Succulent-Inspired Hair Colors and Styles Are Trending on Instagram
These days, I can't go to a friend's apartment without getting a tour of their succulent collection. I appreciate their plant babies, but I seriously lack their green thumbs. Succulent hair, however, is more in my wheelhouse. (I just killed a cactus, but as a beauty editor, I know a lot about the care and maintenance of bold hair color.) Yup, my friends' favorite low-commitment plants are now inspiring a new hair-color trend, and I'm so here for it. HelloGiggles noticed that stylists across the U.S. have been dyeing their clients' hair with a gorgeous mix of green, purple, teal, and pink to mimic the natural colors of succulents.
On Instagram, under the #succulenthair tag, you'll find excellent examples of the hair-color trend — in between pictures of women literally wearing tiny succulents in their hair on their wedding days. (Apparently, that's a thing, and I can't say I'm here for that version of succulent hair.)
A trio of hairstylists in Maryland even collaborated on a succulent hair look, which is complete with braids that resemble the plant.
Aly Louch, a stylist at Shear Excitement Salon & Spa in Pompano Beach, Florida, tried out succulent hair on a client who is obsessed with the plants. "We had been talking about creating a piece inspired by succulents for some time," Louch tells Allure. "Finally, we just decided to stop talking about it and do it."
Before the succulent dye job, the model had different shades of blue, purple, and pink in her hair, so Louch had to strip her hair of the rainbow entirely before starting the coloring process. Once the model's hair was basically a blank canvas, Louch brushed on a mix of Pravana dyes in vivid greens, leaving out the bottom two inches. Then Louch went back in to "melt and diffuse the ends with a mixture of pink, magenta, and wild orchid with a drop of violet," she says.
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Succulent hair is definitely a salon-made situation. With all those bold dyes at play, there's huge room for error, so make an appointment if you want your hair to match your cacti. If you already have bold colors in your hair, like Louch's client, the stylist recommends washing your hair every day for a week with clarifying shampoo and hot water to help remove some pigment. This will makes the lifting process a bit easier for your stylist. During your consultation, Louch says to bring along examples of succulent hair. "Personally, I love when my clients bring pictures. It gives me a better understanding of what it is they truly want and what they want to avoid so that we are on the same page."
Sadly, succulent hair isn't as low-maintenance as its plant counterpart. Just like with all rainbow hair-color trends on Instagram, Louch says maintaining succulent hair "takes work and dedication, and the upkeep is not for the faint-hearted." Louch tells her clients to wash their hair with ice-cold water and shampoo less often —usually once or twice a week maximum.
More on the latest Instagram hair-color trends:
The Southwest Sundance Hair Color Is a Smoky New Way to Go Rainbow
Buttered Rose Gold Is the Fresh New Hair-Color Trend on Instagram
The "Sunset Pastel" Hair-Color Trend Is the Prettiest Way to Go Rainbow This Spring
Now, learn how to get higher hair in five steps:
