MENU
SEARCHHair color always makes a statement, as salon professionals know. According to the creative leaders at KEVIN.MURPHY, today's trending color message is more of an exhale than a shout. They point to contemporary neutrals inspired by "feeling confident in your own skin" and are helping salons bring the trend to life with COLOR.ME NUDES.
Hair color always makes a statement, as salon professionals know. According to the creative leaders at KEVIN.MURPHY, today's trending color message is more of an exhale than a shout. They point to contemporary neutrals inspired by "feeling confident in your own skin" and are helping salons bring the trend to life with COLOR.ME NUDES, a new collection of four shades to add a glowing, velvety blush tone to any blonde. Are you ready to create—and profit from—the new NUDES look?
It's a natural shift, according to COLOR.ME Design Director Kate Reid. "High fashion naturals are a staple of celebrities and A-listers," she says, but also perfect for any client in your chair. "The beauty of our new NUDES is they create harmonious shades that compliment all hair and skin tones."
NUDES are powered by micro pigment technology and BEIGE.VIOLET tones that create glowing, blush hues. On natural hair, the NUDES create a powdery, mink-y result, and on pre-lightened hair, a pink-ish hue. Like all COLOR.ME shades, the NUDES are designed to deliver a multi-tonal finish and brilliant shine. The four NUDES shades are:
11.28 ULTRA.PLATINUM.BEIGE.VIOLET
10.28 PLATINUM.BEIGE.VIOLET
9.28 VERY.LIGHT.BLONDE.BEIGE.VIOLET
8.28 LIGHT.BLONDE.BEIGE.VIOLET
MODERN SALON asked Reid to coach colorists through the new COLOR.ME NUDES trend:
WHY NUDES, WHY NOW?
Simply put, COLOR.ME’S new NUDE colors are so easy to wear, Reid says. While the vibrant color trend had early adopters and was embraced by a wider demographic over time, the new NUDES and the overall neutrals trend is appropriate and exciting for everyone, right away.
WHEN TO INTRODUCE NUDES:
Now, easily and often, Reid says. "High fashion, high shine and low maintenance, these SHADES can be applied for refinement, depositing, covering gray or even lightening up to three levels. We're also seeing salons introduce new high gloss services by mixing these new NUDES with pH.D ,our pH transformer, making the colors more acidic and even glossier. "
RESULTS AND RESPONSE:
"The feedback from top colorists and salons is nothing short of remarkable," Reid says. "It’s really the perfect new high fashion SHADE to create neutral, taupe and blush tones."
WHERE ELSE CAN BEAUTY PROS SEE THE NEUTRAL TREND REFLECTED?
"We found inspiration for the NUDE palette in makeup, fashion and on the streets," Reid says. Why is it so popular? "The enhanced natural tones that we see are highly desired by clients because they know how to wear them, resulting in maximum confidence."
WHAT IS DRIVING THE DEMAND FOR A MORE NATURAL LOOK?
Reid notes two key drivers: wearable fashion statements and low maintenance color. "With the evolution of COVID-19 restrictions, guests desire color services that fade without harsh lines, but still have natural high fashion and brilliant shine."
HOW DO RECENT SHIFTS IN CONSUMER HABITS IMPACT MORE NATURAL LOOKS?
Quicker visits that cost less have been trending, Reid says. "We see clients popping back in for quick refining services to top up the tone in between major appointments and the NUDEs are perfect for that," she explains. "These shades fade out without a hard line – it's seamless."
WHAT ABOUT GUESTS WHO STILL WANTS A STRONG POP OF COLOR?
Trends are rarely all or nothing, Reid reminds colorists. Embrace the overlap!
"We love formulating our COLOR.ME NUDES with our BOOSTER colors," she says. "For warmer skin tones, consider adding RED or ORANGE to create warmer, natural, blush brilliance. For cooler skin tones, add in SOFT.VIOLET to create cooler minky, hazelnut, velvet and cognac tones."
Then it’s all about placement. "These are totally intermixable, so you can formulate to your client's desired results." However much they want the color to pop, with KEVIN.MURPHY COLOR.ME shades in your artist's toolbox, you can create the look they want.
At the end of the day—or color service—the consultation with the client and the vision of the colorist takes precedence over the trend. It comes back to that idea of being comfortable in your own skin.
