Natasha Saigol is a hair stylist and make up artist with over a decade of experience in the industry
Natasha Saigol is a hair stylist and make up artist with over a decade of experience in the industry. Internationally certified by Vidal Sassoon, Wella, Schwarzkopf and the New York Fashion Academy, she runs her own salon by the name of Natasha Saigol Salon in Lahore.
The ‘It’ Hair Trends of 2015
There’s no better time for reinventing yourself than the start of a brand new year and just one month into 2015, we’re already getting the feeling that it’s going to one hell of a fashion-forward time. If you’re looking to make yourself over, the place to start with is your crowning glory - your hair, the part of you that’s always visible and can make or break any look. We’re not all Jennifer Aniston, born with a head full of fabulous hair, but with a little expert guidance, one can achieve a similar, celeb-worthy look without having to resort to drastic measures. Stylist Natasha Saigol breaks down the key hair trends for the year into three easy-to-understand segments.
The ‘it’ hair cut
Are you one of those people who hated the ‘lob’ that had been trending on the celeb circuit for a few years now? There’s good news for you this season then, because according to Natasha, the haircut of the moment revolves around mid to shoulder length hair with long, sexy layers.Think Blake Lively and Sarah Jessica Parker with their gorgeous, windswept layers. "Very long lengths are kind of last season now, so I would recommend the more chic mid-length cut. The key to this look is to make sure the layers are away from your face, not falling on your forehead but closer to the ends for an effortlessly fun yet elegant look," says Natasha.
The ‘it’ hair colour
No it’s not blonde, but that’s not going to stop a certain brand of desi women from dousing their hair with peroxide! For those with less extreme tastes, the hair shades to embrace in 2015 are warm browns, caramels and coppers. "Caramel is a great option for those looking to tone down blonde highlights in their hair, because it warms up the blonde and gives the hair a nice, rich look," says Natasha. Another shade that she recommends is auburn, which is brown with an undertone of red. The lovely Noore Bhatty was recently spotted at Natasha’s salon getting auburn highlights and we love the look of the finished result. "Auburn is great for Pakistani women because it works very well for a wheatish skin tone and helps to uplift our complexion," says the stylist.Hair colour can be tricky, which is why Natasha has a 15-minute one-on-one pre-colour consultation with her clients. "I need to know what they do, what their lifestyle is like, how conservative the household that they come from is, and how much time they spend on hair maintenance to decide on what colour to give a particular client. The key is to make sure that the shade matches your skin tone, eye colour and eyebrow colour, otherwise the effect can be very aging."
For a newbie, Natasha recommends starting out safe. "Opt for a gloss maybe two shades lighter than your original colour and work your way up from there."
The ‘it’ hair style
It’s time to put that hair straightener to rest and give your hair time to recover from the extensive heat damage you’ve been subjecting it to, because the trendiest style right now is one that’s natural and carefree. "Water waves, of the sexy, just-out-of-bed variety, are really in right now and what I love about this look is the ease with which it can be created at home. I recommend it to clients who are low maintenance or don’t have the time to spend hours getting ready each day," says Natasha. Invest in a good sea salt spray or dry shampoo, spritz the product on dry hair, scrunch it up and you’re good to go. Aim for tousled and slightly dishevelled.The same basic look can be glammed up for the red carpet by going for a softer version of the 40’s-inspired finger waves. "This version is not as wet and defined as it used to be in the 40s; it’s a modern take on a classic that’s never really gone out of style," says Natasha. Cool girls like Emma Stone and Meesha Shafi have been seen sporting the trend recently (Meesha at a fashion week towards the end of 2014 and Emma at this year’s Golden Globes), so if you’re a fan of effortless chic, this is how you need to be styling your hair in 2015.
So last season: Ombre and keratin-treated hair. Ombre was great while it lasted but according to Natasha, it’s a fad that’s fast going out of style. As for keratin, while the process doesn’t damage the hair, the poker-straight look is just not fashionable anymore.