Color block hair is the hottest hair trend of the moment, here are the most original looks and everything you need to know about the different techniques!
The color block hair trend is among the most glamorous of the moment! The gritty chromatic games already in vogue in the 2000s are back in fashion in new highly original versions, from the face framing to the color block with streaks and shaded locks, to the one on the bangs! Let’s find out together what the 2021 hair color block is, how to do it, who it looks good for and what are the most beautiful ideas and images proposed by famous hairstylists and hairdressers to take inspiration from!
WHAT IS THE HAIR COLOR BLOCK
What does the term “color block” mean? The meaning is blocks of colors. In fact, contrasting colored blocks are created on the hair along the hair, using different coloring techniques. Generally speaking, we are talking about coloring one or more sections of hair in shades different from the base, so that these are immediately noticed for the clear detachment with the rest of the hair. With the hair color blocking technique you can get more eccentric and extravagant results, but also very natural and feminine effects. In the wake of the block color combinations that have been a recurring trend in the clothing sector since the 1970s, color block hair is making its way this year even among the coolest hair diktats as we are about to see!
HOW TO DO BLOCK COLORING
There are different hair color block techniques, from two-tone effects to those with streaks, from chromatic games that affect only the tips to those on the bangs and more. The face framing involves the discoloration of the two front strands making them two or three tones lighter than the base to give immediate brightness to the face. In her summer collection “La danse de la vie” Inebrya suggests two-tone hair with a clear break between the dark base color and the light bleaching that follows the movement of the hair and the features. The most dramatic and multidimensional classic color block with very evident contrasts can be obtained with dark, light or unnatural colors. Harri Akerberg, for example, rewards the color blocked ends technique, bringing shades of electric blue and purple on the tips of the hair and on the bangs to liven up a platinum blonde base. If we love DIY, on very light or bleached hair we can also use semi-permanent coloring masks, temporary colors or coloring sprays on some strands or portions of the hair, but obviously the effect will hardly be as precise as at the hairdresser’s. The more natural shaded effects of shadowing, on the other hand, involve the darker coloring of locks of hair preferably placed in the front or side of the head. But dyeing the bangs in a different color from the base is also one of the different techniques, as we are about to see. If we want a natural and refined result, complementary colors must be chosen that blend into each other. If, on the other hand, we want a versatile and original look with punk rock accents that does not go unnoticed, green light for evident and bold block contrasts, even in strong and bright colors.
WHO ARE GOOD FOR COLOR BLOCK HAIR
In choosing the type of color block hair a lot depends on the skin tone and the shape of the face. The face framing technique gives a wide face and a round and diamond-shaped face, because the light shades on the front verticalize the lines of the face and optically streamline it. The perfect way to give movement and dynamism to spring summer medium haircuts, as suggested by Compagnia della Bellezza. The gradient color block is perfect for livening up a monochromatic tint by creating light natural contrasts. Davines, for example, proposes his shadowing technique also for oversized haircuts dedicated to fifties and sixties. The right way to make a hair with white hair or gray hair more modern and trendy. A color blocking hair with colored streaks is more suitable for the younger ones, as Estel suggests, especially if we choose bright shades. It can easily embellish both short spring summer cuts and medium cuts, especially if we combine tones that go well with each other such as pink and pastel light blue, or purple and blue. The color block on the bangs enhances the long and heart-shaped face, absolutely to be avoided if we have a round and plump face instead.
And in terms of colors, which ones to choose? The pastel shades of pink, mint green and light blue are perfect for those with a fair complexion and in particular for blondes, but to be obtained on a bleached base. Brown and dark hair? We choose shades of blue, emerald green or intense orange. Finally, to enhance red hair we can reward lightening on copper on a mahogany base and vice versa, as suggested by Toni & Guy, but also accents of black and in general more intense nuances such as magenta. While if we want something more discreet, green light for nuanced contrasts on the shades of blonde, from caramel to honey.
