Colouring curls

A note from our Larry King colour experts on colouring curls and the different techniques it takes.

What do you need to consider when colouring curls?

When you're colouring curly hair, you are often working with much thicker weaves and bigger sections because fine highlights disappear in curly hair. Really chunky freehand balayage and thicker highlights work really nicely when it comes to bleaching the hair. But also, there is a technique called singles where you take individual curls and back comb them and then apply the colour which gives a very defined look with the colour, whilst also bringing out the dimension and texture in the curls.

My top tip would be to be very careful to not over-lighten curly hair as curly hair can be drier in texture and more porous.

antonia

senior colourist

why is colouring curls different to other hair texures?

When colouring curls, you have to take into account exactly how the hair falls and how thick each curl strand is. Once you’ve identified the thickness of each curl pattern, that will show you how chunky your weaves are going to be in each section. Also curly hair lifts a lot quicker than Caucasian straight hair so you have to take that in mind and keep checking your foils making sure it’s not over processing but with that being said curls do tend to have more proteins so can take to more colour without damage.

Aniah warner

@hairbarbb colourist

larry’s mum

Sandra king

Can you tell us about your curly hair journey?

So I’ve had curly hair for a long long time, a lifetime to be precise! When I was a teenager, all I wanted was blonde straight hair and a ponytail. I even elected to have it chemically straightened which was a disaster. I used to comb it straight then sellotape it down to my neck and cheeks and it still curled up when I painfully removed it. So after that, I decided I needed to embrace my curls - and to this day, I still do!

Elsie & Nancy

The girls love to embrace all the natural textures hair, giving them that wild child edge.

It all comes down to using the best products and having a good curly haircut. I’m lucky to have Master King (my son) and the best curl cream, My Nanna’s Mousse, and A Social Life For Your Hair to finish. And boom, my frizzy, unruly hair is tamed and ready to go.

I’m even embracing my silver locks too! Mother Nature always knows best (and Larry King of course).

larry’s brother

MAX king

have you always embraced your

I used to have long hair in high school and it wasn't until recently that I started wearing tend to let my hair air dry with Nourishing Curl run through some A Social Life For Your Hair textures in their your curls? was naturally curly. It it curly and longer again. I Curl Enhancer and sometimes when it's dry.