If your highlights are starting to feel too bold, too bright, or just a little harsh as they grow out, you’re not alone. Many blondes eventually reach the point where they want a softer, more seamless look — which is exactly why so many clients ask me how to transition your highlights into a more natural, lived-in blonde.
As a lived-in blonde specialist located in Denver’s Cherry Creek, I focus on creating color that still feels radiant and dimensional but grows out beautifully with minimal effort. Below is the exact process I use to soften over-highlighted hair and create a modern, low-maintenance blonde.
1. How to Transition Your Highlights into a More Natural, Lived-In Blonde
The Transition Process: Key Steps
Face-Framing Money Piece
Root Shadow for Depth and a Soft Grow-Out
Custom Toner or Gloss to Refresh the Blonde
Summary of the Transition To transition your highlights into a more natural, lived-in blonde, we begin by brightening your face frame with a soft money piece to keep your blonde youthful and luminous. Next, a root shadow blends your natural root shade into your highlights to create depth and eliminate harsh grow-out lines. Finally, a custom toner or gloss rebalances warmth, tones down brassiness, and brings all your tones together for a cohesive, seamless finish. These steps work together to create a softer, dimensional blonde that looks beautifully blended for months.
2. Maintaining a Clear, Bright Lived-In Blonde Between Salon Visits
Between Salon Visits: Keep Your Blonde Beautiful
Use a color-safe, hydrating shampoo and conditioner
Use purple shampoo every third wash as needed
Use a bond-repair treatment such as K18 or Olaplex No.3
Apply a leave-in conditioner for hydration and strength
Install a shower-head filter to combat Denver’s hard water
Avoid very hot water to prevent toner fade
Protect hair from sun and heat with a UV or thermal spray
Schedule a gloss refresh every 6–8 weeks
Summary of Blonde Maintenance A lived-in blonde stays its best with gentle, consistent care. Hydrating products, selective use of purple shampoo, and weekly bond treatments maintain strength and shine. A shower-head filter is essential in Denver’s hard water to prevent brassiness and dryness. Pair that with heat and UV protection and regular gloss appointments, and your blonde will stay soft, bright, and beautifully blended.
3. Ready to Love Your Blonde Again?
Understanding how to transition your highlights into a more natural, lived-in blonde is the first step toward a color that enhances your features and fits your lifestyle. With thoughtful placement, balanced depth, and custom toning, your blonde becomes softer, more dimensional, and effortless to maintain.
If you’re ready for a refreshed, seamlessly blended look, book an appointment at my boutique hair color studio located in Denver’s Cherry Creek. As a lived-in blonde specialist, I’ll create a color that feels modern, natural, and completely tailored to you.
Hair By Natalia – a private, luxury Denver hair color salon in Cherry Creek specializing in effortless blonde, balayage, and lived-in blonde.
The Ultimate Guide to Keeping Blonde and Highlighted Hair Healthy with Leave-In Conditioners
Maintaining blonde or highlighted hair can be challenging, especially when it comes to keeping it healthy, vibrant, and moisturized. For those with balayage or blonde hair, particularly in Denver, Colorado’s dry climate, leave-in conditioners are essential because blonde and highlighted hair needs extra moisture to stay strong and resilient. As a blonde expert, I know how vital hydration and nourishment are for blonde hair to stay beautiful. Here’s how to use leave-in conditioners to help blonde and highlighted hair thrive, along with my top product recommendations.
1. Why Blonde and Highlighted Hair Needs Extra Moisture
Blonde and highlighted hair needs extra moisture to maintain its strength and elasticity. The chemical lightening process can strip hair of its natural oils, leaving it prone to dryness and breakage. Because blonde hair is often more porous, it can lose moisture more quickly and become frizzy or brittle. This is why leave-in conditioners are essential for my clients—they provide ongoing hydration and protect the hair from Denver’s dry climate. As a balayage and blonde specialist, I recommend these products to keep your blonde color vibrant and strong between salon visits.
2. Best Leave-In Conditioners for Blonde and Highlighted Hair
There are many excellent leave-in conditioners on the market, but finding ones that suit the unique needs of blonde and highlighted hair is key. Here are my top recommendations:
Strength Recovery Strength Repairing Spray
Formulated to strengthen damaged strands, this spray is perfect for those with blonde or highlighted hair. It provides a layer of moisture that increases elasticity and minimizes breakage. Simply spritz onto damp hair, focusing on the ends, for a moisture boost that protects your blonde color and keeps hair manageable.
This lightweight spray is ideal if you frequently use heat tools. It protects against heat damage up to 428°F and dramatically reduces blow-dry time, minimizing exposure to heat—a huge plus for blonde hair that’s prone to dryness. This product locks in moisture and keeps hair soft, shiny, and humidity-resistant, making it a must-have for blonde hair in dry climates like Denver.
Moroccanoil All-in-One Leave-In Conditioner
Combining the hydrating benefits of Argan oil and other essential nutrients, this leave-in conditioner works wonders on blonde hair that craves a lightweight moisturizing boost. Since blonde and highlighted hair needs extra moisture, this product’s detangling effect also helps to reduce breakage. Apply to damp hair from mid-lengths to ends for silky, manageable, and vibrant blonde hair.
It’s a 10 Silk Express Miracle Silk Leave-In
Known for its lightweight formula, this leave-in conditioner detangles while adding a silky finish. It also offers UV protection, which is crucial for blonde and highlighted hair, especially in Denver’s sunny climate. This product enhances shine, smooths the hair cuticle, and helps preserve blonde tones. Use sparingly and focus on the ends to prevent weighing hair down.
This multi-benefit treatment spray delivers 12 advantages in one application, from sealing color to adding moisture and reducing frizz. Consistent use strengthens hair and minimizes the appearance of split ends, giving blonde and highlighted hair a polished, healthy look.
3. How to Apply Leave-In Conditioner for Optimal Results
Proper application is key to maximizing the benefits of leave-in conditioners. Here’s how I recommend applying these products:
Start with Towel-Dried Hair
After washing, gently towel-dry hair to remove excess water. This lets the leave-in conditioner penetrate the hair shaft without being diluted.
Apply Sparingly
Start with a small amount, focusing on the mid-lengths and ends where blonde and highlighted hair needs extra moisture the most. Avoid applying too close to the roots, as this can make hair look greasy.
Use a Wide-Tooth Comb
After applying the leave-in conditioner, comb through your hair to distribute the product evenly. This detangles hair without causing breakage, which is essential for maintaining blonde and highlighted hair.
Style as Usual
Leave-in conditioners are designed to be left in, so you don’t need to rinse them out. Style as usual, or let your hair air dry for a natural look. If you use heat tools, be sure to use a product like the Kenra Blow-Dry Spray for added protection.
4. Tips for Long-Lasting, Vibrant Blonde Hair
In addition to leave-in conditioners, there are other ways to keep your blonde or highlighted hair healthy and vibrant. Here are some additional tips I share as a blonde expert in Denver:
Limit Heat Styling: Excessive heat can dry out blonde hair, so air drying when possible is best. If you do use heat tools, always use a thermal protectant like the Kenra Blow-Dry Spray.
Deep Conditioning Treatments: Incorporating a weekly deep conditioning treatment will provide extra hydration to keep blonde and highlighted hair healthy.
Sun Protection: UV exposure can cause blonde hair to fade or become brassy. Products like It’s a 10 Silk Express offer UV protection, making them perfect for sunny days in Colorado.
