Rooted Cherry Curls

If your client is asking for “Cherry Cola” hair, THIS is what they mean! The Tiktok trend refers to a deep cherry color that’s typically paired with dark roots and varying degrees of brightness. That’s exactly what NJ-based salon owner and curl specialist Kyle Huntsberry‘s (@milk.honey.hair) client requested. Naturally, with the rise in requests for copper and cherry hair color, BTC had to reach out to get all the deets on these cherry curls from the 2023 #ONESHOT Top 5 Natural Texture Nominee.

What can clients expect from their appointment?

“I always have my guests come in with clean, detangled hair,” Kyle says. Since curly hair doesn’t stay detangled, she will gently run her fingers through the hair before starting the color process to break apart any clumps. “This will make the application much less tedious and a lot more comfortable for the guest,” she explains. 

Since Kyle’s client had prelightened hair, the total transformation took 2.5 hours, including curly styling. Expect the color application to take one hour, then process for 35 minutes and finish with cleansing and styling. 

Photo Credit: Kyle Huntsberry (@milk.honey.hair)

How can clients care for cherry curls at home?

There are two rules Kyle swears by when instructing clients to care for their color:

• High-quality products: “It’s imperative that clients with tight curls use a moisture-rich shampoo, silicone-free conditioner and detangle gently,” Kyle explains.
• Cold water: “It’s not fun but makes a big difference especially with reds. I explain to my guest that this will keep the cuticle closed and the color inside instead of down the drain.”

Beyond caring for color at home, red clients will be visiting the salon more frequently: “Reds are high maintenance, especially this fiery one,” warns Kyle, “but by keeping the root darker, it does soften that line of demarcation. And I love to talk about how the color will evolve over time so clients know what to expect.”

Put the upkeep in your guest’s hands by making it a “we” conversation. This will allow them to share the responsibility of how the color will hold up. If your client loves a super-vibrant red, Kyle will schedule them for a root retouch and glaze in eight weeks. 

“If keeping their color super fresh is less of a priority and [they] tend to change colors seasonally, I tell them about how their color will evolve,” Kyle explains. “I control expectations by telling them the next time they come in, if they wanna change it up, it has to be within this color family.”

Photo Credit: Kyle Huntsberry (@milk.honey.hair)

What are your pro tips for formulating red tones?

“l love using two to three different formulas on curls, even if they are similar,” Kyle explains. Here’s why: “Curly hair color can tend to look flat because the curls contract the color in the rapid spirals, so utilizing different formulas on slightly different levels creates more light reflection resulting in brighter, more multi-dynamic curls,” Kyle adds.

“When I’m doing a bold red, I love to keep my roots slightly deeper and I like to control the warmth,” Kyle says. Warmth will appear automatically during the lifting process and the deeper root allows the brightness to really pop! Plus, leaving the three inches of natural off the root creates a softer grow out, allowing clients more longevity between appointments.