True Colors: The Truth About Vivid Color
As you’ve noticed, fashion colors or “vivids” are a hot trend this year! Although those glorious locks of vibrancy look fun and exciting, with great color comes great responsibility!
For the first time this year I decided to take the plunge and go PINK (see me up there ^ in the middle)! It started very subtle and eventually grew into an all over glowing magenta, and most recently a soft violet. And I love my color, but I want to give you the full picture of the commitment that comes with vivid locks.
Extreme lightening
In order to achieve cooler colors or “pastels” your hair must be very light. That means if your hair is light brown or even a warmer blonde, it won’t work. You need to see a professional for your service and get to what we stylists call “a level 9 or 10” which is just a fancy way of saying “the hair needs to be as light as the inside of a banana” (pale yellow). Once you’ve reached that level and you’ve committed to the service, you must be willing to come in every 6-7 weeks for a toner (refreshing the color) and a retouch (for those pesky roots that come in).
Treatments are key!
If you’re looking for more of a deeper or warmer color, you can apply on hair that is not as light, but keep in mind that the darker your hair, the less vibrant and the less it will show. For these services I ALWAYS use Olaplex because it is a bond multiplier and links the damaged bonds together making it much stronger and less susceptible to damage. It is always followed by the Olaplex treatment which is the icing on the cake for healthier hair. Without proper precautions, you could end up with dry, straw-like hair, meaning it has become “over-processed” which can eventually lead to what we call “a chemical haircut”. There is a way to treat over-processed hair, but you must be willing to treat it like gold and come in for regular treatments and haircuts until it is healthy again. But once your hair is beyond repair, it must be cut. These are just some things to keep in mind when lightening your hair, whether it’s for vivids, balayage, highlights, anything that requires you to bleach your hair. It is important to know these things so you are aware of how delicate hair is and what to expect when getting any of these services in excess or without proper precaution.
Keeping up with the colour
And of course, there’s the after care. Never wash your color treated hair with hot water! It will strip the color out much quicker than lukewarm will. It is important to also have salon professional products that are “color safe” because that is essential to maintaining your beautiful mane! Stylists may also recommend a restorative product to strengthen and reverse any signs of damage in the hair. I use Living Proof’s Restore Shampoo and Conditioner. After only a few months, I have noticed a significant difference in the quality and health of my hair! I can wash my hair less often (once a week) because of their patented molecule “OFPMA” that repels dirt and oil making the hair feel cleaner longer. Not only that, but it’s color safe and makes the hair 20x stronger in just 14 days! Because I only wash my hair once a week, my color lasts twice as long which saves me time and money in the long-run! It’s truly a miracle in a bottle and is the best insurance for your hair! By using salon professional products and treating your hair responsibly, you will guarantee that your color will last much longer, and your hair will be much stronger and healthier, which means beautiful looking hair that’s the envy of them all!
About the Author: Selene is a hair stylist at The Loft Salon in Winnipeg.