Final Thoughts
Blonde and highlighted hair can stay beautiful and healthy with the right care routine. Leave-in conditioners like Strength Recovery Strength Repairing Spray, Kenra Platinum Blow-Dry Spray, Moroccanoil All-in-One Leave-In Conditioner, It’s a 10 Silk Express Miracle Silk Leave-In, and 12 Benefits Hair Treatment are essential in keeping blonde hair moisturized, strong, and vibrant. Since blonde and highlighted hair needs extra moisture, especially in any dry climate, using these products consistently and following proper application techniques will help you maintain that gorgeous salon-fresh look year-round.
If you’ve been to the hair salon or on social media over the past ten years, then you’ve most likely heard of a hair color technique called balayage. While this method has been around for a long time, it’s boomed within the past decade thanks to its eye-catching dimension and low maintenance upkeep. And while balayage is one of those trends that will never go away, there is a new look in town that has been dominating the hair color scene. Enter: color sweep balayage.
What is color sweep balayage?
Color sweep balayage (also known as just color sweep) is a technique for painting very natural, yet dimensional tones onto the hair. Think of it as the upgraded version of highlights. Where highlights are placed close to the scalp and don’t look great during the growth period, color sweep is meant to be grown out and still looks amazing months down the line.
Typically, this technique is used to lighten the hair (like with highlights) but it’s not uncommon for the stylist to also incorporate a few different shades to add radiance and light. The end result will essentially look like you’ve spent weeks out on the beach without ever having to step into the sun!
Color sweep balayage is ideal because it’s incredibly low maintenance and it still preserves some of your original hair color. If you’re worried that your hair looks flat, the color sweep technique is a great option for you to liven up your look without committing to frequent salon visits or upkeep.
While the final result of a color sweep is to give the hair light and dimension, there are a few different options that your stylist can take based on your current hair color and desired goals.
If you have light brown hair, try opting for honey tones to enhance shine and brighten your look. You can also try a caramel sweep for the fall and winter time to add warmth.
Dark brown hair? Copper shades can help bring some light to your uniform color and add depth.
If your base color is blonde, your stylist can hand paint lighter shades onto your strands to brighten your overall look. This is especially popular during the summertime for that sunkissed look.
Go for auburn tones to make your red locks pop!
At the end of the day, your colorist will be able to choose the right shades for your hair so make sure to discuss your desired results during the consultation.
Who should get color sweep?
The amazing thing about color sweep is that it can work for almost everyone! Color sweep balayage can be done on any type of hair texture (including curly hair) and can bring out the natural tones in blonde, red, or brunette hair.
This technique is great for natural or previously color-treated hair. In fact, color sweep is the perfect method for hair color newcomers who aren’t ready to give up their natural color just yet but want to enhance their look. If you have short hair, you may want to check out another hair color technique such as a traditional balayage. The color sweep method works best on longer locks and will not have the same effect on short hair.
One of the best things about color sweep balayage is that it’s incredibly low maintenance and perfect for people who aren’t able to come into the salon often. Most stylists will recommend coming in for touch-ups every three to four months to refresh your color. Outside of the salon, color sweep doesn’t take much maintenance either.
Tips for keeping your hair healthy at home
Make sure to use a sulfate-free shampoo made for color-treated hair. Many shampoos contain harsh sulfates and drying alcohols that can dehydrate your hair/scalp. This can cause the color to be stripped from your hair and can even lead to breakage. If you’re not sure what shampoo would be best for you, make sure to talk to your stylist for the best recommendation.
Try to heat style as little as possible and when you do, use a heat protectant and turn down the temperature. Constantly using heat on your hair causes your strands to dry out and lose their elasticity. This can cause split ends, breakage, and even change the way your hair color looks. No matter the color of your hair, make sure to protect it from heat and don’t use your hot tools on the highest temperature setting. This will preserve your color longer and keep your hair looking healthy!
Don’t forget to deep condtion regularly. While color sweep is often low risk when it comes to hair damage, it still requires chemicals that can dry out your strands. Try using a mask like Olaplex Bond Intense Moisture Mask that’s made for color-treated hair to hydrate your strands and keep them looking shiny and nourished.
How are color sweep and balayage different?
Balayage is a hair coloring technique where dye or lightener is hand painted onto sections of the hair starting at the midlengths. Unlike traditional highlights, balayage does not use foil and the color is not placed right at the roots. The end goal of balayage is a sunkissed look that does not require as much upkeep as traditional highlights or all over color would.
While color sweep is very similar to balayage, the end result of the service is way more subtle and requires even less maintenance. The finished look is usually only one to two shades lighter than your base color while balayage can take it a bit further (while still looking natural.) Essentially, both options are great for people who can’t make it into the salon frequently. It just really depends on what your end goal is!
If you’re thinking of getting a color sweep this season, make sure to consult with your stylist to figure out the right tones and shades that will perfect your look!
The 5 Best Bond Repair Treatments for Damaged Hair
Let’s face it: we all have been through a damaged hair phase. And if you are reading this article, maybe you are facing this problem right now.
Whether you are experiencing breakage, split ends, weak strands from bleaching, or simply have been excessively using heat, doing a bond repair treatment for damaged hairis essential to restore it and bring it to life again.
The good news is that you don’t have to go to a salon every time you need a bond repair treatment. Now, with an array of excellent products, you can discover the best solutions for your hair and apply them at home by yourself.
In this article, I have gathered the best bond repair treatments for damaged hair to help you. But before getting into the details, check how a bond-building treatment works!
Bond Repair Treatment: How Does It Work?
Put simply: our hair is made of many chemical components responsible for guaranteeing strength, elasticity, shape, and other fundamental elements.
Disulfide bonds are the strongest links in the hair that keep together hair fibers, like keratin proteins. Some processes cause those bonds to break down, and as a result, your hair becomes weak and unhealthy.
Some of these processes include:
The excessive use of styling and heat tools;
Bleaching and dyeing your hair;
Natural/Environmental exposure, like sunlight, etc.
Bond repair products act to rebuild these broken bonds, restore and restructure your strands, and give back your beautiful and healthy hair.
Bond-building products can come in many types, including serums, leave-ins, conditioners, shampoos, hair masks, etc. Therefore, you have many options on how to adopt a haircare routine to restructure your damaged hair.
Bond Repair Treatments For Damaged Hair: The 5 Best Products
Now that you know how your hair can get damaged and how bond-building products work to restore it, it’s time to check the best products available to make your hair healthy and gorgeous again. Check them out below!
1. Olaplex Nº3 Hair Perfector
With the same technology as Olaplex’s professional line to rebuild and repair the damaged bonds of your hair, Olaplex Nº3 Hair Perfector is one of the most used products to rebuild the bonds in damaged hair.
The technology consists of restoring the broken disulfide bonds caused by the processes mentioned above, like bleaching.
It is easy to use, and unlike other products, Olaplex Nº3 is a pre shampoo treatment.
To use it, follow the steps according to Olaplex’s instructions:
Apply on damp towel-dried hair;
Apply a generous amount of the product from the scalp to the ends until your hair is thoroughly saturated;
Let the product act for at least 10 minutes. You can leave it for longer for better results;
Rinse it from your hair, shampoo, and condition as you usually do.
Use the product at least once a week, and if your hair is too damaged, apply 2-3x per week.
