If you are a Winter and go(ing) grey, that does NOT automatically turn you into a Summer.
Around 1987/8, Flossie had been initially diagnosed as a Winter. Then she went silver grey and, Grunwalde, her colour consultant (from a company I won’t name here) decked her out in one soft-muted colour from head to foot…
… and I mean from head to foot – shoes, tights, skirt, belt, jumper, nail polish, necklace, earrings, lipstick, blusher – all in the same shade of soft raspberry.
It still surprises me to this day that Grunwalde hadn’t recommended a pink rinse to finish the poor darling off!
Grunwalde invited me to her Christmas ‘do’ that year and I remember staring at Flossie dressed in this dreadful ensemble with my mouth wide open…
- I’m a Red and either my mouth or my face betrays what I’m thinking at any moment!
Flossie obviously noticed my look of horror and rang me the next day.
She knew she looked awful but didn’t know what to do… in case she upset Grunwalde.
… in case she upset Grunwalde?
God’s teeth! It makes me want to punch a pillow – or somesuch!
This is what we’re up against – lovely, kind clients like Flossie who don’t want to make a fuss so end up walking around looking as though they need an iron infusion!
Before you make any daft assumptions
If your client is a Winter and go(ing) grey, there are a number of questions that need asking BEFORE you make any suggestions, e.g.
- What caused this hair colour change?
- Natural ageing, health issues, stress, shock?
- What sort of grey?
- Silver-grey, salt-n-pepper grey, platinum grey, stone grey, mucky grey?
- How much grey?
- All over grey, big dollops of grey, whispers of grey scattered hither and thither?
- And, in my opinion, the most important question of all: What colour personality type are you?
- Because a Red Winter will never, ever be a Summer in a month of Thursdays!
Why am I batting on about this today?
Because I’ve just read Gerlinde’s story (Feb 2024) which has revolting echoes of what happened to Flossie almmost FORTY years ago.
And it makes me want to spit tacks!
I’ve never met Gerlinde but, from her photos and the way she writes about how uncomfortable and unhappy she is wearing Summer colours, she is obviously a Green/Red Winter who has started to silver-grey naturally.
The poor darling looks pale, ill, and ruddy awful in the all-over shade of soft-muted Summer pale green that some fool consultant has recommended.
I can’t believe there are training companies still out there teaching this load of crap.
- Well, actually… I can!
I can’t believe there are colour consultants still out there churning out this load of crap.
- Well, actually… I can!
This out-of-date, sanctimonious garbage has to stop!
What Gerlinde actually needs is a 5-minute hair colour analysis, to help her choose the right combination of hair and clothes colours so that she can stop wearing these draining Summer tones and present again as a vibrant, Green/Red Winter – so that she can be who she really is!
Clients everywhere deserve much better than this.
Let’s make sure we do better for our clients!
NB. Naturally, I will not be posting photos of any real clients! You’ll have to make do with Mrs Slocombe!