail. Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn. When training in a controlled environment, it’s okay to have mishaps or errors. It’s how you bounce back and learn from them that allows you to grow. Lastly, hairdressing is a role that bridges more than just you to your client. Our industry can connect you to opportunities, experiences and lifechanging options that can give you the chance to sculpt your dream career.

online@saloninternational.co.za