Another excellent product option is Redken’s Acidic Bond Concentrate. Launched this year (2021), it is one of the most recommended products when we talk about bond repair treatments for damaged hair.
The product offers immediate results in repairing damaged hair. Its formula contains Citric Acid, which helps to strengthen the weak bonds of the hair and revive all types of lightened hair. The treatment adds moisture and shine to damaged hair while strengthening the bonds.
To use it, follow these steps:
Shampoo hair and follow with conditioner
Apply treatment evenly. Do not rinse
It is a whole line focused on bond-building and hair resilience improvement. The recommendation is you use the entire line that includes shampoo, conditioner, and conditioner leave-in to achieve the best results.
For more information, check Redken’s website by clicking here.
4. Amika The Kure Intense Bond Repair Mask
The Kure Intense Bond Repair Mask by Amika is a bond cure technology solution that contains ingredients including mango, shea butter, borage oil, sea buckthorn, all of each combine to create an intense hydration formula to repair damaged and dry hair.
The clinically proven results show that, with only one use, you will experience 69% less breakage and 3.2x stronger hair.
The Unbreak My Blonde Leave-in Treatment by Matrix is indicated for those with lightened hair.
The main benefits of this all-hair type and texture leave-in is its ability to reinforce weak bonds and repair hair damage caused by chemicals.
The product contains citric acid, which brings softness, shine, and strength to the hair. This bond strengthening treatment also provides additional moisture and restores all types of lightened hair.
To apply it, follow the steps:
Shampoo and conditioner your hair as you usually do
Apply the product and leave it. It does not require a rinse.
Now that you know the best bond repair treatments for damaged hair available in the market and how to give life back again to your hair, it’s time to evaluate which one suits you best.
Still, if you don’t know how to choose it, don’t hesitate to ask your trusted hairstylist for a professional assessment from and get the help you need in this journey to healthy hair!
And also, be sure to come back to check our latest news on hair care content! Let me know what you think and I’m so grateful for your time!
INOA Hair Color – Best Ammonia-Free, Oil Based Hair Dye.
Most people have a common question about INOA ammonia-free hair color. They wonder if the INOA color is effective or not. However, to understand the effectiveness of that hair dye, you first need to understand the ineffectiveness of ammonia-based color.
Dying your hair with ammonia-based color goes hand in hand with damaging it. The dying process dries out your hair and also leaves it jagged. Ammonia – an alkaline chemical – is used for raising the pH level of your hair during the dyeing process. It is used to open the hair fiber so that the color is deposited onto the cortex. That said, ammonia can set delicate scalps afire and also make your hair dry and dull.
It is for this reason that people are preferring an ammonia-free alternative. An alternative that can offer gray coverage with a less unpleasant experience. As a result, the L’Oréal Professionnel INOA has become the number one choice for many stylists. INOA stands for Innovation No Ammonia replaces ammonia with different ingredients and now we offer this ammonia-free hair color in Denver.
Effectiveness of Ammonia-Free INOA
A decade ago, L’Oréal Professionnel came up with innovative hair color. This ammonia-free hair color collection by L’Oréal is known as INOA. It uses pioneering technology for replacing ammonia in traditional hair color.
Rather than using ammonia, INOA makes use of an unique oil delivery system to deliver hair color to the fiber. The technology uses oil to increase the effectiveness of the hair coloring process and protects hair from damage at the same time. And that too with a minimal concentration of an alkaline agent. However, does the process work?
The INOA hair dying process is quite simple. The hair color formula is combined with oils, which is then applied to the hair. It then penetrates the cortex and deposits the color right at the heart of your hair. Thus, making INOA an effective hair color solution. It removes the need for ammonia from the hair coloring process.
Benefits of Ammonia-Free Hair Color in Denver
There are several reasons why the INOA color has gained such widespread popularity. The following are the different benefits of using INOA hair color.
1. Gentle Color
The ammonia-free INOA hair formula offers your hair gentle color. The formula contains over 60% oils. Hence, ensuring that your hair is better nourished and hydrated. Besides, the hair color is also great for people with sensitive skin. However, ask your colorist to do a patch before coloring the hair. This will help you check for sensitivity.
2. Protection and Shine
INOA color does not make use of ammonia. Therefore, you are going to have healthier hair. It will provide you with softer, smoother, and improved hair quality. Of course, the oil delivery system provides your hair with a smooth and silky finish. But it also protects the natural moisture levels of your hairs. This will help in protecting dryness while prolonging your hair color.
3. Grey Coverage
INOA color formula offers your hair with up to 100% grey blending. Meaning, it is an ideal solution for covering any of the unwanted white hairs. Moreover, the color formula is so creamy that it stays where you paint it on your hair. In addition, it can turn thin and aging hair into healthier and thicker hair.
4. Natural Look
A natural-looking finish is the major hair color trend these days. It is the reason why neutral shades such as ash blonde and ash brown have gained so much popularity. INOA ammonia-free color provides a wide range of natural-looking hair shades. Thus, allowing you to stay with the trend without compromising your hair quality.
5. Odorless
One of the reasons why people hate ammonia-based hair colors is the strong smell that comes with it. However, the INOA hair color does not come with that horrid smell. It takes the hair dying process to the next stage. To sum up it’s making the experience more enjoyable for you. The odorless hair color makes it fun and luxurious treat for your hair.
6. Multiple Shades
The hair color is available in a wide range of shades. Classic and cool tones, to gold naturals and intense reds. There is a shade for everyone to make your hair shine again.
Final Thoughts.
In conclusion, I want to mention all benefits of INOA Color:
No Odor
Optimized Scalp Comfort
True Neutralizing Cool Shades, Vibrant and Luminous Warm Shades
Lightens Up to 3 Levels
Supreme Respect for Your Hair
Excellent Softness and Shine
Exceptionally Even Color From Scalp to Ends
Coverage of Up to 100% Gray
Millions of people around the world color their hair. But they are not satisfied with ammonia-based colors. Therefore, the ammonia-free INOA hair color has grown in such widespread popularity as it protests the hair integrity. And of course, it offers a delightful experience in addition to be an effective ammonia-free alternative. With great results, there is no reason why you should not switch to ammonia-free hair color. Call 720-917-5165 to schedule your appointment with a certified INOA colorist to try this amazing ammonia-free hair color.
You’ve finally decided to make the plunge and color your hair blonde, but where do you go from here? Maintaining blonde hair can be tricky, especially if you’re a first time blonde. If you’re lost, keep reading for the top 10 tips on how to take care of blonde hair to keep it bright and healthy.
1. Wash Less
When you dye your hair blonde, be prepared to welcome dry shampoo as your new BFF. The most effective way to keep your color bright for a long time is to wash less. And while it sounds like it could turn into a greasy mess, dry shampoo will have your back.
Many people are used to washing their hair every day which can strip the hair of its natural oils and cause color to fade quicker, even if it’s professionally done. Try washing your hair every other day or even every four days to really keep your color looking fresh and healthy.
In between wash days, spritz a bit of Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo into your roots to remove any excess oils from the scalp and hair. Not only will dry shampoo help absorb oil from the hair, but it will also give your hair life and volume! Talk about a win-win.
2. Deep Condition Often
Let’s face it, going blonde can be harsh on your strands which can lead to dryness. In fact, one of the number one complaints amongst blondes is dry, brittle-looking strands that end up turning into frizz.
