SB ColourFest: Holly Fairley talks colour
Holly Fairley lives and breathes colour – she’s the queen of bespoke blends and bold ideas. With an instinct for trends and a brush in hand, she turns every head of hair into a walking “wow” moment. We caught up with her for SB ColourFest to see her colour loves…
What is your favourite colour product?
“My go-to has to be Osmo bleach – the 9 levels of lift. It works a treat for me and really lets me push my blondes as far as possible without compromising on the result. I always pair it with K18 in the process to protect and rebuild the hair while I’m working, which means I can achieve those clean lifts without the worry of long-term damage. For aftercare, I swear by Schwarzkopf Professional’s BlondMe purple shampoo, I know purple shampoos can split opinion in the industry, but I’m all for it as it keeps blondes bright and healthy, and I even use it on myself. It stops that patchiness you sometimes get on porous hair and makes sure the condition stays strong. K18 is one of those ranges I always come back to. It just makes such a difference to the condition of the hair, especially after colouring. You can feel it working straight away – the hair is stronger, softer, smoother and it really helps keep that bounce and shine clients love.”
Favourite colour technique and how to execute it
“Balayage with a root shadow is my favourite – it gives clients that bright, high-impact blonde but keeps it effortless and low maintenance. The trick is in the blending. You’ve got to take the time to really work the product in, comb it through properly, and then check for any lines before the client leaves. If I spot a line, I’ll correct it while toning. It only takes a few minutes but makes all the difference to the finish.”
What I’m most excited about in colour right now
“Right now, I’m obsessed with how far we can push blondes while still keeping them easy for clients to maintain. Everyone wants to be as blonde as possible but without being chained to the salon every four weeks and root shadowing makes that achievable. It’s that perfect balance of high impact and low maintenance.”
How to retail colour protection in a competitive market
“For me, it’s about being real with clients during the consultation. I explain that if they’re investing in a big colour service, protecting it at home is what makes the result last. I’ll show them exactly what I use myself like BlondMe purple shampoo, so they know it’s tried and tested. Clients appreciate honesty, and when they see the difference proper aftercare makes, they’ll always come back for the product.”
Follow #SBColourFest for more colour tips this month
