Going Blonde
So you want to go blonde?
Going blonde has come a long way from traditional highlights! Babylights and balayage might’ve hit the coastlines cities before the midwest but with the introduction of social media along with Instagram’s very visual wave of influence it’s understandable if people are overwhelmed by the different forms of blonde.
If you’re wanting to get lighter and brighter remember to always get a consultation with a stylist and bring pictures to show what you like and why! You might be wanting the brightness of one picture but the “lived in” deeper roots of another. Color consultations are always key in communicating what you want when lightening your hair. Finding the best blonde stylist in LA could be as simple as looking over their portfolio of work online and talking about the differences you both see and what may suit you. Remember to inquire about the kind of maintenance involved with big changes including shampoo, home care and recommended visits. Blondes can go from beautiful to brassy if you don’t head the advice of your trusted beauty professionals.
So here’s a guide on how to go blonde from the most natural to the most intense!
1: Lived in Blonde/ Balayage
This is by far my favorite form of blonde because it’s the most natural. Balayage can be done in multiple ways but usually they all result in a sun kissed result with a softer diffused blonde at the root and brighter mid-lengths and ends. You know all those natural blondes that spend the summer at the beach? Yeah balayage is trying to mimic that. But of course trends take over and there’s some very extreme bright blonde results that can be achieved with balayage as well. This technique is best done on hair that is naturally a lighter brown to blonde.
Maintenance:
This technique can last anywhere from 3-6 months!
It’s definitely the least maintenance of all the blondes because of the softer root blending.
Shampoo: Redken Color Extend Shampoo .
2: Highlights
Ah highlights! The most traditional way to go blonde. This technique has expanded to include baby lights, foliage and multiple patterns sectioning. It has definitely evolved from when I started doing hair 16 years ago. The best thing about highlighting with foils is that you can achieve a very even lift from root to ends and a much brighter lift due to the heat from foils. This technique does requires more salon visits unless… You ask for a root smudge! Sometimes referred to as a root tap. This is done by simply toning down the roots of your hair just a pinch darker for a softer grow out. I think a majority of my clientele these days want a slightly deeper blonde root even with highlighting. We leave the framing around the face bright all the way to the root for that “ money piece” look and tada. This might be the most quintessential blonde on instagram.
Maintenance: 6-12 weeks depending on the pattern and technique
Shampoo: Redken Color Extend shampoo, possibly alternating with Redken Blondage Color Extend shampoo that helps fight brassy tones if you are going for a lighter ash blonde.
3: Bleach and Tone Blonde
Ok so you want to be Gwen Stephanie and you’ve decided to go fully bleach blonde from roots to ends, this is a bleach and tone or more professionally called a double process. Getting to this point may be a series of highlight appointments to ease into it or you may choose to do an all over lightening process. This decision will be best with a consultation. Be ready, because getting to a this level of blonde may take several appointments. It will depend on the condition of your hair and if you have previously colored hair that will determine the amount of visits you need to get to the perfect Marilyn Monroe level. After you're there you can expect to get your roots retouched with lighter and then toned platinum with every visit. Congratulations you have made it to max blonde!
A few words of caution: This can be the most damaging so listen to your stylist about conditioning treatments and in salon bond building treatments. This level of blonde can also be more porous so be prepared to possibly change it up to a filtered shower head that will catch all the rust and mineral deposits from old pipes before your hair does.
Maintenance: Every 4-8 weeks.
Shampoo: Redken Acidic Blonding Concentrate shampoo and conditioner
on rotation with a Redken Blondage Color Extend Shampoo.
Filtered shower head and in Salon conditioning treatments recommended.
Need a free consultation to go blonde in LA? Contact Me or book a free consultation!
I’ll talk you through a hair plan just for you.
