Purple hair, don't care? Society often tries to put the over-40s woman in a box, but it's time to expand your colour palette beyond the classic browns and blondes. Here's our guide to inspire you to go for bold
"I know I look like I’m doing nothing but my hair is quite busy", reads the caption of a post on Halle Berry's Instagram last week where she revealed her bold new look embracing her natural curls dyed in a vibrant shade of purple after a season of rocking bleached strands. At 56-years-old, the Oscar winner, who has just starred in the Netflix production Bruised, is known for being rather daring when it comes to her tresses. And the the buzz created by the photo (the happy post has already garnered over 77k likes) leaves no doubt about the taboo that still surrounds a middle-aged woman's choice to dye her hair in unconventional shades, typically embraced by teens and twenty-somethings.
In the age of social media, that typically praises youth and the joie de vivre of the 20s, the place occupied by older women is commonly linked to invisibility, from advertising campaigns to the world of dating apps or beauty trends. But thankfully, there are many who refuse to fade into the background and instead go for bold and empower themselves in the vibrancy of middle age.
To inspire your next trip to the hairdresser, we asked the experts for tips on how to make these bright, unmissable fantasy colours work for you. You might go for Halle’s purple or Ulrika Djerf’s vibrant coral, but here's your need-to-know
Watch your tone
“Fantasy colours are for everyone”, says Amanda Kupari, a colour technician at Baldacci Hair. And that means that you not only can, but should, adapt the look to your taste and preferred style – it's definitely not a one size fits all situation. “You can vary both the colour and the placement of the colour so that it suits your hair and lifestyle, you don’t need to colour all your hair in a bold colour to get the effect you want.
"Also, if you are a first timer and want to try the more colourful trend, you can start, for example, with a beautiful, more natural strawberry blonde. And if you like it, you can go more pink the next time”, she adds.
It’s worth experimenting
The magic of playing with hair is that, like almost everything in life, colour doesn't last forever. For darker tones, or if you're growing natural grey roots, an initial bleaching process is likely to be required to ensure that the tone remains uniform. The choice of colour also influences aspects such as the need for maintenance and touch-ups, but experiencing the changes along the way is also part of the process. "Sometimes a fantasy colour that fades can still be so beautiful! Like a softer vibrant tone, try that out as well to see if you like it", suggests Kupari.
As healthy as possible
“In general, the more intensity of the colour, the harder it is to get it out of the hair and stays longer. The lighter and softer the colour is, it washes out more easily. And like always, every colour lasts longer on a healthy hair”, Kupari explains. For some, the care demanded by dyed hair may be a drawback to the process. But, the truth is that the main thing is to focus on hydrating and nourishing the strands, creating a healthy base for the colouring. This will ensure a longer-lasting look because, "if the hair is too dry and porous, sometimes the colour is washed out immediately."