“It’s technically demanding, but that’s exactly what I love about it,” says Charlie Illi.
Brooks & Brooks Introduces the Bold New Banding Trend
This autumn/winter 2025, the artistic team at Brooks & Brooks is shaking up colour services with a striking new look: With the Band. More than just a panel of colour, this eye-catching technique creates the illusion of hair accessories, Alice bands, invisible lines, and bold accents without the need for add-ons.
Colourists Marlon Hawkins and Charlie Illi have each brought their own spin to the look. Marlon’s Alice Band Effect and Charlie’s Invisible Line show how banding can be customized to suit each client, creating a head-turning statement with precision placement and clever use of both foil and freehand methods. “It’s technically demanding, but that’s exactly what I love about it,” says Charlie Illi.
Inspired by bold Alice bands seen on the Fashion Week runways, the With the Band technique views hair itself as a permanent accessory. By mixing shades like mahogany, violet, orange, and yellow over a terracotta base, the team demonstrates how to achieve a rich, multi-dimensional result. For softer pastel interpretations, lifting and pre-toning the hair first is recommended.
Success with this trend starts with structure. Brooks & Brooks emphasize beginning with a strong haircut, such as their one-length Roxy bob, before layering in the bands of colour. Back-to-back slices help create the perfect lift, while careful sectioning, taping, and freehand painting ensure precision. The result? Bold, graphic colour bands that mimic the style of statement headpieces — wearable, versatile, and uniquely personal.
Brooks & Brooks continues to prove why they remain one of London’s most celebrated salons, blending artistry with innovation to set trends that inspire stylists worldwide.
Discover more from Brooks & Brooks: brookshair, marlonjhawkins, charlottelaurenilli
GET THE LOOK
STEP 1: Cut First
Start with the haircut to map out the lines. The secret of creating this one-length Roxy bob is to exaggerate the weight at the occipital bone with a short fade into the neck.
STEP 2: Sectioning for colour
Divide the hair into four clean sections using a cross-bun technique, working one section at a time, keeping the partings parallel to the head shape for control.
STEP 3: Painting the line
Lay the first 5mm section on foil and secure with masking tape, mapping the thickness of the colour line. Pre-lighten the section with L’Oréal Professionnel Pre-lightener (9 levels and 20 vol), then tape over it to prevent bleeding.
STEP 4: Layering up
Lay the next section on top with a natural fall, avoiding over-direction and tension, then carefully freehand paint the line again. Repeat this process section by section to the top.
STEP 5: Finishing Touches
After processing, leave the colour raw for maximum vibrancy. Wrap-dry the hair, then add a soft bend at the horseshoe hairline by lifting sections and blow-drying into a curve by hand.
