Colour Lab

In the summer of 2016, Raphael Ness Azran was walking through dense streets and laneways lit up by crimson reds, canary yellows and hot pinks sizzling off the neon signs that illuminate Hong Kong’s frenetic streets. While the colour palette may be slightly more subdued at his Colour Lab salon in Rosedale, saying he has a penchant for colour is an understatement: the sole focus of his salon is hair colouring.

If you don’t know your ombre from a sombre or balayage, not to worry. Loyal clients flock to Colour Lab not only for the team’s mad hair colouring skills, but Raphael’s dedication to taking the mystique out of hair colour — what goes into the mix for that perfect tone. “We love to educate our clients by mixing up the formulas right in front of them, so they can see it happening," says Raphael. “And it gives the salon that ‘lab’ feel.”

Stepping into his cozy 200-square-foot space, you definitely feel the lab-style vibe, but more like a perfect pairing between the science of the formulas and the art of the craft. There’s a relaxed camaraderie between Raphael, his team of two colourists and their clients. Lively conversations take place between strokes on the feathery foil of the full head of highlights, which sparkle against the space’s striking monochromatic palette of black and white.