Make Your Curls Pop with Colour: Headmasters’ Bespoke Techniques
Embracing your natural texture has never been more popular, but achieving the perfect colour for curly and coily hair requires a tailored approach. Unlike straight hair, curls have unique movement and dimension, meaning traditional colouring methods don’t always deliver the best results. That’s where Headmasters’ expert techniques come in—designed specifically to enhance curls while maintaining their natural beauty.
Curl Contouring and Curl Clouding are two innovative techniques that work with your curls, not against them. Whether you’re looking for soft, sun-kissed dimension or a bold halo effect, these methods ensure colour is placed precisely where it will enhance your natural curl pattern. Using freehand application, balayage-inspired methods, and expert toning, these techniques create personalised, beautifully blended results.
Discover how these bespoke colour techniques can transform your curls, adding depth, brightness, and definition while keeping your hair healthy and vibrant.
Curl Contouring
Diana Gavrila – A great example of Curl Contour behind the scenes of the L’Oréal Colour Trophy 2023 winners shoot
If you have gorgeous curly or coily hair (Type 3 or 4) and want to enhance your natural texture with colour, Curl Contour Balayage is the perfect technique. Designed to complement and highlight your unique curl pattern, this method creates a soft, natural, and beautifully blended effect.
“When you visit the salon, we start by working with your hair in its natural, dried state (no blow-drying or straightening beforehand). This allows us to see exactly how your curls form naturally. From there, we hand-pick individual curls to lighten—twisting colour through the ends and blending from the roots for a seamless finish,” says Diana Gavrila, L’Oréal Colour Specialist Award winner from the L’Oréal Colour Trophy 2023.
Lightener is applied using a balayage board for precision, focusing on the mid-lengths and ends while keeping a soft, natural look at the roots. Some curls are left untouched to maintain balance and avoid any harsh lines. Whether you opt for a subtle effect with just a few sections or a more striking look across your whole head, this technique enhances curls without over-processing or affecting their natural bounce. The result? A sun-kissed, dimensional effect that looks stunning whether your hair is worn loose, styled in a wash-and-go, or in protective styles.
Curl Clouding
Edd Moss – A great example of Curl Contour behind the scenes of the Headmasters 2025 campaign shoot
Curl Clouding is a stunning technique designed to enhance the natural shape and dimension of extremely curly and coily hair. To achieve this effect, your colourist will use a freehand approach, following the natural pattern of your haircut. “After picking out the hair, apply pre-lightener to your gloved hands and gently scrunch it into the strands, focusing more product on the areas where you want to create the most lift. This technique works beautifully on Type 4 hair, adding dimension and a soft ombré effect,” says Edd Moss, Senior Art Team and educator for Headmasters, L’Oréal Colour Specialist and L’Oréal Colour Trophy Afro Award winner. The colour is then toned to achieve your final desired shade, allowing for a customisable result that can be as subtle or bold as you like.
