Shecky’s

Step 3: Let the Color Begin!

From honey blondes to white hot hues, there is a shade of blonde for every personality. However, considering skin tone and eye color is equally important when selecting hair color. “The best way to determine the shade or tone of blonde for you is to look at your skin, eye and natural hair color. If you have naturally dark skin, brown eyes and dark hair, a very light cool blonde is not going to be best. It can actually age the skin and cause you to look washed out. It is best for you to choose a color that as a bit of warmth to it or a more neutral color, ”says Deanna Beavers at Salon Benjamin.

Once you are officially ready for color, make sure your hair is equally prepared for the treatment. Nadine Ramos, hair care expert, founder and creator of LASIO, Inc recommends clients come into the salon with fairly dirtier tresses to help minimize scalp irritations often caused by hair dyes. “It’s most helpful to the stylist when the client comes in with dirty hair. Having clean hair runs the risk of irritating the scalp since going blonde is usually quite a process. The number one job in going blonde is to do so without wrecking the integrity of the hair.”

Be aware! Making a drastic change to locks is a definite challenge so being patient is an absolute must. Depending on your current shade of hair, the coloring process can be a lengthy one.“Some clients that come in are already naturally blonde and have always been blonde and simply need roots retouched and it is a very simple non aggressive process to get them to their ideal shade. Also, a client who may have brown hair and have never had hair color before and it is a pretty simple process as well with minimal or no damage. Other clients have extremely dark hair or they have changed their hair color so many times that the hair is already fragile and it can be a very long intense process to get them to their ideal shade,” Salon Benjamin colorist Deanna Beavers advises.

For a less damaging blonde treatment, Jeffrey Pearce at Patrick Melville Salon recommends using more natural methods available at certain salons. Bio-lights used at the Patrick Melville Salon replaces hair damaging metal foils with soft and natural cotton pads. “Blonde treatments can be very damaging to the hair if great care is not taken. I use our “Bio-Lights” technique, where we replace harsh metal foils with natural cotton pads to execute the highlights. If it is possible, I will also use ammonia free organic lightener instead of harsh bleach. Sometimes the client may have color on their hair from a previous service. This may make it more difficult to go as blonde as the client may want. That is why it is also important to manage the client’s expectations on what is possible in a single service.”

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