Forecast: Partly Cloudy with Sunshine

The Color of the Year 2021

At the turn of the twenty-first century (2000), the Pantone Color Institute created the color of the year. According to their website, Pantone.com, they are recognized around the world as a leading source of color information. They specialize in customized color standards, brand identity and product color consulting, as well as trend forecasting inclusive of Pantone Color of the Year, Fashion Runway Color Trend Reports, color psychology and more. This year, it seems that yellow illuminates the way for gray! Yes, Pantone has chosen two colors for 2021: “Illuminating” and “Ultimate Gray”.

Both stand in stark contrast to each other. Illuminating, a vibrant yellow, certainly indicates hope for a brighter, sunny future. While some may think that Ultimate Gray, a shade of neutral gray indicates caution and wariness of the possibility of more gloomy, cloudy gray days ahead, the folks at Pantone say otherwise. According to them, “Ultimate Gray quietly assures, encouraging feelings of composure, steadiness and resilience. The versatile gray shade resembles pebbles on the beach and natural elements whose weathered appearance highlights an ability to stand the test of time.” What a relief!

From an artistic perspective, my graphic designer husband says “gray actually enhances yellow, although, not necessarily the other way around.” So, in my expertise, applying this theory to hair color, I believe neutral base colors in hair this year will make way for beautiful vibrant blonde highlights and other warm shades with yellow undertones. Who is to say you won’t see it the other way around? Hairdressers can be unpredictable. Just look at those vibrant, bold, wild colors we’ve seen emerge in the last few years. I have already seen hairdressers take Illuminating and Ultimate Gray literally, creating something wildly artistic, using both on the same head of hair. Color, after all, is subjective; everyone sees and appreciates it differently.

Looking back at Pantone’s choice for 2020, it was a spot-on indication of the type of year we endured with “classic blue”. Maybe that was even a bit understated; in my opinion  a dark blue would have been more like it. 2020 was most certainly a dark season! But the accuracy of their choice was correct because undertones in most of the fabulous hair colors from the past year were blue. People grew out their natural gray regrowth as they isolated and stayed away from the salon. But in spite of this, hairstylists created gorgeous shades of gray and silver correcting the existing hair color to match and enhance the regrowth of many. We also saw a lot of cool, baby blondes on many who were willing to emerge from quarantine and brave the Covid storm. All of these had blue undertones.

This year we will continue to see more of those cool tones and a lot of neutral tones in base colors, complimented by warm dimensional high and low lights. I think we will see blonde becoming increasingly popular for those looking for a change, and wondering if the old cliche, that blondes have more fun is true. The bold front panel of blonde (or any lighter contrasting color) applied directly to the hairline has been tagged as “the money piece”. It has gained popularity this past year and will be around for a while, in the same way the “ombré” has since 2010. (Why do they call it the money piece you ask? Well, maybe because that pop of color around your face will make you look and feel like a million bucks. But really,I don’t know why, I just guessed. Lol ) I get lots of compliments on mine.

I believe we will see both vibrant blonde and baby blonde shades, depending on skin tone. And for those skin tones that do better with brunette and red shades, warm highlights with yellow undertones will prevail. Think auburn with multi-faceted shades of red like light copper, honey and strawberry blonde. Vibrant shades of red will continue to be popular. For brunettes, imagine some of these same warm lowlight shades or maybe a simple cool or neutral brown base color with light, golden-brown lowlights. Warm lowlights will also offset those awful green tones you get from the lighting on your zoom meetings.

Dimensional color with various tones either woven or melted throughout the hair will return professional hair color to its former glory. Fabulous salon created hair color is a great source of self care and a terrific way to get yourself out of the rut of the past year.

2021 Hairstyle Trends

This past year “curtain bangs” became the hot new look. For those who don’t know what these bangs look like, think about the retro shag worn by Farach Faucet in the 1970s. This is a pretty face-framing fringe that drapes away from the face from its shortest point to its longest.  These popular bangs will give way to the return of lots of layers, as people become comfortable with shorter hair around their face. Layers offer movement to almost any hairstyle, length and texture from pixies to bobs, lobs (long bobs), as well as shoulder length and long hair.

With the shag style, the shorter you layer it, the more weight is removed from the bottom of the hair. This style stands in contrast to the weighty bottom of bobs and lobs. Shags are more wispy on the bottom. The shorter layers offer height at the top and can be achieved on various lengths and textures of hair. By the way, I changed my mind halfway through  growing out  my “Covid-Creation” from a bob to a sort of shag. For me, the layers were more youthful. The bob was growing in nicely, but I felt a little too conservative wearing it.

Some popular urban stylists are predicting beach waves for winter. With no place to go this past year, many women put away their flat irons and grew out their Keratin treatments. They have learned to embrace their natural wavy texture, as they grew out their hair, avoiding the salons. The beach wave look is great in humid environments like South Florida. It is a staple here and will be around for the long run. The wavy look can be achieved by air drying the hair with the right amount of smoothing product and curl enhancer. Those waves can be easily polished for evening by wrapping strands of hair around a curling wand (or iron without the marcel handle), and then stretching them out to release the curl, creating beautifully finished beach waves. For more information on choosing the right product to enhance your texture, refer back to my blog on Tools of Enhancement from last year in July.

Ponytails will continue to reign as a means of control for long hair. One only has to look to Hollywood to see stars like Jennifer Lopez, Kendall and Kylie Jenner and Gigi Hadid, among others, looking stylish in a high pony tail. The choice of a high or low placed ponytail depends on face shape and hair length. Your stylist can help you decide which may better suit you.

So, you can see that this year’s forecast offers a wide variety of styles and colors. Why not pair your new hairstyle with some fabulous color and get that total look going on? A new cut and color will make you feel like a new person. I’ll say it again, as I did in my self care blog from last year: when you look good, you feel good. Don’t hesitate to call your stylist today to book your appointment. Consultations are usually free! Call now and you’ll get two, not one, but two professional services at the same time. (LOL, infomercial humor intended, however I can’t promise you’ll get two for the price of one.) But, seriously, why not compliment your new hair color with a new haircut for a new year? Remember my blog in August last year titled: Just because you’re zooming, don’t neglect your grooming!

Significance of the title: Partly Cloudy with Sunshine

In light of the overwhelming events this past week, there are many who may have no interest whatsoever in a style forecast for the coming year. While, this can be merely perceived as a worldly attempt to deflect one from current events, it still remains as a good source of self care. Now, for those who might appreciate Godly encouragement, let me remind you that there will always be cloudy days ahead. Often times, those clouds give way to rain, but the sun always shines after the rain, which also gives way to beautiful rainbows. In the Bible, rain is symbolic of blessings and the rainbow is a sign of hope. Though the future may seem clouded, keep looking towards the Son, Jesus Christ. He will rain down blessings upon you through the power of the Holy Spirit. Don’t lose hope! God is still on the throne. The Bible says some trust in horses and some trust in chariots (a metaphor for government), but we trust in the Lord our God. The forecast may be partly cloudy, but the Son is shining through. Better days are coming; just keep trusting Jesus, pray for our nation and read the Bible!

Please click on the tab below to reveal scripture.

My apologies for not getting around to discuss the exercise goals I set back in June; maybe I’ll include it next time, or maybe I’ll continue to procrastinate. (That’s probably a give away as to what I did with those goals.) However, I’m looking forward to telling you about a divine dream I had back on December 30, 2020. Thanks again for reading and sharing my blog. Until next time, may God bless you all, keeping you safe and healthy, in Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen!