“If you haven’t gone through your blonde phase have you even lived in the hair color world?”
- Basic Paige
Just kidding. But seriously, everyone has been there! Either is has been done well or it has given you PTSD.
Friends, let's talk blonde.
The darker you are naturally the more warmth you have to work through to get to a nice clean blonde. Dark hair has to work through red, orange and then yellow. To get rid of this warmth, your hair must go through toning, which will counteract/cancel out the warmth. But, keep in mind that everyone has warmth and goes brassy over time (dark hair more so than light hair).
There is nothing more frustrating than a client saying, “I know I haven’t seen you in a year, but my hair has gotten really brassy.” I know getting into the salon can be hard. Life happens and it isn't always in the budget, schedule and it isn't always a priority. However, like most things, hair does not stay perfect if it has been neglected over a period of time. The key to going blonde is maintenance - being blonde requires maintenance. When your hair gets more blonde, its bonds break down and remove the eumelanin and melanin that make up your natural hair color. We lift the desired amount and then tone out the natural warmth left. The toner or gloss, as I call it, sits inside your cuticle, but every time your hair hits water your cuticle gets lifted and the color washes out. The more you wash the less your color lasts.
But, no need to fear! Here are some tips and tricks we can do:
1. Olaplex. It is a pure gold juice - a.k.a it's a bond builder that not only helps protect your hair but also seals down your cuticle. When your cuticle is sealed, your color lasts longer. I recommend it anytime you are going lighter.
2. Be patient. If we take our time going lighter, we can do it gently and preserve your hair. I have found that my favorite blondes take their time and progress into their color. I usually alternate between bayalage and a melted highlight. If you don’t know what this is, take a look at my earlier blog on it.
3. Purchase the proper products. Y'all might think I am crazy for saying this again and again, but trust me! You need to protect your hair every day. You need a proper leave-in, protectant and serum. These things will be great for your color and your hair. That long blonde hair that every girl dreams of requires work but is possible with the right products.
4. Purple is your best friend. Purchase a purple conditioner. You might wonder, why conditioner and not shampoo? I am biased because I try to steer clients away from using shampoo altogether, but there isn’t a single purple shampoo that I don’t find extremely harsh on the hair. Purple shampoos lift the cuticle and place purple molecules inside the hair, which you can imagine is incredibly harsh on the hair. I would much rather have my clients use a purple conditioner once a week and leave it on their hair for 10-15 minutes. This not only helps the tone but also keeps the hair healthier.
5. Visit me. Regular 6-8 week visits make a huge difference to hair. We will keep your hair healthy and beautiful and give you the happy hair you dream of!
Love, Paige