Jet-black hair need not just be for burlesque babes. Here, how you too can find your own inner lady of the night. Pasties optional.
First of all: Although women with darker features - skin, eyes, brows - tend to carry off jet hair best, there’s no reason fairer girls can’t express their dark side too. Think the naturally golden-haired glowy-skinned Heather Sweet - aka Dita Von Teese. Just be aware that the change requires total commitment to the glamour cause. You’ll need to be prepared to overhaul your makeup style, take immaculate care of your skin, and have colour refreshed frequently.
Softly Does It: There are blue-edged and red-infused blacks but the most natural-look version is, unsurprisingly, the one you’d most often see naturally: a soft black. For example: Clairol Nice’n Easy in Natural Black, $11.99, 1800 226 524. Black may seem scary at first, but it’s a colour that is ideal for at-home application - if you feel brave enough. Start out with a semi-permanent (unless you need to cover greys). You’ll find that with repeated use, the colour will build up and start to act like a permanent anyway. Eventually, you can just touch up the roots and crown, and refresh ends by washing colour through. Prepare for touch-ups every six or so weeks.
Treat Time: If you’re DIY-ing it, consider treating yourself to a salon session occasionally. A deep treatment and a clear gloss-up will leave you looking like you’ve walked out of a hair ad. Black hair, more than any other, reflects shine brilliantly, so make the most of it. Also, use shine-enhancing hair care and serums, and colour-protecting styling products to fight premature fade-out.
Beyond the Pale: Unless you’re naturally darker skinned, go for the snow white look. Black hair looks especially luscious when worked back to pale, creamy skin. So, sunscreen is essential. Also, meticulous cleansing and exfoliating routines, to keep pores clean and skin breakout-free. Pale skin magnifies any blemishes - as does dark hair - so perfect skin is a must. If you need a little help, invest in a great foundation. Other makeup musts: rosy blush and red lipstick to prevent wash-out, and black mascara and liner to keep eyes standing out.
Naturally dark hair but want a change? Check out Aveda Full Spectrum Deep, Aveda’s 97% naturally derived in-salon colour service that has beeen been specifically designed for naturally dark hair (it was developed in Japan). It both lightens and deposits, leaving you with a dark caramel colour. Call 1300 300 054 for more info.
