Blown away by rose gold

You only need to take a stroll around the London Borough of Hackney to establish that pastel- coloured hair is no longer the preserve of My Little Pony.

From ombre tips to under-dyes, the trend for sherbet-hued dye jobs has overtaken the barnets of the capital’s fashion fraternity, and through the sugary spectrum, pink has proved to be by far the most in-demand shade.

From the trademark fluoro locks of model-of-the-moment and Maybelline poster girl Charlotte Free, through to the bubblegum rockabilly waves of Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj’s candy-floss curls, it seems that the style set are thinking pink.

But after predictions from many a seasoned trend-hunter that the series of blush-topped mops were surely a flash-in-the-pan, surprisingly, dye jobs in the capital are as popular as ever. But of course, neon is not for everyone — namely, anyone over 21. Enter: rose gold hair.

Blending peachy pink shades with a warm golden base, rose gold has been hailed as the only way to wear blonde manes this season. As the polar opposite of last year’s icy bright and ashy blondes and far from the garish statement of bright pink, the dialled-down saturation of rose gold suits and flatters almost every skin tone, offering a fashion-forward but office-friendly colour, while the honey peach undertone counteracts the yellow brassiness usually associated with warmer blondes.

Championed by international colour specialist Goldwell — which recently launched rose-gold-hued collections for the first time — the brand has pioneered new techniques to incorporate the shade, including a blend of rose gold with rich copper for light brown hair, and “peaches and cream”, a subtle pink blended with creamy blonde.

“I’ve noticed an increase in clients opting for this trend,” says Lisa Whiteman, Goldwell colour ambassador and co-owner of Mayfair salon Webster Whiteman. “It’s perfect for summer as the rose is soft enough to complement all blonde tones.”

The trend’s new-found popularity is rooted in the versatility of the look. And as such, early devotees are not the usual trend-hungry usual suspects. Swapping her Betty Draper blonde highlights for a pale pink blush, January Jones was quick to reach for the dye when she stepped off the Mad Men set, while Hollywood stars such as Scarlett Johansson and Emma Roberts have recently had their caramel locks warmed with pinkish shades. At Peter Som’s Spring/Summer 12 offering at New York Fashion Week, Wella Professionals colour ambassador Aura Friedman chose to add wefts in shades of rose gold, peach and apricot to create the look of “a bad girl from a rich family”.

“The beauty of the trend is that it can look glamorous, vintage or street, depending on the application technique,” argues Whiteman. “But the best way to wear this look is to keep it subtle. I would recommend a panel of rose gold underneath the top layer of hair, or some rose highlights through the fringe.”

For a dose of rose gold at home, try Kevin Murphy’s brush-on wash-off temporary pigment powder, Colour Bug, or layer Kryolan Professional Colour Spray in pink and gold on specific strands to add depth and highlights.

Who needs rose-tinted glasses?