Essential 5: Paddy McDougall
Colour Expert and Indola Global Ambassador Paddy McDougall reveals five points to contemplate when choosing a colour provider.
When choosing your colour provider there’s a lot you should consider. We can have all the knowledge and expertise in the world, but need products we can learn to love, trust and let’s be honest, lean on. I’m very fortunate to travel the world, colouring hair, and it’s given me firsthand knowledge of how essential having your tried and tested hero products at hand really is…
Performance: Does your prospective provider tick all the boxes in terms of coverage, shine and lift? Think about not just your existing clients but your favored prospective clients, will you have the tools to deliver? Not just to meet their needs and fulfil their expectations but to surpass them, and to help create a discernible aesthetic to your own personal brand.
Education: Having the right support is so important, and for me, it’s so important to factor this in when partnering with a hair colour provider. It makes me happy, that here at Indola, we do so much from offering day to day technical support to providing inspiration and new techniques through Street Style Collection. This year I am part of our new mentorship and educational program, Blonde Pioneers, which is all about creating accredited ‘Indola Blonde Experts’
Technology: Along with performance, this is another crucial factor. You need your colour provider to be trend-driven and innovative, again to ensure you have the tools you need to succeed. For instance, Indola’s new Blonde Expert Lightener has completely upped my blonding game since launching last year, with its improved nine levels of lift and built in Hair-Bond Technology protecting the integrity of the hair. It’s been a real game changer.
Network: Study your provider, who are they targeting? Where’s their focus? Because just like us, where they put their focus, is where they are really looking for results. So, if you don’t form part of this demographic, your partnership is bound to suffer. At Indola we want to help anyone we can, but a massive part of what we do is support freelance hairdressers, whether that’s individuals or smaller, at home salons. Our partnership with the FHA, has allowed us to really build a community, which can pay dividends to be a part of.
Ethics: This one is so important for me on a personal level. I really want to know the hair colour provider I choose to stand with reflects at least some of my values and beliefs. You want the brand you partner with to be an association you can be proud of. Indola’s new focus on sustainable, vegan products along with their partnership with recycling charity, Plastic Bank really are key to my continued relationship with the brand.
Indola is available to purchase at all major wholesalers. For more information on Indola visit, www.indola.co.uk or visit @indolauk on Instagram.
