4 mins
Take your BLONDE TO THE TOP
Blonde colouring services are the heartbeat of many salons, so understanding the challenges that come along with them are crucial. Here, L'Oréal Professionnel Paris pro colourists offer top tips to elevate your game!
Now more than ever women are choosing blonde shades to communicate confidence*. Consider this: blonde highlights and balayage are not only the most demanded service by current pro colourers, but they are also the top two services clients choose when returning to a salon after a lapsed period of time.* Therefore, it's now more important than ever that you brush up on your blonding skills.
Lightening
The challenges: One of the fundamental components of creating the ideal blonde is getting the lightening just right. Knowing what oxidant to mix or whether to use a paste or powder formulation are just a few considerations to think about before you start a lightening service. With the pro's expertise being a top reason for visiting the salon*, it's important to feel confident about the lightening process.
The solution: The Blond Studio range consists of a plethora of powders and pastes, as well as specialist Lighteners such as Clay, Multi-techniques 8 Bonder Inside and 9 levels, that will enable you to tackle clients' colour concerns, whilst creating a bespoke blonde result. Clay Lightening Powder provides a controlled and steady lift, and is ideal for creating predictable results, so is best suited to clients who desire a subtle, lightened look.
Karen Kennedy, Charlie Miller says, “I have lots of dark base clients that also want some sun-kissed flashes, so for me Blond Studio Clay is the perfect product. The clay texture makes the application easy and smooth to apply so it just glides on the hair. I love it, and my clients love it!"
Alternatively, James Lear, James Lear Hairdressing, adds, “Using Blond Studio 9 Levels has truly revolutionised my lightening game. It allows me to push the boundaries of lifting so much further than ever before. Any time that I feel uneasy about tackling a difficult job, for example someone with a dark base, previous colour or a long regrowth, I now tackle with confidence and ease.” And when it comes to choosing the right oxidant? “I always go low and slow with my developer – for me this is the best way to ensure the integrity of the hair condition," adds Barry Maddocks, Haringtons.
"I LOVE 9 LEVELS, IT’S MY GO TO LIGHTENER. I KNOW I CAN RELY ON IT TO DELIVER A SUPER CLEAN AND EVEN LIFT"
Undercoat
The challenges: When it comes to identifying the client's undercoat you will be working with, pros can be presented with challenges such as knowing the corresponding shade to choose to help neutralise warmth. Understanding undercoats is one of the most empowering things you can do to enhance your blonde toning skills and will allow you to feel confident in choosing the right shade.
The solution: To build upon your expertise with undercoats, L’Oréal Professionnel Paris’ popular E-learning level 6-10 Understanding Undercoats helps you achieve the perfect neutral result. If you’re currently lifting hair on a regular basis, whether through balayage, highlights or scalp application, and you want to obtain the perfect finish and eradicate brass, understanding the neutralisation process is imperative. Emma Graves, Andrew Mulvenna agrees: “Always remember to tone on the base you are working with, that will give you best results. Also, learn to really understand the colour wheel." By using the colour wheel, you can identify the type of warmth exposed and the necessary toner to neutralise this. “I always add a dot of warmth into my ash toners, the warmth stops the ash going too dull."
Toning
Take heed from the pros when it comes to toning correctly. “It’s vital that we check the hair is towel dried at the backwash before applying the toner – I’m a huge fan of pre-toning to make sure we have a really clean base to work on. Dia Light does this perfectly, whilst adding a beautiful shine,” explains Barry Maddocks, Haringtons. Alternatively Mark Creed, Idlewild states that his “desert island Dia Light shade is 10.21. It's the first, the last and complete everything in perfectly toning, glossing and perfecting all blonde hues."
" TOP TIP: MIX CLEAR INTO YOUR FORMULA. IT HELPS YOU CONTROL THE TONING PROCESS AND ADDS UNBELIEVABLE SHINE"
TIPS TO BOOST BLONDING BUSINESS
With high demand for blonde services, it’s all about driving frequency of appointments and managing client expectations…
“To drive frequency use toners. I always encourage my balayage clients to return for a toner top up 4 weeks after their appointment, it’s a great way to keep any unwanted tones from coming back whilst keeping the hair beautiful and shiny.” Barry Maddocks, Haringtons
“Balayage can last a while, but I personally would recommend a touch up every 3-4 months to keep it fresh and glossy, and to avoid any ‘brassy’ tones.” Giuseppe Stelitano, Trevor Sorbie
“I offer a baby balayage service in-between balayage appointments, which is essentially a few babylights around the face and a gloss to bring the colour back to life.” Emma Graves, Andrew Mulvenna
EDUCATION FOCUS: NEW BLONDE KEYS
Level up your lightening with the FREE e-learning: Intro to Blonde Keys. Increase confidence in all lightening scenarios, learn key applications and how to utilise the Blond Studio range. E-learning is available now** and the 2-day Academy course is available to book** at www.lorealaccess.com
✔ Consultation
✔ How lightening agents work
✔ Lightening applications
✔ High lift applications
✔ Correction applications
✔ Toning applications
*Colour U&A, September 2021, 2CV – females aged 16+, n= 4119
**AVAILABLE AS AT THE DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THIS MAGAZINE. E-LEARNINGS MAY BE SUBJECT TO WITHDRAWAL AT L'ORÉAL PROFESSIONNEL PARIS' DISCRETION
For more information on L’Oréal Professionnel Paris blonding services and products head to www.lorealpartnershop.com