Going from Brunette to Blonde is not an easy process. This process realistically can’t be done in one visit. It is not as easy as putting one colour all over the hair in the hope to go blonde. It is simply not the case. It takes skill, patience, confidence, experience, a colourist who knows their stuff, and a client who can remain cool, calm and collected through the many stages of blonding.
Let’s talk the real talk about lightening your hair.
Our most common asked questions:
DAMAGE
Going lighter calls for some type of damage to your hair. If you have used a box colour, or any type of colour at all on your hair when going lighter, your stylist will have to use bleach. Colour does not lift colour out of hair. This is why it’s important to gradually lighten the hair when going from one extreme to the other. If the hair is already severely damaged, you need to ask yourself, and your stylist, if it is in your best interest to go lighter? Would you rather have healthy, shiny hair or dull, damaged hair? We are not saying that the hair can never go lighter. However, if the hair is healthy and the lightening process is done correctly and slowly, it will allow the hair to safely go lighter over time. But even then, there will most likely be some sort of minimal damage to the hair.
TIME
Going from dark to light takes several appointments, and normally several hours at a time. Plan to be in the salon every 4-6 weeks to start with, and plan to spend several hours in the salon with each visit. If you’re planning on going light, make sure you tell the salon when making an appointment so we can schedule enough time for you. Advise us over the phone about your current hair colour and that you are wanting to go lighter. We do recommend you send us a photo of your hair and one of the colour you are wanting to achieve. If you’re a new client, we recommend you book in for a free consultation first.
PATIENCE
Like the old saying “Rome wasn’t built in a day”, it takes time to get to your desired colour. Be patient with your hair and stylist when going lighter and understand that you might have to live with a colour that is “in between” what you’re hoping to achieve for a few weeks. Dark hair is naturally going to lift to warmer tones, especially if it has old box colour on it or any colour build up. You are most likely not going to achieve an “ash” or “cool” colour until you’re closer to a lighter shade. However, you should still have a pretty colour in the process. With any lightening processes the darker your hair, the more warmth it will throw. A toner is like lip gloss or a bandaid, depending on the hair and the colour it has lifted to, will depend on how long your lip gloss will last. Some toners can last 1-4 weeks. If you are someone who doesn’t like any warmth, we do recommend to go darker with your toner, so it will cover more and last longer. It will slowly fade before you next lightening session.
MONEY
Blonde is probably the most expensive hair to up keep and lengthy process. Being lighter isn’t cheap, sometimes it is a higher maintenance lifestyle, not one that suits everyone. When going from dark to light, we recommend several appointments for a full head of highlights about every 4-6 weeks, breaking it up in between with a treatment and toning gloss until the desired colour is achieved. Once you’ve reached your desired colour, you will need to come in for touch ups or a base break”” every 5-10 weeks depending on the contrast in your natural colour vs your blonde. At this point, you can start alternating between partial highlights and a full head of highlights. This is less expensive and will work within your hair budget, still allowing you to achieve your dream hair. Please keep in mind the longer you leave your hair to grow out in between visits, the bigger the job will be, adding more cost to your service. It always pays to keep on top of your blonde maintenance. You will also need to invest in good hair care products to keep your hair looking good, healthy & shiny.
HONESTY
Your stylist will ask you questions about your hair history. We’re not doing this for fun, we need to know exactly what has been done to your hair previously, as far back as you can remember. Remember, hair past your bra straps is about 3+ years old, the longer your hair, the longer you have to think back. Knowing how many times you’ve put colour all over your hair, or how many times you’ve gone dark to light and then back again. Any chemical services previously done in your hair and what products you are currently using or have used in the past will let us know how easy or difficult it will be to get you light.
This information helps your stylist know which products can be used safely on your hair. If information is missed. it could set yourself and your stylist up for an unprepared chemical reaction to your hair. This could be highly damaging, and in some cases affect the colour and condition of your hair.
PREPARE FOR YOUR HAIR
It’s never too early to start using good products on your hair to get it in the best possible condition. In the weeks prior to your hair appointment, start using a good protein based shampoo and conditioner. We recommend to become one of the OLAPEX or DEFY DAMAGE family. These products are used to help prevent damage, breakage and will protect your hair during the lightening process. You should continue to use these products for as long as you live. Or at least while you are a blonde. On the day of your visit, come with semi clean, dry hair so your stylist can see your natural colour easily. Sometimes when hair is unwashed, it makes the natural colour look darker than it really is because of oils, and build up.
After investing all of this time, money, and emotions into you dream colour, it is in your best interest to know how to make the most out of your new hair!
MJS hot blonde tips to maintain Instagram drool worthy hair.
INVEST IN GREAT PRODUCTS
This will be the foundation for keeping your hair colour looking like perfection. Nobody wants straw like hair. Invest in a lightening appropriate shampoo & conditioner as well as a deep conditioner once a week.
If you have started on the Olaplex journey, we recommend you keep up and maintain your once a week treatment at home. This is probably the most important part of being blonde. You have to keep your hair healthy & strong during and after the lightening process.
GET A TONER/GLOSS
A toner or gloss is a sheer shade that helps achieve the perfect hair tone and seals in an extra 4-6 weeks of shine. A toners life span will vary on what type of hair you have, your lightening history and your lifestyle. If you wash your hair every day, are outdoors in the sun, swim, work away or if your hair is porous or more damaged, your toner is more likely to fade and drop out quicker. You can pop in the salon for a clear gloss to lock in colour, shine and softness, or a toning gloss to help keep your blonde or colour from getting brassy in-between touch ups!
If you are platinum white, ash or any over toned blondes we recommend a toner every 2-4 weeks between colours.
USE HOME TONING PRODUCTS
Using a purple shampoo or toning conditioner is a must. Use it once a week to cut out yellow or brassy tones and help keep your blonde colour bright and beautiful! Purple is the direct opposite of yellow on the colour wheel, “therefore” cancelling out any unwanted yellow tones in your hair. A favourite of ours is the “Blonde Life Violet Toning” or Evo Fabuloso “Brass Be Gone” shampoos.
Brunettes, Reds, Coppers & every colour under the rainbow! Don’t think we haven’t got the solution for you. Evo Fabuloso the unique colour maintenance system that allows you to create customised colour maintenance conditioners that perfectly match and maintain your hair colour. These direct dyes can be mixed together to create an unlimited array of semi-permanent colours with natural tone and shine to: colour refresh, colour fill and colour tone/pastels. We match it, we mix it, you take it home.
It is important to understand when seeing these amazing Instagram transformations that no one product, technique or even salon visit can give these results. It is the colour specialist who advises and suggests what is possible over a course of time. Sometimes, it is just the science of hair as to what your hair can or can’t do. If we feel we will damage your hair or if your expectations are unrealistic for your first visit, we will tell you and try to be as transparent as we can be.
