Tell us about this…
The “Comic Book Blonde” yellow hair color and box bob on my beautiful client Silvana would be my favorite look I’ve created recently. I used EuforaColor’s Super Lighteners (high lift blonde) instead of bleach to get her hair light enough for vivids. This method is a bit gentler on her hair, but it’s because she is the perfect candidate for “anti-bleaching” – I would not recommend using highlift for prelightening prior to vivids on anyone who is a level 6 or darker, even level 7 with resistant hair. And must be done on VIRGIN hair. Direct Dye over highlift tint can be temperamental at best. For one, the hair is in such good condition, the cuticle is so close, that the hair does not always want to take the vivid color. BUT, the right shade, on the right person, with the right hair type and well…it can be life changing. Silvana and I have a long history working together on her hair and other things, and we’ve become quite close over the last 7 years. I have had the opportunity to watch her come into her own, and though she is still on the path to self-discovery (I mean, who isn’t?) she has really found something through changing her hair. The term Comic Book Blonde is perfect for this look because she is our very own Ramona Flowers (Is my nerd showing?), and she is no stranger to vivids, but yellow has by far been our favorite – she feels empowered and beautiful in every situation. Caption reads: “Anyone who has walked through the valley of despair and come out of the other side, knows that even in darkness, seeds of light can be found.”
What’s your absolute favorite hair trend right now?
Why do you love this trend so much?
COLOR MELT!!! Giving a client a smudged root is also a great way for them to stay on trend – the perfect compliment to their sunny summer highlights if they don’t want to maintain them as much through the cooler months. What I’ll usually do is a balayage highlight of the whole head, and then go in with color and deepen the root shade so that the ends actually appear brighter by contrast. For my clients I always like to tone the roots a bit darker than the mid-shaft and ends of the hair, this lets them go a little lighter with the color and adds depth without the worry of having a harsh contrast when their hair is growing out. You can also use this technique for vivid hair color.
What’s been inspiring you as a hair artist lately?
I attended Salon International in London in mid-October and absorbed a lot of education while I was there. The UK is always so far ahead as far as fashion is concerned so I always look across the pond for inspiration and what to expect next. I am so excited for FALL!! Unfortunately, fall is short lived in my home base of Denver, CO – but we still pretend it’s not snowing yet by suggesting simple tonal changes to our clients at Oracle. As far as natural tones go: Blondes can add a strawberry-gold highlight to feel on trend, but still be light OR take their color a little cooler, more muted – cooler blonde highlights blended over a dark base lets you go lighter without feeling too blonde. Brunettes can add some dimensional coppery-red hand-painted ribbons OR neutral gold toned balayage to their look. Red heads are just always on trend, in my opinion, so little enhancements can be done, rich warm reds are very seasonally appropriate. Though there are absolutely no rules, and you do not have to follow suit with the seasonal changes – If you’re brunette and want to start the transition of going blonde, now is a great time to start, because it can take several appointments if you want to be blonde by summer!