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Salon Spotlight - Sissi: Senior Colourist

April 02, 2026

Salon Spotlight - Sissi: Senior Colourist

Welcome to Salon Spotlight, our new series where we go behind the chair to get the inside scoop from our talented team. 

We’ll be chatting with different members of the team to uncover their favourite cuts, the trends they’re currently obsessing over, and the must-have products they swear by. Get to know the faces behind the salon and find the perfect inspiration for your next appointment! This week we meet Senior Colourist, Sissi.

Hey Sissi...

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What hair colour trends are your clients asking for most right now?
I think clients are moving away from obvious ‘trends’ and instead they are asking for colour that feels more aligned with their features, wardrobe and lifestyle. They want dimension without too much drama. Clarity without over-lightening. Colour that grows out with dignity. It’s less about change and more about refinement.

Which colour trend do you think will dominate this season?
Balanced tones. Creamier blondes. Controlled warmth. Brunettes with depth but transparency. We’re seeing a shift from contrast to cohesion. Everything feels more considered, softer transitions, deliberate placement, cleaner shine. It’s a quieter season and that makes it stronger.

Which celebrity hair colour are you currently loving, and why?
Naomi Watts because her colour is precise, not excessive or forced. It supports her presence rather than competing with it. There is discipline in that choice and that’s what makes it powerful.

What’s the biggest shift you’ve noticed in how clients want their hair to look or feel right now?
Health is no longer optional. Clients understand that shine is structural, that tone lasts only when the hair fibre is respected. They looking for movement, strength, light reflection… not overworked hair. There is more awareness now and that changes everything.

Who or what is inspiring you most right now—celebs, runways, TikTok, clients?
I observe more than I follow. Runways are embracing natural texture again. But my strongest inspiration comes from real women; how they carry themselves, how they dress, how they evolve. Colour should respond to the person, not the algorithm.

What’s a low-effort colour trend that still looks high-impact?
Subtle face framing. When light is placed precisely around the contour of the face, it shifts the entire look, refreshes the skin tone, lifts the expression. It remains easy to maintain - small adjustment, significant result.

Colour Specific

What colour service do you think delivers the most impact with the least maintenance?
Enhancing the natural base. When we respect the starting point and build dimension through tonal layering, the result matures beautifully. It avoids harsh grow-out lines, it keeps the integrity intact. The smartest colour is the one that ages well.

What colour trend works best for enhancing natural hair health and shine?
Tone-on-tone refinement. When colour is applied with restraint, the cuticle remains smoother and light reflects more evenly. The result is not loud, but luminous. A true healthy shine will always outshine extreme colour.

What advice or tips do you offer to maintain your colour for longer?
Protect the structure daily - gentle cleansing, thermal protection, fewer unnecessary heat cycles. Consistency matters more than intensity. Colour longevity is built at home.

Healthy Hair Tips

Why do you think hair health is becoming such a priority for clients right now?
Because clients are more informed - they read ingredients, they understand long-term damage. Clients want sustainability in their beauty choices. Healthy hair is no longer a bonus, it’s the foundation.

What’s the most common mistake you see clients making with their hair colour at home?
Over-processing through styling. Too much heat, too much washing, too many cosmetic products masking the surface, too much silicone. Often, simplifying the routine restores balance faster than adding more.

If someone wants better hair colour long-term, what’s the first thing you’d tell them to focus on?
Strength. If the hair fibre is resilient, colour sits better, lasts longer and reflects light more clearly. Everything begins with structure.

Product Know-how

Which Van Clarke product is your personal must-have, and how do you use it?

Eureka Blowdry Balm - In-salon it is the first product I apply before blow-drying to protect from heat and environmental stress. At home, I recommend it as daily defence, especially for colour-treated hair. The ingredients and cashmere proteins support durability without leaving any residue and that’s what makes it so different.

Is there a Van Clarke product you recommend to almost every client, regardless of hair type?
LifeSaver Pre-Wash Treatment with Cashmere Protein UV Protective Shampoo and Conditioner. These 3 products combined reinforce hair health internally rather than masking the surface. Because the range is silicone-free, the hair feels clean, not coated. When the fibre is strengthened from within, colour remains clearer and more consistent.

Choose one of our Essential Sets where you can pair one of our LifeSaver Pre-wash Treatments with a Shampoo and Conditioner of your choice.

What’s your go-to product for maintaining a colour between salon visits?
LifeSaver UV Leave-in Styling Treatment, because colour fades when the structure weakens and this leave-in product protects the structure, so the tone remains. Simple principle. Powerful result.

The Quick Cut

Current hair crush?
Women who wear their hair with intention.

Favourite cut right now?
A precise, architectural shape with natural flow.

Favourite colour trend?
Nuanced tonal depth.

Go-to Van Clarke product?
LifeSaver UV Leave-in Styling Treatment.

One hair rule you never break?
Always respect the integrity of the hair.

Finishing Touches

What’s one piece of advice you wish every client would follow at home?
The salon sets the standard; daily habits protect the investment. Consistent care at home ensures that shine, tone and movement remain refined between visits. I often recommend incorporating the LifeSaver Pre-wash Treatment into your routine strengthening the fibre before cleansing helps preserve colour clarity and maintain a true salon finish for longer.

If you could describe the ‘Van Clarke hair look’ in three words, what would they be?
Refined, intentional and timeless.

Thanks so much Sissi.

You can book an appointment with Sissi or any of the van clarke team via the tab to the right of your browser.


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