Color talk . . .
When it comes to color, I asked with my stylist to define a few key words that’ll help you get exactly what you want. Here’s your full list of hair color vocabulary. Study it–learn it! If there’s anything I’ve learned from years of color talk, it’s the importance of communication. The better you are able to articulate exactly what you want, the better your salon experience will be.
Full Color: Looking to dye your hair one solid color? Ask for a full color. This means your stylist will apply one color from your roots to your ends.
Touch-Up Color: If you just need to add some color to your roots, a touch up should do the trick. It’s a simple fix that extends the life of your full color.
Highlights: To brighten things up, ask for highlights. Your stylist will uniformly apply lighter colors that add depth to your overall color. You can also target specific locations for highlights–face framing, full head, half head or crown + part.
Lowlights: Rather than brightening, lowlights add a darker color to your hair. This technique is particularly popular during fall and winter to break up lighter highlights that have been added during the warmer months.
Permanent Color: This type of color is long lasting and grows out as your hair grows out. It is a bold option that needs to get touched up every 5 to 8 weeks.
Semi-Permanent Color: If you want to test out a new shade, ask for a semi-permanent color. It’s a temporary option that is designed to last between 6 to 8 weeks. The color slowly fades over time due to normal wear and washing.
Balayage: To get a natural looking, beach-y finish, go for a balayage. This is a freehand technique where your stylist will paint sections of your hair with a lighter color. These pieces are more random than highlights and feel less symmetrical.
Ombré: Similar to balayage, ombré is a drastic fade from dark to light. This technique works best on darker hair types because your root color will be the dramatic starting point. From there, your hair will go from dark to medium to light.
Sombré: This technique is a subtle fade of color towards the ends of your hair. It works well on most hair types because it’s a gradual change in shade from light to lighter to lightest.
Stay tuned . . . more stylist speak coming your way.
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