From “The Rachel”, to her “bronde” flat-ironed tresses and tousled waves, Jennifer Aniston’s hair evolution has seen her embodying some of the most iconic hairstyles throughout her career. Whatever the style, you can credit Michael Canalé for the Friends star’s radiant blonde locks. He’s coloured her hair for over a decade now and is also behind stars like Kate Hudson, Shakira, Penelope Cruz, and Heidi Klum and their signature hair colours. So it’s safe to say he knows everything there is to know about colouring your hair.
With COVID-19, salon visits have been reduced and you might be looking for ways to extend the life of your hair colour in-between visits. We speak with Jennifer Aniston’s colourist to learn about best practices and the types of hair colours that are trending now.
What are some best practices for maintaining your hair colour between salon visits?
Canalé advises protecting your hair from heat as much as possible. To start with, avoid hot showers after you’ve coloured your hair in Singapore’s climate. Stick to lukewarm or cold temperatures when you’re washing your hair as hot water can lift the outer cuticle layer of the hair and quicken the colour fade process.
In line with the philosophy of avoiding heat, be sure to keep heat styling tools to a minimum. Or, even better, use a heat protectant spray to protect the strands. Canalé also recommends staying out of the sun as much as possible, and to double up on UV protectants for the hair. In Singapore’s year-round heat, it should become a daily ritual accompanied by your sunscreen to protect your hair colour as much as possible.
And of course, great hair products elongate hair colour! Use colour-safe or colour-protectant shampoos in place of your regular shampoo two to three times a week, and be sure to apply a deep-conditioning treatment at least once a month.
Which colour or highlight options are best if someone wants to prolong their time between visits?
If you want longevity with your hair colour, Canalé shares, “Try and integrate your own colour with it. Stick with your own colour family. Also work with your skin undertone, cool or warm. You can also use concealers at your own discretion to cover up the grey regrowth. These last until you wash it out. I also prefer foil highlights. You can apply closer to the root and accurately with placement. With foil, you can also highlight with hair colour.”
How can someone ensure they get the best colour from their stylist?
Jennifer Aniston’s colourist recommends, “First, find the best colourist in your area. My recommendation is to find people with the hair colour that you like and ask them who colours their hair! Once you hear the same name often, make an appointment and talk to the hairdresser. Bring pictures of things you do like, but don’t forget to show them things you don’t like!”
What are the biggest hair colour trends at the moment?
Canalé shares that solid rich colours — intensified by hair colour gloss — are the biggest trends at the moment. Now that some countries are transitioning into autumn, reds should prevail. People also seemed to have a preference for a few highlights around the front of noticeable tones.
“Due to COVID-19, we are also applying highlights that blend very well with the natural colour just in case we need to wait a few months before the next touch up.”
