What's the difference?
Ever been so confused about colour? Well keep reading and you will become a colour guru!
Ok so there are many techniques out there to colour your hair it all depends on what you want your hair to look like. Always think about maintenance when choosing a particular colour in general. Your mane will look good for 2/3 days after we have worked our magic but after that you're on your own with home maintenance..... unless you come in for regular weekly maintenance appointments or a general blowdry.
Always ask your hairdresser for their advice. They are the professionals and you are asking them to whip up a look you are in awe of!
Highlights:
What are highlights? They are basically just that. Highlights add a highlighted affect to your hair giving you what we call dimension. Instead of applying the colour to the whole head of hair we are picking/weaving out sections and leaving some of the natural hair out (dimension). You do tend to get a regrowth with highlights and they aren't as close to the roots as maybe babylights would probably be. What you need to consider is whether you can maintain this look by commiting yourself to 6-8 weekly appointments to touch up your regrowth. Some of you may be able to get away with 12 weeks regrowth depending on the contrast. Sometimes you may need a toner to neutralise any unwanted tones so you may find you will need to come in sooner than 8 weeks to refresh the tone.
Babylights:
Babylights are micro fine weaved sections that hardly leave any natural hair out. This look will give a more brighter/blondor look and practically colours the whole head. The upkeep for babylights can be more high maintenance depending on regrowth and colour fade. You can add a root melt to give it that lived in look so maintenance isn't so high, however as this is a toner applied over lightened hair you will still need to come back in for a refresh every 6-8 weeks depending on how much your hair grows and how long the toner lasts.
Home care advice:
If you want great looking hair you need to use great products. Both colour techniques will require a colour shampoo and conditioner. I would also recommend a mask to use as a weekly treatment. Here are my recommendations:
So silver - works well on yellow/warm tones to give it that icy blonde look.
Colour obsessed - works well on all coloured hair to help keep it shiny and moisturised, preventing colour fade.
Keep me vivid - works well to lock in colour and prevent colour fade.
Brass off - works well on orange/brassy tones to help neutralise unwanted warmth.
I also like to recommend a hair oil to help protect the hair and inject some goodness into the hair structure. I like to use the Matrix - Exsquisite oil which can be used prior to shampooing the hair to act as a treatment, on damp hair as a styling product or on dry hair as a general boost to the hair/finishing product to add shine and moisture.
Essentially all colour shampoos and conditioners work to help prevent colour fade and protect the hair's internal structure all while maintaining shine. Always use professional products as supermarket brands can contain silicone and parabens. Always choose styling products that are suitable for the look you want to go for, ie. avoid using a mousse for curly hair if you don't want that crisp look. Instead use a cream or balm based product to give you more flexible curls with that added shine and smoothness. When choosing styling products use something with a heat protector in and finish off with a finishing product. Applying products in the hair actually help protect your hair from external damage and harsh environments. All in all this will help your colour to look on point. It's not just about slapping on a bit of colour and hoping for the best. We want to care for you hair by looking after your hair health. We want you to walk out that door feeling gorgeous and confident. We want to give you homecare advice that you can follow easily to maintain your fresh locks in-between salon visits.
Now you know the difference, what will you choose?
The Secret Salon x
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