This is especially true during the cold winter months where our hair is subjected to dry air in the comfort of our heated homes. To combat this, make sure to use a deep conditioning treatment like Olaplex Moisture Mask regularly. Try using it at least once a week and leave it on for 15-20 minutes or even overnight for maximum hydration and hair bond repair.
3. Use the Right Shampoo and Conditioner
To maintain your blonde at home, the first step is finding the right product routine. First and foremost, you want to make sure you’re staying away from sulfates and drying alcohols. Sulfates and harsh alcohols can both dry out your hair and cause your color to fade quicker.
The most important products in your routine are going to be a color-safe shampoo and conditioner like Moroccanoil Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner. You’ll also want to add a leave-in conditioner into the mix to keep your hair moisturized and a heat protectant if you style your hair with heat.
4. Keep it Bright with Purple Shampoo
Speaking of products, you’ll want to grab a purple or blue shampoo to help tone your hair in between color appointments. If you have naturally lighter hair (think dirty blonde or very light brown), you may notice that your super bright blonde turns to a yellow or gold shade after a few washes.
If you have darker hair that’s colored blonde, you will most likely deal with brassy, orange tones in the hair. If you’re seeing unwanted yellow or orange tones, you’ll want to add a purple or blue shampoo into your haircare routine. Not sure which one to pick up? No problem.
If you look at the color wheel, purple is opposite of yellow which is why purple shampoo is ideal for people dealing with yellow tones in the hair. Blue is the opposite of orange which makes it great in counteracting brassy tones!
I personally recommend new Olaplex Blonde Enhancer. Try using it in place of your normal shampoo 2-3x per month to keep your blonde bright and brass-free!
5. Tone Down the Heat
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you’re going to have to put down your flat iron and curling iron—at least some of the time. Every time you put heat on your hair, you’re damaging it which makes it dry, dull, and brittle.
Instead of blow drying, air-dry your hair and as an alternative to a curling iron, use heatless methods such as flexi-rods to minimize the damage.
If you’re someone who loves to style their hair with heat, make sure you use a color-safe heat protectant spray and set your tool on the lowest heat setting you can. Your hair will thank you for it in the end.
6. Protect it from Environmental Factors
Not only do you have to protect your hair from heat styling tools, you also have to protect it from the sun (hey, we never said taking care of blonde hair was easy!) Just like you can burn your skin from staying in the sun for too long, your hair can also feel the effects of overexposure to the sun.
UV rays can dry out your strands and even turn it into shades of yellow or orange (hello, purple and blue shampoos.) If you’re heading outside for the day, protect your hair by wearing a hat or scarf.
Many brands also offer products that protect your hair from harmful UV rays if you’re not keen on covering your hair up! I recommend to use 12 Benefits Instant Healthy Hair Treatment to protect your hair from the sun damage.
7. Get Regular Trims
Your ends tend to be the driest part of your hair because they’ve been subjected to heat, sun, and chemicals the longest. Dry ends make your hair look dry and ragged so make sure to go in for regular trims every six to eight weeks to keep your strands looking and feeling healthy.
8. Stay Away from the Pool
Dipping your blonde hair into chlorinated water can result in those nasty green shades that us blondes hate. Chlorine can also fade your color quicker because of the harshness of the chemicals.
Staying away from swimming in pools is the best option but if you decide to take a dip, apply a bit of leave-in conditioner like Unbreak My Blonde Leave-in Treatment to your hair first to help prevent fading and turning green from the chlorine.
9. Add OLAPLEX to Your Routine
If you lighten your hair, adding OLAPLEX into your routine is a must. The OLAPLEX system is a collection of products that actually rebuild the bonds in your hair structure to repair, strengthen, and leave hair feeling and looking healthier.
While their entire line helps to repair damaged hair, their No. 3 Hair Perfector is amazing for all hair types as an at-home treatment to reduce breakage and strengthen hair from the inside out. Try using it at least once a week to see a dramatic difference in the health of your blonde hair.
10. Swap Out Your Shower Head
This may sound crazy but yes, the quality of your water can affect the health and color of your hair. In some areas, levels of minerals, iron content, chlorine, and fluorides can make your tap water harsh which can dry out your hair and turn it an orangey, brassy shade.
Try swapping out your basic shower head for one with a filter to help remove the harshness from your water! Not only will your hair thank you, but your skin will too.
In Conclusion of How to Take Care of Blonde Hair
1. Use Dry Shampoo
2. Deep Condition Weekly
3. Invest in Color-Safe Shampoo and Conditioner
4. Use Purple or Blue Shampoo
5. Turn Down the Heat
6. Use Sun Block
7. Install a Shower Filter
8. Get Regular Trims
9. Protect your Hair from Chlorine
10. Add Olaplex to your Routine
When it’s all said and done, coloring your hair blonde can be a long process with a lot of upkeep and many appointments so you’ll want to find someone you love and that knows what they’re doing. And I hope that my recommendations on how to take care of blonde hair were helpful.
If you’re seeing someone new, don’t be afraid to ask for pictures of their past work and make sure to have a consultation first. This will help you ensure that you’re working with the right person for your blonde journey!
Everything You Need to Know About Root Shadow and Root Melt
Whether you’re looking to brighten up your hair color or go bold this season, a root shadow or root melt may be the technique for you. Gone are the days when dark roots are seen as unkept or messy and we’re ready to embrace this effortless, low maintenance hair color!
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about root shadows, root melts, and the difference between the two!
What is a root shadow?
Essentially, the root shadow technique is lightening the lengths of the hair but leaving darker roots. The purpose is to create a slight shadow at the roots of the hair to blur the area where the highlights or lightened hair meet the root.
The result of this technique is a soft, gradient transition from dark to light. The amazing thing about root shadow is that it looks very natural so you will never see a harsh line where the light and dark tones meet.
While root shadows are typically done on people who want to go lighter, they can also be used for those who want to rock fashion colors such as blues, purples, pinks, and more! In this case, if you’re going for blue, the colorist will typically color the roots a darker shade of blue to still allow for a smooth transition from darker to lighter tones.
Even though the roots are colored, it still looks natural when the hair starts to grow out because of those darker tones up top.
What is a root melt?
If you’ve heard of root shadow, you may have heard of root melt. The root melt technique is done after foiling services like highlights or babylights to completely blur out any lines of demarcation (AKA the line where darker hair meets lighter hair.)
If you can guess by the name, the purpose of the technique is to literally make it look like the base or root color is melting into the other tones of the hair. This means that the natural root color is pulled down a few inches past the roots to really blend in with the other colors.
Like with root shadow, root melt can be used for bright color applications to provide extra dimension and movement to the hair.
Difference between root shadow and root melt
Root shadow and root melt are extremely similar in their technique and end result. After all, their purpose is to make the hair color look more natural and give dimension but there is one key difference between the two.
With a root shadow, your colorist creates a very slight shadow by either leaving your natural roots alone or pulling the color down about an inch.
With a root melt, the darker shades are pulled down further to really eliminate any harsh lines and give the illusion of a seamless blend between light and dark. Overall, a root melt will look darker than a root shadow because the darker tones are further down on the hair than a root melt.
Still unsure if a root shadow or root melt is right for you? Here are some benefits of the techniques to consider before your next salon appointment:
Both techniques provide a super low maintenance hair color. If you’re someone who can’t come into the salon often or can’t afford a root touch-up every few weeks, getting a root melt or root shadow can save you time and money. With these techniques, your color can last up to three months before needing any touch-ups.
