Though the saying blondes have more fun may be true, they certainly do have it rough when it comes to maintenance Before you go blonde here is a few things you need to consider.
Your lifestyle and budget
Besides working with your personal colourings, Letting your colourist know a little about your lifestyle for example, how often you can visit the salon or how you style and wear your hair will help to determine what shade will work for you.
Consider your budget and be aware that really big colour changes require much more upkeep than a subtle one. Changing your colour dramatically is always going to be high maintenance. The term ‘high maintenance’ actually comes from blonde hair. You will need to be prepared to make regular visits to the salon for toners and glosses as hair that has been lightened will fade quickly as it is more porous.
You will also have to keep on top of your roots, especially if you have bleached your hair or have lightened it all over – every four-six weeks is the commitment level needed to avoid colour bands and patchy colour.
Consider Olaplex when doing big colour changes, to keep the internal bonds of the hair strong. Use shampoo and conditioners recommended by your colourist at home. Given that a brunette shade has different requirements than that of an ash blonde, it is always best to follow the advice given.
Maintenance
It is ideal to shampoo every 2 or 3 days using blonde-specific products. To keep the colour fresh in between salon visits, I recommend a toning shampoo or conditioner such as Evo Fab Pro Platinum to maintain the colour weekly. Using treatments like Evo- The Great Hydrator on a weekly basis as well as Olaplex no3 helps to prep the hair for the next service and strengthen it to avoid dryness and breakage.
How do you choose the right shade of blonde for your skin tone
Generally speaking, paler skin tones usually suit cooler shades of blonde and deeper/olive skin tones tend to suit warmer tones of blonde. To truly determine what color will work best for you, it's always best to see a professional colorist as they can take into account crucial factors that play into this like skin tone, skin texture, eye color and your overall lifestyle as mentioned above.
Patience
Give your colourist at least six months to a year if you want a big colour change. Dramatic changes can take time and patience. Going from dark to blonde should be done with care and ideally over a few visits to maintain the condition of the hair.
While often famous faces make it seem a breeze to go blonde overnight, know that there may be some trickery involved.
For darker hair, getting to the desired lightness can be a journey, ask yourself how much time and money you are willing to invest in order to sustain the desired highlights and/or colour, both in the salon and at home!
After something with a little less maintenance, Try an Ombre look.
Maintaining ombré is simple. Between major visits to touch up the ombre, I recommend to my clients that they come in for a toner service to correct/refresh the tone of the ombré and add amazing shine and condition to the hair.
What's great about ombré is that less maintenance is required. However, because trips to the salon are less frequent, it's important to use a colour depositing treatment conditioner once a week, Try the Evo Fab Pro Range or ask your Ataraxia Stylist for a custom made colour conditioner this will keep your ombre fresh and bright!
Brassy Hair getting you down
Brassy hair is simple to fix with a toner service. It will correct the tone of the blonde and add amazing shine and condition to the hair. Another quick fix is Evo Fabuloso Platinum Shampoo and Conditioner use it in conjunction with a regular shampoo every time you wash to control unwanted brassy tones.
How can I go lighter without severely damaging my hair, can I better protect my blonde hair
The best way to go lighter is gradually with lots of strengthening treatments in-between each service such as Olaplex. Using Olaplex no.3 really helps rebuild the hair from within and helps prep the hair for the next lightening service. Protect blonde hair by using a heat protectant before blow drying, straightening and curling to help protect the hair and the colour, try Evo Icon Welder. Using a lower heat setting on the hot tools is another great tip for lighter and more fragile hair.
Additional "hot tips" for blonde clients
Try using a clarifying shampoo like Evo Normal Person shampoo every few weeks to help keep the blonde from going dull and to remove any impurities from the hair like water deposits, pollution, etc. Blondes are like a white T-shirt - they show stains more so than dark clothing. This is why it so easy for blondes to look dull.
See your stylist regularly for toners and intense moisture treatments.
End with a cool rinse, everyone can benefit from this trick. Simply finish your wash with cool water which works to close the hair cuticles, reducing fade and promoting shine
All of the products mentioned in our blog are available to purchase in salon or on our website.