FACE FRAMING COLOR BLOCK
The face framing technique, as the translation of the name suggests, aims to frame the face, giving it brightness. Like? The front strands are bleached and made two to three tones lighter than the rest of the hair. The effect of light and radiance is immediate, as shown by the looks of Jean Louis David with slight lightening even on the lengths. Strong point of the Capellimania spring summer collection of cuts, the face framing hair in color block style rewards evident contrasts between light and dark colors, with a wise choice of the locks to be lightened so that by moving the line we can highlight them on one side of the head or both. In the Compagnia della Bellezza spring summer collection, on the other hand, we find a very feminine variant, the Sunshine Framher in which the shades are discreet and very natural. Wella Professionals invites us to dare with its blue-gray bob cuts with platinum front strands with an 80’s soul. While Tigi personalizes the brown tint with frontal lightening in a very warm honey blonde.
COLOR BLOCK HAIR WITH SHADES
Do we want to try a color blocking hair with particular reflections? The director of the Davines brand, Tom Connell, has launched the shadowing hair coloring technique, an intense contrast between dark and light shades, very feminine plays of shadows and light. The technique requires that the dark color be placed on the front or side strands, therefore the opposite of what we get with face framing. But it is not the only technique of this type. Nyce International gives character to her long spring summer haircuts in hime cut style by adding shades that degrade to black on a coppery brown base. Team Gogen for Alter Ego Italy dedicates its pearl blonde bob cuts with light pastel pink highlights to those who love light colors, while Tigi makes its cold blonde pixie cut tending to gray more dramatic by adding sun yellow shades only on the tips.
COLOR BLOCK BANGS
Lovers of the most extravagant looks? Among the trends of the moment there is also the coloring of the bangs in a color in stark contrast to the base. In its Byelayage summer line entirely dedicated to color blocking, Revlon suggests two-tone hair in which the bangs is the protagonist, bleached together with some side locks, while the dark base color is also intensified. It is called Magical Whimsy, “magically capricious”, the proposal by Schwarzkopf Professional that focuses on scenographic looks all played on unexpected contrasts and refined irregularities: therefore close-up on very short haircuts with a pearl blonde base with a short and asymmetrical pink-tinted bangs. And for those who love excesses, from Revlon the go-ahead also for platinum and ash blonde hair with electric blue tips on bangs and lengths giving an irresistible 80s character.
BLOCK COLORING CLEAR CONTRASTS AND GEOMETRIES
Among the new proposals of the most famous hairstilists there is no shortage of looks that focus on spectacularity, in which multidimensionality and geometry are the keywords. This is the case of Chung Yang Su who invites us to try the color contrast par excellence, the one between black and white, placing the dark locks under the platinum ones. The two-tone effect becomes even more evident at Polverini Hair Academia and Framesi which reward large color differences between the front part of the hair and the back, with games of asymmetries also in the cut. Do you want an extreme change of look? Estel experiments by coloring her layered haircuts with a blue tint and adding pastel pink tips.
HAIR COLOR BLOCK MECHES
But in terms of trendy hair color, the color block hair made with streaks is one of the most common techniques and with the most natural result. In this case the hairdresser bleaches and applies the chosen color only on some locks of the hair, choosing shades of the same color but lighter or darker, or rewarding clearer and more evident detachments if we prefer a gritty look. Inebrya presents strong and decisive hairstyles with 2000s chunky streaks style lightening with wide and evident colored hair bands. Moving Hair instead prefers thinner locks to be placed in some strategic points of the hair or combines different degrading colors along the fringe and the hair. Colored locks with a multicolor result are the choice of Michel Gomez and Jérôme Guiraud for Label Coiffure, but we can also request highlights or more discreet highlights, for example pink highlights on a light brown or blonde base, for a more romantic result.
What do you think of this new hair trend for 2021? What is the look you are most curious to try? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!