When you leave the roots untouched, it allows for healthier hair growth as the roots don’t have to be lightened or colored constantly to avoid harsh lines. When your roots start to grow in, they look naturally blended with the rest of your color.
If you’re trying to grow out your hair or hair color, root shadows or root melts are a great option for you. These techniques allow for a seamless regrowth without damage and allows the hair to grow longer and healthier.
Believe it or not, root shadows and root melts can actually give the illusion of more voluminous hair! The shadow effect of the techniques provide dimension which makes your hair appear plump and fuller. So, if you’re someone who has a finer hair density, these two techniques are definitely for you!
Root shadows and root melts provide a natural, sun-kissed look to your hair–almost like you just spent hours basking in the sun at a tropical beach! Because there are no harsh lines, your hair color looks like what naturally grows out of your head (your secret is safe with me!)
These coloring techniques can work with all lengths of hair—from a pixie to a lob to hair that reaches your butt! They are universal and can work for anyone.
Speaking of using these techniques universally, a root shadow and root melt can be used to achieve almost any hair color, from the brightest of blondes to ashy grays to loud purples and greens! Using a root shadow or melt gives movement and dimension to these colors so they don’t feel flat or boring. The options are truly endless.
Maintaining root shadows and root melts are extremely easy and don’t require anything out of the ordinary. Simply make an appointment for a color touch up whenever your roots grow too long for your personal preference.
With that being said, if you have bright blonde or ashy tones in your hair, you may want to come into the salon every 6-8 weeks to touch up your toner to keep your locks bright!
If you’re unsure if root melts or root shadows are right for you (or if you can’t decide between the two), call your colorist or book time for a consultation. While these techniques don’t offer drastic changes that are hard to keep up with, you still want to make sure that the outcome is your desired result!
By now, I’m sure most of you have heard about the balayage technique, one of the most popular (and elegant) way to get a beautiful, multi-colored look for your hair. In basic terms, balayage takes a more artistic approach to highlighting one’s hair, with the stylist “painting” individual sections while leaving others untouched.
Currently, balayage is on track to become the preferred way for women to create a layered, “sun-kissed” look. Unlike traditional highlights, which can sometimes come out looking streaky, balayage often appears very natural and blended. A talented hairstylist will be able to seamlessly blend in sections of highlight with the client’s natural hue.
Of course, who could we possibly attribute this innovative beauty technique to but the French? In fact, the term “balayage” comes from the French word “to sweep,” referencing the unique way that the stylist applies color to the hair.
Despite the extreme popularity of balayage, many people are still confused about just what it is, how it works, and how it differs from regular highlights. At the same time, many have questions about how to care for their balayage, how much it can cost, and whether it’s worth investing in at all.
As a Certified Balayage Artist, I’m quite confident in my ability to answer these questions. So if you’re ready to take a deep dive into this exciting new hair trend, keep on reading.
How Balayage Differs from Regular Highlights.
No doubt most of you are familiar with traditional highlights and how they are applied. From a general perspective, this process involved lightening specific sections of hair all the way from root to end. Unlike full dye jobs, highlights leave plenty of natural, untreated hair in between the colored sections.
Different stylists will use various weaving and sectioning techniques in order to keep the final result from looking streaky. After all they can apply as much or as little highlights as the client asks.
During the highlighting process, the sections to be dyed are typically folded into foils when the lightener is added. This helps keep the hair being treated separated from the hair staying natural. When completed, traditional highlights extend the entire length of the hair, resulting in a “striped” look. This can be highly desirable by some women and looks particularly great on curlier hair.
As I mentioned, highlights are typically applied from the root of the hair to the tip (a fact that will come into play as we move on to talk about balayage).
Now, while it still involves highlighting only certain sections of hair, Balayage is completely different from traditional highlighting in both technique and result. Though highlighting remains popular, many women have come to prefer balayage for its more subtle, natural look. Of course, every colorist has their own style and will put their own bit of artistic “flair” into the process. Still, you can generally identify a balayage from the darker roots, blonder ends, and more uniform, high-contrast look.
It’s also important to note that the balayage technique does not utilize foils. Instead, select strands are hand-painted to create a multi-tonal look.
Many consider the look to be quite similar to what happens when kids spend time in the sun, with the ends becoming lighter and the roots remaining darker. When applied correctly, a balayage creates a warm, natural appearance that looks great with virtually any hairstyle.
At the same time, most stylists consider balayage to be a more visual and personal hair coloring technique, as it involves literally panting the hair to create a customized appearance. Some men and women have even started referring to it as “contouring” for your hair. Among the best things about this technique, however, is that it can be done totally personalized to the client. In fact, many talented balayage artists can design your balayage to compliment your hair cut, your skin tone, or even your facial features.
Is a Balayage Right for Me?
When it comes to choosing a balayage or a more traditional highlight method, the first thing you need to ask yourself is, “what sort of look am I going for?”. For instance, while balayage certainly results in a more natural “I just got back from the beach” sort of look, traditional highlights are much more structured and offer you a lot more options when it comes to tone.
The keyword that should come to mind when you think of a balayage is “subtle,” which isn’t something that every girl is going for.
It’s also worth noting the way a balayage affects darker shades of hair. Because it essentially mimics the effects of the sun, it’s perfectly common for darker haired women to display a bit of orange and red, just as if they’ve been dosed with UV. Foiled highlights, on the other hand, usually offer your stylist a bit more control over the tonal result.
Of course, your personality is another thing you want to consider when deciding on a new hair color. For instance, if you think of yourself as having a more “edgy” look, there’s no doubt that a balayage will help your ends really “pop.” If you consider yourself more traditional, you’ll probably like the look of foil highlights much better (and will appreciate the less randomized result).
All of that said, the most important factor you want to consider is your hairstyle! After all, highlights that look great on one style may not look so hot on another. Moreover, if you frequently straighten, wave, curl, or braid your hair, you should expect to see a slightly different result with every switch.
The Lifespan of Your Balayage.
A balayage is about as permanent as a dye job gets, but not necessarily in the way that you might think. After all, no hair dye is powerful enough to keep your roots from showing through a little bit, causing the overall look to fade. For this reason, it’s best to think of your balayage as something that you make a commitment to maintaining over time.
The good news about your balayage is that since it doesn’t dye the roots, you don’t have to worry about developing that uneven look you often get a few weeks into regular highlights. This fact alone drastically reduces the upkeep needed to keep your balayage looking great. That said, you will need touchups if you want your hair to continue to look its best.
The average time between touch up appointments is about four to six months. If your natural hair is particularly dark, however, you might need to increase the frequency a little bit.
Properly Maintaining a Balayage.
Of course, the lifespan of any hairstyle really depends on how you treat it. Now, it should go without saying that any sort of color (highlight and balayage included) need not actually damage your hair. This is why it’s important to see a reliable, well-trained stylist – one who is aware of the proper processing times needed to maintain your hair’s integrity.
Once the job is done properly, the maintenance of your balayage falls to you. In this case, all professional stylists will recommend you use a shampoo and conditioner designed for color treated hair. I recommend to use Kerastase shampoo and conditioner and Olaplex. This will support the color, keep your hair follicles nurtured, and keep the balayage looking radiant and natural.
Depending on how dark your natural hair color is (and how light your balayage is), you might want to consider not using particularly hot water when washing your hair, and washing your hair far less often. Whenever possible, a dry shampoo can be just as effective and help preserve your overall color. Lastly, you’ll want to use a heat protectant whenever you use styling tools.
