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Back to Business with the Pinstripe Trend
Expand your color service menu with the Pinstripe technique. Brooks and Brooks' Marlon Hawkins walks you through the technique.
August 19, 2026
Marlon Hawkins shares his Pinstripe color technique.
Credit:
Brooks and Brooks
2 min to read
- The Pinstripe technique offers an opportunity to diversify and expand color services in salons.
- Marlon Hawkins of Brooks and Brooks demonstrates the steps involved in mastering the Pinstripe method.
- This technique caters to clients looking to embrace the latest trends in hair color styling.
*Summarized by AI
Pinstripes have been a mainstay in fashion since the 19th century, and now the powerful, glamorous, and versatile look is the latest trend for hair color.
"The Pinstripe trend is about seeing color from a new perspective and exploring color creativity. It's simplistic with a playful meets edgy aesthetic," explains Brooks & Brooks artistic director Marlon Hawkins (@brookshair) .
When it comes to color, there is no right or wrong shade to use while working with this technique, which is perfect for longer layers.
"Colors that come from a contrasting palette will create a more graphic feel to the hair, while colors that complement each other create something softer, yet is still visual to the Pinstripe," Hawkins says.
The Pinstripe color technique offers a playful meets edgy aesth
Credit:
Brooks and Brooks
Hawkins recommends first trying your hand at the new technique on a one length haircut. "Then take a fine veil of hair on top of the parting and make sure that the hair density stays the same throughout the lengths and ends," he says. "If the hair becomes fine, I will look at a second veil for the length and ends of the hair."
On the second veil Hawkins only colors the tips, creating seamless bands using either the backcombing technique or air touch. "Then I will color the first veil as close as I want to go to the root," he says. Once I have achieved my desired shade, I wash and blow dry the hair and finish with a white comb and L'Oreal Professionnel Infinium from root to tip to showcase the Pinstripe color."
Hawkin's top tips for working with the Pinstripe trends:
- Do think of your color palette before you start.
- Do check the density of the hair is even throughout the lengths and ends to stop the pinstripe from becoming invisible.
- Do mix your techniques from foiling to air touch to achieve seamless symmetry.
- Don't rush finding your placement.
- Don't overload the hair with hairspray, apply it in one single sweep.
- When doing the comb technique, use the teeth of the comb to hook in where your last line of your pinstripe was and then comb.
Quick Answers
The Pinstripe technique is a hair coloring method designed to add dimension and texture by using fine, delicate streaks, which can be tailored to expand your color service menu.
*Summarized by AI
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