Back to brown
Hairstylist to the stars, Ken Paves, on transforming your hair.
By Amy Burstyn
Photography by Tnah Louise
Brown is the hottest hair hue this season, from caramel to deep shades of mocha. For tips on how to make the transformation to the darker side of ’dos we turned to hairstylist Ken Paves, who has styled the tresses of Jennifer Lopez, Eva Longoria, Jessica and Ashlee Simpson, Céline Dion, Fergie, Eve and Jessica Alba, to name a few. He recently did the makeovers for cycle nine of America's Next Top Model, and led “Oprah's Great American Haircut” show. His work has appeared in Vogue, Marie Claire, ELLE, Harper's Bazaar, Allure, Glamour, Cosmopolitan and In Style, among others, and now he’s bringing his expertise to FASHION!
What do you think spurred the trend toward darker hairstyles?
“Hair colour is often very seasonal. Brown or even darker shades of blonde are very autumnal. Warm, deeper colors help the skin to look richer during seasons of less sun exposure. Changing your hair colour is a great way to suggest ‘new.’ Often, when we want to feel reinvented we change our hair colour. I have recently changed my blond hair to a light brown.”
What does the trend toward going darker say about the movement in fashion?
“Fashion always sets the tone for hair. Fall and winter clothes definitely look great with deep colour. The greatest similarity I think we see with fashion and hair colour at the moment is versatility; we see a lot more range. There are so many great fashions out that I believe it encourages people to try new looks with fashion, hair, makeup; all accessories to the wearer.”
For someone who is blonde looking to go brunette, what are some of the steps they should take to ensure the process goes smoothly?
“Be realistic. Often blonde hair is highlighted and can be very porous, therefore it will probably ‘pull’ darker than your shade selected. If your hair is very light and your change will be drastic, I recommend seeing a professional. With such a major change I always recommend using photos as a reference.”
Have many of your clients come in looking to make this change?
“Ashlee Simpson…Eva Longoria was ‘caramel’ and we just went ‘chocolate.’”
Can anybody pull off the brunette look?
“Almost anyone can pull off this look as long as the tone and shade of the colour are specific to your skin tone.”
Are there any products you would recommend to help maintain this look and keep it healthy?
“A gentle shampoo that will not strip colour and will help it last. I love the shampoo brands Kérastase and Klorane.”
Shown: Hairstylist Ken Paves. Photography by Tnah Louise for bellafacciafoto.com.
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