Why Balayage is Worth the Investment.
The cost of a balayage treatment can vary depending on a lot of factors, the stylist you choose being one of them. Furthermore, the length and color of your hair, the amount of highlight, and other aspects of the service will greatly impact the final price.
This is why it’s a good idea to book a consultation with your colorist before actually setting up an appointment. After all, you don’t want to end up with sticker shock because you neglected to mention your hair was three and a half feet long. During this consultation, it’s also smart to discuss how often your stylist thinks you should come back for maintenance and touch-ups.
For example, if your hair is light brown or dark blonde, you might only need two full services in a year, providing you’re willing to live with a little fading and moderate brassiness. However, if you want your hair to look fully balayaged all twelve months, you’ll probably need to add a few partial appointments to your schedule to allow for touching up. All of this, ultimately, needs to be factored into the total cost.
For reference, a full balayage can cost anywhere between $150 and $500, depending on which part of the country you live in. Partial appointments, however, tend to only cost around $95 – $200. Of course, everyone’s hair is different, so there’s no way to put an exact figure on your overall cost.
That said, if we stick with the one-year routine mentioned above (one full appointments and two partials), it’s safe to estimate that a full year of perfectly balayged hair will cost the average light-haired girl around $500
In Conclusion
As you can see, there is quite a bit to love about the balayage technique. Not only does it result in a much more natural look, but it will maintain its appearance as your hair grows. This helps you avoid dealing with the shock of your natural roots meeting bright blonde highlights.
Of course, balayage is not a technique for all stylists. Indeed, most industry professionals tend to refer to balayage expert as “artists,” as they quite literally hand paint your hair. So do your research and find a trained professional to treat your hair!
If you dye or highlight your hair blonde, then you may know all too well that it’s normal to see your undertones change from when you step out of the salon to after a few weeks. While yellow or brassiness is typical for blonde hair, it’s easy to brighten and tone your hair at home with a purple shampoo!
Read on to learn what they are used for, how to use them, and what are the best for blonde hair!
What is purple shampoo?
When you lighten your hair, it’s normal to deal with unwanted brass, orange, or yellow shades after a while. This is due to two main reasons–when your hair is lightened, your hairstylist will apply a toner after the bleaching session to achieve that bright blonde or ashy shade. Without toner, your bleached hair would stay a yellow or orange tone (cue Eminem’s Slim Shady days) and no one wants that! Once the toner starts to wear away in between salon appointments, you may notice those yellow or orange shades starting to peek through. Also, when you lighten your hair, it can become porous which means it absorbs not only products and water easily, but it also absorbs pollution and minerals from hard water. These minerals and pollution can also change the tone of your haircolor making it look yellow or orange.
I recommend to come into the salon every 6 weeks to get touch-ups on your toner. But if you feel like you’re getting yellow quickly, that’s when it’s time to use a purple shampoo. The shampoo is a cleanser for your scalp and hair strands that contain purple pigments to help remove any unwanted yellow shades from the hair. As the shampoo gets to work cleansing your hair, it also distributes those purple pigments into your strands.
Who is purple shampoo for?
If you have blonde highlights, balayage or ombre, gray hair, or are all-over blonde, purple shampoo is definitely for you! Many people think you need to have ash or platinum blonde hair to use purple shampoo but that’s definitely not the case. If you have highlights, balayage, or even gray hair, you can still deal with yellow undertones. To combat this, that particular shampoo is great for keeping your blonde bright and looking like you just stepped out of the salon!
Even if you aren’t noticing yellow undertones in your hair right away, purple shampoo is great just for keeping your blonde super bright.
What is the difference between purple and blue shampoo?
You may have heard of blue shampoo as well, but do you know what the difference is between purple and blue shampoo? If you have really dark hair and lighten it, you may notice brassy or orange undertones in your hair after a few washes. If you naturally have light brown or dark blonde hair, these tones are usually yellow or golden.
When you look at the color wheel, colors opposite of each other cancel each other out! So because purple is opposite yellow, purple shampoos are recommended for people wanting to remove yellow undertones. Blue is opposite orange which means blue shampoos are great for busting orange undertones! If you’re unsure whether to get a blue or purple shampoo, feel free to ask your stylist for help picking the right product for
Best purple shampoos for blonde hair
With there being a ton of purple shampoos on the market, it can be hard deciding which one to add to your routine. If you’re stuck on what shampoo to pick up, I’ve got you covered!
The formula contains their one-of-a-kind ArganID technology to actually help strengthen the hair from the inside. It’s also super gentle so it won’t dry out your hair!
If you’re looking for a purple shampoo to use on both colored and virgin hair, L’Oreal Silver shampoo is for you!
This formula promises color protection, toning, softness, and shine all in one. It also features their Gloss Protect System to help maintain hydration and sheen.
Plus, not only does the brand offer the shampoo, but they also have a matching purple mask as well to really up your at-home toning game!
How to use purple shampoo
Not sure how to use a purple shampoo? Here are some steps and tips to getting it incorporated into your blonde hair care routine!
For best results, cleanse with your purple shampoo once a week to keep your blonde bright. Keep in mind that you don’t want to use purple shampoo too often as it can actually darken your hair and leave it dull. Once a week is a safe bet or every other wash day!
Use your purple shampoo in place of your regular shampoo–not both! Purple shampoos cleanse your scalp and hair just as well as normal shampoos do so you don’t need to use both. Cleansing twice can just lead to scalp and hair dryness which can cause all sorts of problems like frizz and split ends (no, thank you!)
You know how you leave in a hair mask so your hair has time to soak up all of that moisturizing goodness? It’s the same way for purple shampoos! After gently scrubbing your scalp with the shampoo, bring it down to the mid-lengths and ends of your hair. Leave it in for 1-5 minutes before rinsing. This will allow the pigments to disperse evenly into your strands. Make sure you don’t leave your purple shampoo on too long though because it can temporarily turn your hair purple if left on for long enough!
In Conclusion
If you’re unsure if you should be using a purple or blue shampoo or what one is right for you, don’t be afraid to reach out to your colorist. We are here to help you not only achieve the color you’re looking for, but also help you through your journey of maintaining that color!
Unless you’ve lived under a rock these past few years, you’ve probably heard of a hair coloring technique called balayage. But have you heard of a similar technique called reverse balayage? If you’re looking to add more dimension to your hair color or just want to blend your outgrown highlights with your natural hair, those techniques would be the perfect option for you!
Read on to learn all about reverse balayage, who it’s for, and more.
Reverse balayage explained
To make things simple, reverse balayage is a coloring technique of painting darker shades on the roots and sometimes mid-lengths. This helps to give the hair depth and dimension. This method is typically used on people who have pre-existing blonde because it makes the lighter shades pop. It’s also great for people who dye their hair lighter colors to grow out their roots with ease.
Reverse balayage has grown in popularity over the past few years because it provides a natural, dimensional look. It’s very low maintenance which means it doesn’t require much care or time in the salon. It also helps to blend your natural hair color once your roots start growing out.
With reverse balayage, the options are truly endless! That’s what makes it so great. The colors, shades, tones, and placements can all be customized to your skin tone, eye color, lifestyle, and preferences. Just make sure to talk to your stylist before your appointment so you can craft the right look together.
