One of the most exciting ways to keep long-haired clients interested about colour is introducing the Fox Tip technique.
The tail of the sly animal is the inspiration for the colour method, which typically sees warm roots and mid-lengths transition into dark brown or black tips, creating a reverse ombre effect. “Fox Tips is a vibrant two-tone look where the ends of the hair are coloured a contrasting dark shade – so black or deep brown for blondes; copper or deep purples for darker hair,” explains Lloyd Court from seanhanna Salons in Wimbledon.
Lloyd shares his advice for creating fabulous fox tips…
Layer the hair before you colour
To achieve fox tips, you first need to layer the hair. The shape and movement of the layers will determine how the colour sits and how visible the effect will be. Fox tips work best when the colour follows the natural movement of the haircut. Before picking up your brush, understand where the layers fall and how they will move when the client wears their hair.
Pre-section before application
Next, pre-section the hair. Taking time to map out your sections before applying colour will give you more control and consistency. Remember, fox tips are all about the placement, so don’t rush this stage.
Colour the hair where it naturally sits
One of the most important rules when creating fox tips is to respect the natural fall of the hair. Take each section, spray it down with water and move it into the right position. Don’t move the hair around as it’s important to colour the hair where it sits. If you do, the colour won’t end up sitting where you expect it to. Before applying colour, spray the section with water, comb it through and position it exactly where it naturally falls. The water creates a slight barrier, helping the colour soften and blend more effectively.
Change your gloves with each application
Change gloves for each section, especially if you are doing fox tips in black or a vibrant colour. Colour transfer can easily create unwanted marks, muddy tones or messy placement. Fresh gloves between sections help maintain control and keep the result sharp.
Blend, blend, blend
The biggest thing with fox tips is blending. Blend, blend, blend! This will stop the tips looking grimy or too block heavy.
Find out more about Lloyd Court at @lloydcourthair.