Sometimes having your hairdresser talk to you about your hair in their salon-lingo may sound like Chinese. All the numbers and steps to getting your hair just right have a meaning and everyone should be able to understand it. So here’s a little run down for you to own your next visit to the salon.
Your hair is always a number, ranging from one through ten. The lighter your hair is, the higher the number.
To get the desired result, your hairdresser will guide you through a color chart and will want to know both your natural hair color and the color you want to achieve.
TYPES OF HAIR COLOR
Semi-Permanent hair color – This is a great option for the risk-takers out there that want to try something new but don’t necessarily want to commit to anything long term. It lasts about 5-10 shampoos and it is ammonia free. This is great for people with fragile or damaged hair.
Demi-Permanent Hair Color- Though this color lasts a little longer than semi-permanent hair color (and still does not contain ammonia), it is not for the girls who want a complete change to their look. Demi-permanent hair color can add color and shine, but it will not actually lighten the hair.
Permanent Hair Color- This hair color contains ammonia which swells the cuticle of the hair to allow the color pigments to penetrate deep into the hair shaft. Permanent hair dyes can be removed by bleaching or stripping with a color remover.
WARNING: Artificial colors CAN remove natural hair color but does NOT remove artificial color. So don’t expect to come in with a head of dark (artificial) hair and leave as a blonde bombshell because, unfortunately, hair color just doesn’t work that way.
PROCESSES
Toning- Toning helps balance the warmth (red, copper, gold) or coolness (violet, blue, green) of hair to achieve the ideal color tone.
Weaving- Sections of your hair are foiled and lightened or darkened separately. Depending on what you are trying to achieve by weaving, you can either do it throughout the hair or as an accent of color around the face.
Highlighting/Lowlighting- It can be done 3 different ways. Block color will darken a specific area and give a very bold effect. Baliage is a little bit artistic as it is achieved by painting color or lightener on sections of the hair to emphasize a cut. And last but not least, a Color Melt is when different colors are melted together, carefully taking you from your natural hair at the roots to a beautiful highlight at ends. Think Sara Jessica Parker
HAIRCUTTING
Layers are self explanatory. The hair is cut at different lengths to create texture and movement in the hair.
Point Cutting creates softness to the general look of the cut.
Texturizing is when a hairdresser uses razors or sheers to help hair blend, add volume, and give haircuts a finished look.
Remember that to have an out-of-this-world experience at the salon, you need to be specific of what you want. Don’t be shy or embarrassed to voice your opinions, ask questions, and even use visuals to get your point across. Also, keep in mind to take home the products we used to recreate your finished look. There is a huge difference between products used at the salon and those you can buy at a grocery store. Though it may be a little extra money, it will leave you looking like you just left the salon…everyday!
We want you to leave happier and more beautiful than when you came in so anything we can do to help you leave satisfied, we’ll do.