John's advice
Autumn is set to be quite simple in terms of styling, you will be relieved to hear. There is a real feeling of ease to it. However, any hairdresser worth his scissors will tell you to ignore the trends on the catwalk and to go with your gut (and of course your own hair).
Your priority as you embark on the new season should be to ensure that your hair is in good condition after the summer months. Thanks to the elements (despite your best attempts at protection) your locks are probably not going to be feeling or looking their best. The sun might have lifted or faded your colour, and the heat might well have knocked the shine out of it too. As always, premium hair requires investment. It’s worth booking yourself an in-salon conditioning treatment, and now is not a bad time to have a good chunk cut off. If you don’t have time to go to the salon, pick up a DIY treatment such as Windle & Moodie Intense Treatment Masque (£29), and leave it on while you are doing the ironing/checking your emails/running the country.
A healthy shine, like Katie Holmes’s, for example, can also be attained through adjustments to your diet. I strongly believe that what you put into your body shows in your hair. Good fats and omega-3s make an enormous difference to the condition and natural gloss of hair, and it’s a good idea to stock your fridge with salmon and sardines and your handbag with snacks such as walnuts and flaxseed.
Josh's advice
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Whether it’s a new job, a new partner or simply a longing for a new you, a hair “reshuffle” is what you need. This doesn’t have to be radical — quite often it’s the small improvements that make the biggest impact. Think about your seasonal wardrobe updates: you never throw out all your clothes; you add to them, swapping one piece for another, building on an existing collection.
For a successful reshuffle you need to lay down good foundations. I like to use autumn as a time to reassess. Summer generally takes a lot out of hair (from holidays to festivals) and we tend to put our hair through styling overload. Being Sassoon trained, I believe that a good cut is the basis of everything. Sit and talk to your stylist, and take some tear sheets of things you like. Couple this with a trip to the beauty counters to talk about what make-up will enhance your hair changes.
As colour is going to be key in the season ahead, you need to treat your hair in preparation. Hair needs to look premium whatever tone it is, so care should be your concern, and a mask is the most direct route. If you have colour-damaged hair, get your hands on the Wella SP Color Save Mask (£24). If your hair is thick and wiry, smooth it out with Oribe Signature Moisture Mask (£54; spacenk.com), and if it’s delicate, I recommend Original & Mineral The Power Base (£26) — just remember to avoid putting it on the roots.
John Vial is creative director at Fudge; fudge.com. Josh Wood is founder of Josh Wood Atelier; joshwoodcolour.com, @JoshWoodColour. Photographs: Jason Lloyd-Evans, Wireimage, Xposure