Colour: A brief history

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colour: A brief history

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Hair colour is now an absolute must for the majority of our clients, however, the history of colour is quite different. So, whilst we run our incredibly popular 40% off colour promotion throughout February we thought it would be interesting to share some historical facts about hair colour.

 

There is scientific evidence to suggest stone-age man painted their hair as well as their bodies using minerals, plants and insects to create different colours.

As early as 1500 BC we find recorded documentation of ancient Egyptians colouring their hair with Henna type substances.

 

Whilst we accept that the reasons for colouring hair today are many, from the coverage of grey to highlights that brighten and lighten, many years ago the reasons were very different.

Gauls (1st century) used RED to distinguish ranking and class status.

In the dark ages RED hair signified witchcraft and was not popular (naturally) until Queen Elizabeth 1st caused a change of heart, RED became popular as people shared their loyalty with her.

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Interestingly enough the first recorded case of natural RED hair was in Scotland.

 

RED was also the choice for noble ladies of Rome to colour their hair.

 

Blonde hair was recognised as the colour of ‘ladies of the night’ and there is evidence to suggest natural blondes of higher-ranking status coloured their hair with plant extracts and minerals to darken it down and poor classes opted for BLACK so as not to be mistaken. The Blonde was really more of a YELLOW as products for colouring hair at the time were very basic and didn’t have the ability to lighten as much as they do now.

 

In the Renaissance period women took to GOLD as a hair colour that represented angelic behaviours and lifestyle.

 

And then of course in the 40’s and 50’s the revolution of Blonde took off with starlets all vying for the attention of film company bosses…. The lighter the hair the better chance of getting noticed, hence the birth of PLATINUM blondes.

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Fortunately for us, colour is now a personal choice and represents our character much more that a status in society. Our colour clients tend to know what colours they want their hair to be, and with the help of our teams can have a colour that suits their skin tone, their personal fashion preferences and their lifestyle.

 

Cheynes and Colour: A perfect combination.