"Color influences every area of our lives, from the clothing we wear to the environment we live in," says KEVIN.MURPHY COLOR.ME founder and renowned session stylist Kevin Murphy. "COLOR.ME delivers optimal color functionality and limitless creativity with the ease and convenience of a compact range."
For more details on the smart, conscious, ammonia-free and PPD-free COLOR.ME line and other salon professional products within the KEVIN.MURPHY portfolio, visitkevinmurphy.com.au.
Originally posted on Modern Salon
After moving to Colorado and teaching at a cosmetology school, Allison Stock joined Zandi K as a stylist, eventually becoming part of the Leadership Team, Education Team and Master Bridal Team. Today, as Director of Operation, Stock is Owner Nicki Wenz's right hand, managing human resources and operations, education and career development, and coaching and culture.
The company's Concealed Bead Method is raising the bar for what professional extension education can deliver.
Scott maximized her micro-salon by transitioning from stylist to strategic owner, focusing on recruiting and station-sharing. By prioritizing her ownership role over behind-the-chair work, she grew her team to six stylists within the two-chair, 150-square-foot space before eventually moving to a larger facility.
The former CFO of Perdue Farms and owner of Hardy Seafood, Terry Owens delivers a wealth of wisdom and strategies for entrepreneurs in his new book, "Business is Simple."
After scaling her single-location salon business, SALON TODAY 200 Honoree Amy Pal recently sold her six-location Whip Salon for seven figures. Using the six Ps for maximizing a business's value, she's ready to help her peers do the same.
Buried inside the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are federal solar tax credit changes that deserve your attention now. Two of the credits that matter most to commercial property owners, the Investment Tax Credit and the Production Tax Credit, are still available, but only if you move fast. A third, the Commercial Building Energy Efficiency Deduction, has a hard termination date that is closer than most people realize.
Up to 40% of hair stylists ghost the salon interview stage, leaving owners trapped playing endless phone tag with uncommitted applicants. This data-driven report breaks down why traditional job boards create recruitment friction and reveals the modern messaging strategies high-growth salons use to get pre-qualified talent to actually show up. Learn how to transition from cold calling to high-conversion conversations that protect your time and fill your chairs.
Sponsored by Beautista
Spit fests, hostile threats, and even an overachieving matchmaker--SALON TODAY readers share their craziest client tales and how their team handled these tough situations with professionalism and grace.
Keeping your appointment book full when clients are in vacation mode takes more than a good Instagram post. It takes a plan. The 2026 Summer Marketing Calendar from Meevo gives salon, spa & med spa owners a month-by-month roadmap with sharp themes, key opportunity dates, and campaign ideas specifically designed for the beauty & wellness industry. Here’s to your summer season working as hard as you do!
Sponsored by Millennium Systems International
AI is transforming the beauty and wellness industry, and the future is about empowering people, not replacing them. Discover how Phorest AI helps salons, spas, and med spas across North America respond faster, personalize every visit, and keep human connection at the heart of the client experience.
Sponsored by Phorest
Owner Michaella Blissett-Williams credits her General Manager Gloria Hortua with [salon] 718's year-over-year, double-digit growth and says she's been able to scale the company to eight locations because she can rely on Hortua to manage daily operations.
Shine Time: Aluram’s High Shine Line Delivers Moisture and Shine with Clean Ingredients
Sponsored by Aluram
Elyse Rogers is an uplifting presence at The Headroom who makes the team feel heard even in stressful situations. Owner Danielle Cherewyk sings her praises in this installment of Meet the Manager.
Despite a slight and predictable decline in client traffic for Q1, resilient pricing power is driving year-over-year revenue growth in salons. The KIM Report's Alain Audet reviews the data and what it's telling us about the state of professional beauty.
Same-store revenue grew just 2% for the second straight year—and new guest visits declined across every segment of the industry. The 2026 Benchmark Report reveals where growth is actually happening, which verticals are pulling ahead, and what the data says about where your business stands right now.
Sponsored by Zenoti
Hair restoration is entering a new era driven by regenerative science. This paper explores how Exosome technology is transforming treatment outcomes by targeting hair loss at a cellular level. Discover why EXOGROW is leading this shift.
Sponsored by Dermapenworld
A salon brand is much more than a logo. In this thought-provoking blog, Leon Alexander, Ph.D., walks you through the difference. SALON TODAY suggests sharing this article with your team and leading a discussion at your next huddle, asking the team to define your business's brand.
