The popularity of Lived-In colour has transformed client expectations, with more people seeking personalised, low-maintenance results that grow out beautifully between appointments. While the trend has captured attention across salons worldwide, it also highlights a much bigger conversation. Modern colour education is no longer about teaching stylists how to recreate a particular look. Instead, it is about developing professionals who can think critically, communicate confidently, and adapt their skills to every client who sits in the chair.
For Arjan Bevers, Salon Owner, Educator, and Global Colour Ambassador, Schwarzkopf Professional, technical ability remains essential, but it is only one part of the equation. Building successful colour specialists requires a more rounded approach, one that places equal importance on consultation, practical experience, and continuous learning.
CONSULTATION IS THE FOUNDATION
Many stylists focus on perfecting their technical execution, but Bevers believes the consultation is where every successful colour service truly begins. “A lot of people think Lived-In colour is easy because it looks so natural, but it’s actually one of the more challenging services to get right,” he says. “The technical side is obviously important, understanding placement, blending, and creating soft transitions, but for me, the consultation is just as important.”
Understanding a client’s lifestyle has become as valuable as understanding colour placement. How often can they return to the salon? How much maintenance are they comfortable with? What outcome are they realistically hoping to achieve? These conversations allow stylists to create personalised colour plans rather than simply replicate an image from social media.
“Every client’s version of Lived-In colour is different, and that’s what makes the consultation such a big part of the process,” he explains.
LEARNING CONTINUES BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Professional education often begins in workshops and academies, but that is only the first step. The real learning happens when stylists apply those techniques consistently in the salon. “I always tell my team that education doesn’t stop when the class ends. You can learn a technique in a workshop, but confidence only comes when you start applying it on real clients.”
This transition from education to everyday practice is where many professionals either grow or become hesitant. Bevers believes salon owners have an important responsibility to support this journey through mentoring, constructive feedback, and regular opportunities to practise new skills. “We focus a lot on hands-on practice, mentoring, and creating opportunities for stylists to use what they’ve learned straight away. The more you do something, the more comfortable you become, and that’s when the technique starts to feel like your own.”
TEACH PRINCIPLES, NOT TRENDS
Social media has dramatically accelerated the pace of trend cycles. Every week introduces a new technique, finish, or colour trend, making it easy for education programmes to become reactive rather than strategic.
Bevers believes the answer lies in strengthening the fundamentals instead of chasing every viral moment. “If a stylist understands colour theory, consultation, and formulation, they can adapt almost any trend to suit their client. Trends will come and go, but those core skills never lose their value,” he explains.
He also identifies consultation and formulation as two of the biggest areas where colourists still have room to grow. “A client can bring in 10 inspiration pictures, but understanding what is realistically achievable for their hair is a skill. I also think formulation confidence is something many stylists continue to develop throughout their careers.”
Rather than teaching stylists to memorise formulas or follow step-by-step methods, educators should encourage critical thinking. “As educators, we need to spend more time explaining the reasoning behind decisions, not just teaching steps to follow.”
DEVELOPING PROFESSIONALS, NOT JUST TECHNICIANS
Today’s colour specialists are expected to do much more than produce beautiful results. They are trusted advisers who educate clients, explain services, and build lasting relationships. “Technical skills help you create beautiful hair, but communication is what builds trust,” says Bevers. “Clients want to feel heard and understood. They want realistic advice and honest recommendations.”
Helping clients understand the value behind personalised colour services also strengthens loyalty. “They’re not just paying for colour; they’re paying for expertise, customisation, and a result that works for their lifestyle.”
For salon businesses, this shift has significant commercial value. Stylists who communicate confidently are more likely to retain clients, recommend appropriate services, and establish relationships built on trust rather than transactions.
Looking ahead, Bevers believes curiosity will remain the defining quality of successful professionals. “I’ve always believed that the best stylists are the ones who never think they’ve finished learning,” he says. “Talent is important, but curiosity is even more important.”
As colour services become increasingly personalised and client expectations continue to evolve, education must evolve alongside them. The future belongs to salons that invest not only in teaching techniques, but also in developing confident professionals who understand the science, the consultation, and the human connection behind every colour service.