The ideal client
Reverse balayage works for all hair types, textures, and skin tones. The ideal reverse balayage client is someone who is looking to shift their highlights or light hair to a shadowed look. This means that the technique is usually most popular with blondes. It’s also popular among people who are looking to slowly transition into a darker color instead of fully committing to an all over color from the beginning.
Reverse balayage can work for people with both short and long hair. With that being said, it is easier to achieve that lived-in look if you’re rocking longer strands. This is because there is more length to ease that transition from darker roots to strategically placed lowlights.
Balayage vs. reverse balayage
The word balayage means “to sweep”. It’s used to describe the technique of painting thin highlights throughout the mid-shafts to the ends of the hair. Unlike regular highlights, you don’t use foils or mesh sheets when doing balayage as the technique is meant to look lived in and natural. The result ends up as a gradual transition of darker shades at the root to lighter colors towards the ends.
With reverse balayage, the same technique is used but instead of sweeping on light tones, darker shades are painted on roots towards the mid-lengths of the hair. This really helps to give dimension and depth that may be missing with an all over color. Like with regular balayage, reverse balayage will still result in a seamless look without any harsh lines!
How much does it cost?
The cost of a reverse balayage service really depends on the experience of your stylist and where you’re located. A typical reverse balayage appointment will set you back anywhere from $75 to $120. Keep in mind that if you decide on reverse balayage, make sure to go to a seasoned professional who has experience. Reverse and regular balayage is an art (it is painting, after all!), so it’s important to go to someone you trust to ensure you get the results you’re looking for. Make sure to ask to take a look at their Instagram page before heading in for a consultation.
How to care for reverse balayage
Okay, so now that you’re rocking your reverse balayage, how do you take care of it? We got you covered. Although reverse balayage is low maintenance, it still requires some work to keep it looking fresh and on point!
Always use a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner formulated to be safe for color treated hair like Moroccanoil Color Continue Shampoo. While sulfates produce that lovely lathering effect, they can also dry out the strands which can cause your hair color to fade.
Try cutting down on your wash days. While it can be hard for some people, washing your hair less means rinsing less of your hair dye down the drain! Try washing your hair 2-3 times a week instead of every day. Not only will your hair color last, but your strands will feel moisturized and healthy. I recommend to use Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo
When using hot tools, make sure to spritz heat protectant like 12 Benefits on beforehand and turn them to the lowest heat setting you can. High heat strips color, dries out your hair, and ultimately leads to damage. Heat protectant sprays help to seal the hair and reduce moisture loss. This goes for hot water as well!
While we all love to take a scalding hot shower, hot water can strip the dye out of the hair faster. Turn down the temperature of the water when washing your hair to avoid opening up the hair cuticle. This will help to avoid the dye molecules from washing out of your hair.
Go in for regular trims and color touch-ups. Seeing your stylist regularly will keep your color in tip top shape and your strands healthy. Most stylists recommend that you come in every six to twelve weeks for color touch-ups and trims.
In Conclusion
If you’re looking to add dimension, movement, to blur the line of demarcation or just darken up your look for the new season, this technique is definitely for you. The main benefit of getting reverse balayage is that there really aren’t any cons! It’s low maintenance, looks very natural, will never go out of style, and doesn’t require total commitment like an all over color would.
Most women love getting their hair dyed, but there is no question that no one enjoys this lengthy process. Not to mention the many precautions you should take in order to ensure that this process goes smoothly.
With that said, there is a period when you are likely to want to transition to your natural color. This process is not going to be that simple, but if you take very specific steps, you should be able to do this properly while avoiding any unnecessary damage.
When the transition is inevitable
One of the first things that any professional stylist is going to tell you regarding how to transition to your natural color is that this is absolutely possible. Doing it the right way will keep your hair healthy and strong.
The important thing to keep in mind is that you will need to use specific products to avoid the damage. The severity of the damage will depend on several factors such as the strength of the chemicals and how many shades lighter or darker you are going. But again, it’s preventable if you protect your hair with hair care products and treatments.
If you want to stop dying your hair
First and foremost avoid over the counter color removal products.
Remember that any hair that has already been dyed is not in the strongest position to handle more chemicals. You need to be careful with this approach and avoid the use of any hard chemicals that remove hair color. They usually work, but at the expense of your hair being irreparably damaged.
Starting with fine highlights or lowlights or both would be your best choice. Although it will take several appointments to completely blend your regrowth hair with previously colored, doing it in steps will help to protect your hair integrity.
If you are still thinking of speeding this process up with removal products, I suggest you go to a reputable salon and ask a hair colorist for advice. It’s always a good idea to get a professional opinion that requires close evaluation of the current state of your hair. This is going to be the smart way to go and your hair will be thankful.
The good news is that any experienced stylist knows how to use the best approach to get your hair colored.
Don’t rush into any decisions for color removal. As I mentioned before you can start with just highlights to gradually remove the color. If you have problems deciding, you can get more than one opinion from a professional stylist.
If you want to stop highlighting your hair
Go shade by shade. If your hair is naturally brown or dark brown and you are currently light blonde, you are not going to be able to just color your hair once to go back to your original shade. It could take several coats of color for that darker shade to be absorbed, but there is an alternative.
Invest in root shadow, root melt or reverse balayage because those particular techniques will blur the line of regrowth. It will allow you to stop coloring your roots and blend your natural hair color with highlights.
In addition, you can start to use slightly darker shades of blonde at first in order to make this transition less dramatic to you, your hair, and those around you as well. This process is going to be a good way to start that transition and the different shades are not going to be too noticeable.
Go semi-permanent
Many stylists suggest that you can try this approach to give your hair a more stylish look as it grows. A good idea is to choose a color that is one shade lighter than your natural color. This is a great way to ensure that your transition back to your original color won’t be so dramatic.
One of the best things about semi-permanent dyes is that they do not contain ammonia. Their levels of peroxide content are much lower and their general safety is higher. This means that the hair is going to be in much better condition overall. Don’t forget that your hair is already under chemical stress, so you have to avoid using anything too strong.
Use treatments to prevent damage
There are numerous shampoos, conditioners and hair care products that will help you conserve your color and also protect your hair from the sun. These are important to use during this lengthy transition. Include Olaplex treatments in your routine to protect your hair from potential damage.
Hydrating or moisturizing products will also allow your hair to stay as healthy as possible. This is important as you are moving from that artificial color back to your natural look.
Find a reputable hair color salon
Think of going to the salon for your hair as something similar to going to the doctor for health checkups. You need to make sure that a professional can help keep your hair in the best possible shape while you are making this important transition.
Stylists all over the world say that you have to be patient. They also mention how you have to work with the growth of your natural color to make it smooth. The rewards of taking your time are good, and the damage from being impatient can be extremely serious.
Commit to the change
One of the most common things that we see when it comes to how to transition to your natural color is that many women will grow impatient and they will start dying their hair again.
It’s very important that you are able to deal with this growth process and with the different shades that it will create. Not only is this going to be essential to successfully transition back to your natural color, but it will also prevent further damage when you try to keep dying the hair just to avoid the process.
Final thoughts about how to transition back to your natural hair color
Dying your hair is always a fun process and it makes you feel great. This happens due to the significant change in your looks, but the process of growing back to your original color can be something that you would want to avoid because of the hassles it creates.
The tips that I just gave you are going to make this process much easier. Just take a deep breath, take a look in the mirror, and immerse yourself in the commitment to transition back to your natural color.
