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Ecaille - The latest hair colour trend, kind of

Ecaillle hair

They say what goes around comes back around, and the same can certainly be said for the 'new' Ecaille hair colour trend. First seen online and in the glossies back in late 2013, the pretty Ecaille hair colour is back.


So what is it exactly? Sometimes known as the 'tortoiseshell technique', thanks to the word’s relation to the French word for scale and tortoiseshell, Ecaille is a multidimensional hair colour that plays with a variety of warm tones. Simply put, it’s a more sophisticated version of Ombré. Think warm browns and ambers, with honey tones, similar to what you see on a tortoiseshell hair accessory, or glasses frame; blondes are golden with pretty baby-lights imparting a subtle glow. Usually a more Autumnal colour, it’s back for Spring, and prettier than ever.


Jack Howard, colourist to the stars, who works out of Paul Edmonds’ London salon, says Ecaille is the 'moody sister to Ombré and Bronde.' Here he explains the trend further:

"Golden lights are mixed with darker, richer caramel tones, while incorporating shades of honey, amber, golden blonde and dark brown paired with gloss. We’re already seeing it on celebrities like Jessica Alba, Gisele Bundchen and Khloé Kardashian and before now I just couldn’t put a name to it. Look through any glossy magazine or spot the models on the catwalk sporting this shade; not as dramatic as Ombré but less subtle than Bronde. Like a tortoiseshell, Ecaille features many different shades; some may choose to add more amber or honey tones but others could opt for darker bases and golden strands. That’s the beauty of this trend – it’s a matter of preference. The best results come from working with shades that complement the skin tone (just a few shades lighter and darker than the base to avoid a colour that’s too dramatic)."

So far we’re loving this pretty colour trend, and it’s exciting to see it move from a Winter trend to a SS15 look. What do you think about the Ecaille trend? Can you see it working for your clients?


Ecaillle hair

Thanks to Jack Howard, jackhoward.co.uk

All imagery has been sourced from Tumblr, unless stated otherwise.