Better Business: Men's Coloring Tips From Marco Pelusi

Somethin' to Talk About

Haircolor guru Marco Pelusi gives his top tips for keeping men’s color looking natural, healthy and touchable.

Marco Pelusi, owner of Pelusi Hair Studio in West Hollywood, CA, is an accomplished celebrity colorist and educator. We caught up with him at IBS New York before he was about to teach his signature class, The Art of Men’s Haircoloring. “More and more men are receiving color services, but only a small number actually talk about it,” he says. “Whether highlighting, lowlighting or covering grays, the key is to keep hair looking natural and healthy.” One of his clients who doesn’t shy away from the discussion is celebrity stylist and former star of Bravo’s Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Carson Kressley. “Marco is a genius with blondes,” says Carson. “He keeps my hair looking natural and bright each and every time. His color is consistently great and with his subtle technique, he never gets the color wrong.” Pelusi shares five expert color-maintenance tips that will not only educate male clients, but also get them talking:

1. It’s not a good idea for men to wait too long between haircolor appointments. Four to six weeks is ideal. Men’s hair is usually shorter, and therefore will be cut off more regularly, so frequent haircolor is needed. There is nothing worse than a guy with faded haircolor, especially when it fades to an unwanted brassy or reddish tone. 

2. Color-safe shampoo is a must for anyone who colors their hair. The first conversation to have with a male color client is about what shampoo they’re using at home. Conditioner and styling products are important, but the most vital element is the shampoo. The wrong shampoo can literally strip the color from the hair.

3. Process the color for the right amount of time. This is especially important if there is gray coverage involved. Haircolor goes through a simultaneous lift and deposit. If you take the color off before it’s fully deposited, you won’t achieve your desired result, and the color will fade quickly.

4. Exposure to sun fades haircolor. Men should wear a hat or use a product, such as a gel or a conditioner that contains sunscreen, while in the sun.

5. Because chlorine wreaks havoc on haircolor, before getting into the pool, men should saturate hair with water or use a leave-in conditioner to create a protective barrier. The hair is like a sponge—whatever it touches first, it will soak up. —L.B.

Former star of Bravo’s Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Carson Kressley proudly sports his blonde locks compliments of Marco Pelusi.
Former star of Bravo’s Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Carson Kressley proudly sports his blonde locks compliments of Marco Pelusi.