Straight talk with your stylist
Your stylist should know about any relevant medications or conditions. Remember that healthy hair will ensure great color, and your stylist should know how much upkeep you’re willing to do before you commit to a dramatic change.
Be straightforward with your professional. Don’t lie about past hair history and color. Know what you have in your hair. Once the hair is colored you cannot overlap. A lot of people buy over the counter and put it all over. If you are not happy call the salon immediately. You can’t throw color on top of color and then you can’t fix the problem. When you first get a color it might look a certain way but it will lighten up. Don’t try to shampoo out in one night. Don’t shampoo six times. –Irma Wheeler, founder and owner of Illusions Salon, Shirlington
Options for coloring
Dimensional color is more than just one color, so if you want certain parts lighter and certain parts of the hair darker you’re going to want balayage, baby lights or foiling.
Best method for what you want to achieve
Balayage creates a very natural look with minimum upkeep, and the technique for balayage depends on the hairdresser. They might use foil, paper, plastic, hand painting or a mix.
Upkeep of Colored Hair
To prevent fading, you should really use an at-home Olaplex treatment. Reflection Chromatique masks work amazing to keep color fresh and shiny, those treatments are from Kerastase. Fusio-Dose Homelab treatments are also great for maintaining the health of the hair, which is crucial for great color.
Be straightforward with your professional. Don’t lie about past hair history and color. Know what you have in your hair. Once the hair is colored you cannot overlap. A lot of people buy over the counter and put it all over. If you are not happy call the salon immediately. You can’t throw color on top of color and then you can’t fix the problem. When you first get a color it might look a certain way but it will lighten up. Don’t try to shampoo out in one night. Don’t shampoo six times. –Wheeler
Coloring Jargon
Courtesy of Lauren Meisel, stylist at D-Rock
Full color or color retouch/all-over color: what we call a single-process color whether you’re covering up regrowth or grays, or maybe going darker/changing the tone of your hair.
A double-process color: anything more than just one-color process on the hair; for example, when we balayage the hair we’ll typically need to tone out unwanted warmth afterwards.
Partial highlight: the same application as a full highlight, however with a partial we’re only putting foils on the top and sides of your head, leaving everything under the high part of your occipital bone out.
Dryer 101
What should you look for in a hair dryer/heating tools?
A hairdryer should have a concentrator with a narrow opening, high power and high heat, and not be too heavy—as that can hurt your shoulders over time.
Heating tools—whether ceramic or metal—should have the ability to get very hot (at least 360 degrees) but also have a “low” or “color treated” setting. They also need to heat evenly across the barrel for even heat distribution across the hair strand(s). –Stephanie Shadid, stylist at D-Rock
Recommended Dryers
“Bio Ionics are the best dryers because of negative ions and far infrared energy that hydrate and seal the cuticle for fast drying and conditioning. You’ll get shiny, smooth, hydrated hair. And don’t forget a good brush can make it easier to style. The Heat Pro by Olivia Garden will eliminate frizz and flyaways.” –Ferrel-Saldaña
(Expert Advice, Best Salons 2018, Best Barbers 2018, January 2018)
