COLOR ME COPPER

AMBER TODARO (AKA @COLORMEAMBER) IS A SELFCONFESSED COPPER QUEEN AND OWNER OF COLOR ME AMBER STUDIO IN SAINT JAMES, NEW YORK. WITH OVER 65K FOLLOWERS ON INSTAGRAM, AMBER IS REVERED FOR HER SKILL IN CREATING GORGEOUS COPPERS, GINGERS, AND STRAWBERRY BLONDES, REDEFINING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A REDHEAD.

While today your timeline may be full of beachy blondes, as the cooler weather moves in, warmer colors will take the limelight. If you’re looking for inspo, look no further than Amber’s Instagram page.

Having graduated from beauty school in 2013, Amber has spent the last decade refining her coloring skills and, throughout that, fell in love with the world of coppers.

She first went copper herself in 2020, and that changed everything. She explained: “Copper was a color I had never been to before, and at that time, I still found that end of the color spectrum quite intimidating. It was during the pandemic, and I figured if I didn’t like it, no one would see me anyway! But, I winded up absolutely falling in love with the color and decided I wanted to overcome my fear of reds, and because of that, I started my journey of specializing in red/copper hair. I studied all about reds and coppers and practiced A LOT!”

In 2021, Amber took to Instagram with the goal of being a source of inspiration for other colorists and aspiring redheads. “I wanted to be able to give other people red hair and the confidence that came along with the color!”

Becoming a ‘blonding specialist’ is something we have seen a lot of in the past few years, as colorists acknowledge the depth and skill that comes with creating flawless natural color. But red/ copper specialists are few and far between. Amber said: “I find working with reds and coppers to be so fun and unique. Working with reds/coppers will also help grow your clientele even further!

“As with learning any new method or technique, the more you do them and put out there that you do them, the more clients you’ll attract who want what you’re offering. I have built a very large and healthy clientele since specializing in reds.” Don’t underestimate the reds, Amber urges. “There are a lot more people out there that want red hair than people think!”

There are also a lot more variations of ‘red hair’ than most would appreciate. I asked Amber what some of her favorite trending coppers are.

Cow Girl Copper

“Right now, the ‘Cow Girl Copper’ is a BIG trend! I love this color, especially for those looking to ease into warmer tones without drastically changing their look. I always recommend not going too far off your client’s natural base. Especially if they are naturally a brunette, It’s more about enhancing their natural color by adding copper to it.”

Pumpkin Spice

“This is my personal favorite variation of copper/ red. It is a true level 7 copper. My biggest piece of advice when creating this color would be to find the perfect and equal balance between red and gold!”

Strawberry Blonde

“This is a great color for that transition from Summer to Fall! I’ve found that there are so many different variations and interpretations of strawberry blonde, so make sure your client brings in lots of inspirational pics!”

Throughout her copper journey, Amber has found her favorite products that help her create and maintain the perfect coppers. “My favorite color products for creating coppers would be the Wella Koleston Perfect Color Line and Redken Shades EQ!”

For haircare and keeping coppers vivid and bright, Amber says: “I recommend a depositing shampoo and conditioner, such as Celeb Luxury Gem Lites Colorwash. I typically recommend the colors: 'Fire Opal’ and ‘Tourmaline.’

“A color-safe shampoo and conditioner is also a must-have in order to help prevent hair color from fading, such as Authentic Beauty Concept Glow Cleanser and Conditioner. I always recommend a good heat protectant too!”

AMBER’S TIPS FOR CREATING COPPERS

1 Make sure you are taking your client’s skin tone into consideration! Reds and coppers are some of the most versatile colors as long as it goes with your client's complexion. You can create the most beautiful color, but if it’s not the right tone for your client’s complexion, it won’t look good.

2 Gold is your best friend when creating copper. I always recommend two parts gold to one part red.

3 Avoid adding too much neutral in your formula. This will dull your color and create a less vibrant result.

4 Use at least two different formulas. The most beautiful reds/coppers are the ones with natural dimensions!

Tondeo Thor Scissor

Incomparable toughness, exceptionally pure, and a beautiful design – if Thor had forged scissors with his hammer, this is how he would have made them! 100% Damasteel. Conblade Technology.

$1,799.00 // tondeonorthamerica.com

18:21 MAN MADE SWEET TOBACCO ELIXIR 13

Level up your hair game with our new Elixir 13. This leave-on hair and scalp treatment is for fine and thinning hair. Enriched with ingredients that help strengthen and style the hair. It protects and repairs the hair follicle and stimulates follicle cell metabolism.

$36.00 // 1821manmade.com

Danger Jones Semipermanent Hair Color

Vibrant shades, beautiful fades, and easy application, with long lasting cruelty free, vegan, and gluten-free. dangerjonescreative.com

CHI BLEACH & SHINE LIGHTENER

A powerful lightener with lift of up to 9+ levels. The infusion of Hemp Oil and Aloe Vera helps prevent breakage during the lightening process. High in fatty acids, proteins, vitamins and other nutrients, hemp and aloe.

chi.com

Goldwell Topchic Zero Ammoniafree Permenant Hair Color

Innovative, powerful, responsible, and beautifully radiant without ammonia. A mindful choice to coloring hair; Topchic Zero offers you and your clients a feel-good solution to beautiful, radiant looking hair that is environmentally friendly from the inside out. goldwell.com

QUITE OFTEN, WE LIKE TO ASK THE STYLISTS WE FEATURE ABOUT THE CURRENT TRENDS AND HOW TO KEEP UP WITH THEM. BUT IT IS NOT VERY OFTEN THAT WE GET TO SPEAK TO THE PERSON WHO IS THE FATHER OF MANY OF THE TRENDS WE KNOW AND LOVE TODAY. THAT MAN’S NAME IS GARREN.

You may know him as one of the co-founders of the legendary haircare brand R+Co and as the inspiration behind the couture-caliber collection R+Co BLEU Or, you may know him as the man behind countless iconic looks, transforming pop star Posh Spice into fashion designer Victoria Beckham with her ‘90s pixie. He was the one who ironed down (quite literally) Farrah’s “wings.” He gave Karlie Kloss her “Chop” and transformed Lady Gaga for Versace. But he is probably best known for the ever-changing cuts and color on THE Supermodel, Linda Evangelista. From Audrey Hepburn, Naomi Campbell, Gwyneth Paltrow, Scarlett Johansson, Katy Perry and Madonna, the only person more iconic than these women is the man behind the scenes who gave them the confidence (and the hair) to change the course of fashion and hair trends, forever.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE ICONIC? CREATING A MEMORABLE STYLE? MAKING A LONG-LASTING IMPACT ON THE INDUSTRY? CREATING TRENDS THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME? IN THIS NEW REOCCURRING EVO FEATURE, WE EXPLORE THE ICONS OF THIS INDUSTRY, WHETHER THEY BE TRENDSETTERS, INFLUENTIAL EDUCATORS, OR THE TOOLS THAT MOVE US FORWARD.

Trends, as you all know, are cyclical. How many names have there been for ‘the bob’ or ‘the shag’ in the last 50 years? But so many of these trends, well, they must have started somewhere and by someone. And for so many, that someone is Garren. But we wanted to know where Garren’s career started.

It was the 1960s in Niagara Falls, New York and Garren was 13 years old: “My mother went prematurely grey in her 30s. And every time she would go to the hairdresser, she would come out looking like Queen Elizabeth, with these little pin curls. I was obsessed with magazines like Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar and those 1960s looks had a big influence on me. I just couldn’t understand why the hairdresser would give Mom these short, matronly hairstyles instead of a big bouffant – like the movie stars. 