Blonde Ambition
The hot weather has landed here in Brisbane, so along with cleaning out our gutters for storm season, it’s time to prepare our hair for the other important season – blonde season! Blonde hair is always in, but Spring/Summer is the time many of us like to transition from the deeper tones we may have preferred in the cooler months to a bright blonde ready to take to the beach.
There are many kinds of blonde but the one thing they all have in common is that the journey from dark to light is not always smooth. The risks of damage, unwanted tones and unexpected outcomes are high. It can be hard to predict how long it will take to achieve your blonde goal. And the most challenging of all in these economically difficult times… the cost.
Preparation is your Friend.
The first thing to be aware of when going lighter is that each journey will be different. How light you are when you start, how much artificial dark is in your hair and how many times you have changed your colour in the past will all affect how easily you can achieve your blonde goals.
If you have only gone slightly darker over winter, like adding a deeper foil or doing less foils, going back light should be relatively simple. You will most likely only need one session to go back lighter. Yay for you! A few more light foils and you are back in business.
If you have gone all over darker by a shade or two, like having a darker toner or semi permanent colour all over your previously blonde hair, things are looking pretty good for you too. An artificial colour remover (not a bleach) may be enough to remove the darker tones. This especially effective if you have only been darker for a short time. Doing this kind of service reduces the need to re lighten old blonde, which also reduces the damage on your hair. You are in for a long service time but chances are you will leave the salon close to your goal, especially if you pop in some foils after the colour remover. A toner will be essential after these kinds of services so be prepared for a slightly bigger bill than usual, at least for the first appointment or two on your light journey.
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Safety First
If you are keen to go more than two shades lighter than your current colour, you are in for a potentially long and expensive process. Going blonde from dark is a bit like starting at the gym. As much as we would love to leave our first session with toned arms and six pack abs, we all know its going to take several session before we start seeing results. And if we push ourselves too hard, we are likely to end up injured and have to stop going for a while.
Your hair, like your body, needs to be treated with kindness and respect. Taking your time and having realistic expectations for your blonde will mean your locks will last distance and give you joy rather than pain. Unlike those sit ups…
Maintaining strong, healthy hair during a lightening process is the highest priority for us hairdressers. Your hair is no Elle Woods so the bend and snap is not quite the move we are hoping for. We want your blonde locks to shimmer and shine so be prepared to invest in some high quality repair products! Personally, I love the Wella Ultimate Repair range. It’s the best strengthening and nourishing selection I have tried and is great for all hair types.
https://www.wella.com/professional/en-AU/hair-care/ultimate-repair
Blonde Acceptance
The other issue you may have is unwanted warmth. For those cool or neutral blonde lovers science has some bad news for you. It is impossible to lighten hair without exposing the underlying red, orange or yellow tones. Boo science! There is good news around the corner though. A toner, and a take home product like the Wella Color Fresh mask will help to keep those naughty warm tones covered!
As a dark to light girl myself, I can relate to the struggles faced when choosing the blonde/light hair path. But I can also tell you the struggle is worth it! Embracing the journey and learning to love all the stops on the way will ensure you can love your new blonde or lighter look for as long as you want. We beg you though… please don’t ask us to take you back dark straight after!
Now to get onto those abs…
Sarah x
Ps. Don’t forget our amazing superhero stylists who can take you on your dark to light journey! Find out more about them here..Our Stylists