Why Those Blonde Highlights Look “Brassy” (And How to Prevent It)
Blonde hair has always been a very “in” look. And, if I had to guess, it probably always will be. Of course, with natural blondes making up only about 6% of the global population, those of us not genetically blessed with golden tresses have to come by them via a trip to the salon.
From simple highlights to full-platinum dye jobs, stylists like myself spend a lot of time giving our clients the right amount of blonde for their buck. That’s why it upsets us so much to see one of our client’s new dos turn from solid gold into solid brass.
Of course, anyone who’s ever had their hair dyed knows what I’m talking about. It might take months, weeks, or even just days, but sometimes those blonde highlights simply end up looking “brassy” or reddish. Though it’s a common problem, it doesn’t have to be. As you’ll see in the article below, there are a number of reasons why your highlights might betray you, as well as many steps you can take to avoid it.
What Causes “Brassy” Hair?
Every effect has a cause, and brassy hair is no different. Below, I’ll outline some of the most common reasons that blonde hair becomes brassy, then discuss some things you can do to prevent it from happing to you. Keep in mind, however, that every person’s hair is unique. Before attempting to define or solve the problem, be sure to consider all the possibilities carefully.
Pool Chemicals
If you’re the type of girl who loves to hit the pool, it’s a good chance that your highlights are going brassy thanks to the chemicals in the water, particularly chlorine. Though we consider it quite common, chlorine is actually an extremely powerful chemical. When exposed to porous blonde hair, it tends to leave a residue that breaks down the hair shaft, causing the color to change. That said, you can do a lot worse than brass, excessive chlorine exposure can also turn blonde hair green!
Hard Water
Chances are you’ve heard the term “hard water” at some point or another. This is essentially water that’s particularly rich in mineral content. It’s common all over the world and varies drastically on a house by house basis. If your unlucky enough to live in a home that has hard water, you might be bombarding your blonde locks with damaging mineral deposits every time you take a shower. Luckily, there are tests that you can buy in order to check your water’s mineral content as well as filters that can be installed to fix the issue.
Sun Damage
There’s nothing quite like a gorgeous blonde balayage to tackle the summer with confidence. However, all that time outside might actually be a big contributor to your brassy hair problem. You see, the chemicals present in many hair dyes are highly susceptible to UV damage. Enough sun exposure, and they might break down and cause your hair to change color. So, while we might associate natural blonde hair with being “kissed by the sun,” it’s actually the sworn enemy of chemically-dyed hair.
Your Hair’s Natural Color
Though nobody likes to hear it, not everyone’s hair is suited to blonde highlights. You see, the process of dying hair involves a lot more science than your stylist usually gets into. For example, any time that you lighten, dye, or bleach hair, you’re essentially saturating your hair with oxidizing agents designed to dilute the melanin in your hair. As with skin, melanin is what gives your hair its natural dark color. When dark hair is dyed this way, the undertone tends to eventually turn an orangish red.
An Improper Dye Job
Of course, it’s possible for various mistakes made during the dyeing process to cause your blonde hair to turn brassy. In many cases, this will be dye that isn’t left in long enough, but it can also result from using low-cost, at-home hair dyeing kits. It’s also worth noting that many stylists (including myself) will warn their clients that their hair might not be suitable for blonde highlights or that certain precautions or steps would be needed to do the job right. If you’ve received such a warning and didn’t heed it, it’s not quite fair to blame the stylish for a brassy result, is it?
How to Prevent Your Blonde from Turning Brassy
Luckily, there are a number of strategies you can use to help prevent your blonde hair from turning brassy. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve likely come up with a few already. However, in the interest of preserving healthy hair for all, I’m going to list my full arsenal of pro-level anti-brassy tips below.
1. Avoid Products with Parabens or Silicone
I mentioned above that the dyeing process tends to make one’s hair more porous. This means that all manner of chemicals, minerals, etc. can enter the roots of your hair more easily. When these damaging elements aren’t washed away, they build up in your hair, weakening it from the inside out. When you use products that contain parabens and silicon, you can drastically exacerbate this buildup, causing your hair to, quite literally, choke to death.
2. Avoid At-Home Dye Jobs
At-home hair dyeing kits largely rely on chemical bleaches to lighten your hair. In many cases,
these types of chemicals are specifically formulated to enhance brassiness, not fight it. Add in the potential for first-timers to leave coloring in far too long, and you have a recipe for disaster. Trust me, leave hair coloring to the professionals. We not only have the right tools for the job, but the experience as well.
3. Go Sulfate-Free
Sulfates tend to be a big problem for blonde hair, be it natural or dyed. Though included in most shampoos to help clean and scrub the hair strands, sulfates actually strip away many of the oils that protect and insulate your follicles. Without these oils to provide defense against minerals, UV rays, and chemicals, you can go from blonde to brassy in no time.
4. Try Purple Shampoo
Though this might sound like Third-Grade logic, it’s actually backed up by science. You see, shampoos with blue or purple tints to them actually impart a little bit of pigment into your hair with each wash. If you remember the “color wheel,” you’ll note that these tones tend to cancel out reddish and orangish hues. This will keep brassiness at bay and help keep your blonde highlights as fresh as possible. Try my favorite Purple Shampoo by L’Oréal Professionnel
5. Protect Against UV Rays
Obviously, I’d never suggest you skip that trip to the beach or day at the lake just because of your hair. However, just as you do with your skin, it’s important to take proper precautions to keep your hair safe from harmful UV rays. I highly suggest using a UV protectant spray both before and during your time in the sun. Be sure to apply quite liberally if you want to maximize its effectiveness.
6. Rinse Before Swimming
If you’re planning on taking a dip in a chlorinated pool, do yourself a favor and get your hair nice and wet before you dive in. The logic behind this is that your hair follicles can only absorb so much water at once. If you soak them in healthy water first, they won’t bother sponging up the chlorinated water later.
7. Buy Shampoo for Colored Hair
With tens of thousands of hair care products out there, it should come as no surprise that there are formulas specifically designed for blonde dyes and highlights. From shampoos and conditioners to sprays, toners, and more, these products are designed to keep your hair looking great as long as possible. Use them whenever possible!
8. Use Only Clear Oils
It’s true that moisturizing oils can be extremely beneficial for your hair. However, many popular oils (Moroccan oil specifically) have an orange or yellow hue to them. While they might aid in protecting your follicles, they won’t do you any favors when it comes to preventing brassiness. Instead, opt for pure argan oil or even coconut oil.
Conclusion
And here’s 7 more tips to prevent your hair from turning brassy or yellow and how to fix it.
Get professional toners to balance yellow/brassy tones
Protect your hair from UV rays
Install shower filter to eliminate harsh minerals
Invest in special shampoo and conditioner for blonde hair
Use purple shampoo once a week
Add dry shampoo to your routine
Use clear oils
As you can see, your bright blonde highlights and beautiful balayage are constantly under threat from chemicals, UV rays, and even the water in your shower. Moreover, your hair’s chemical makeup might prevent it from accepting or retaining that golden hue you crave.
However, if you take note of the tips listed above, consult with your stylist, and – most importantly – listen to and follow their advice, you can benefit your blonde highlights in a number of important ways. In the end, if you put in the time to really care for your hair, you should be able to keep brassiness at bay for good.
I hope now you know why blonde hair turns brassy. And as always, feel free to hit me up with questions or comments, and be sure to take great care of your hair. Cheers!
