RADIANT REDS
“Women think that going one shade all over is better than highlights, but a single-process blonde often ends up looking brassy,” explains Robinson, whose clients include Michelle Williams. Highlights help keep your hair from looking too yellow or orange. WHAT’S MODERN NOW: Pros are buzzing about baby lights, a highlighting technique in which fine, natural-looking colour is placed around the hairline. “They freshen everything up in a soft and subtle way,” says Cunningham. To get this look right, start blending the colour an inch from your roots. SKIN-TONE SECRET: Fair complexions look best with a medium-to-dark-blonde base and baby-blonde highlights, says Zand. If your skin is medium with gold undertones, consider caramel blonde lowlights. For dark tones, stay away from anything too light. Go for deep caramel and keep the brightest hues far from your face, advices Robin. STYLE TIP: “Don’t attempt to go platinum,” says Robinson, unless your hair is collarbonelength or shorter. “It will damage your hair, and it can look cheap,” adds Zand, who also urges caution when highlighting short blonde locks. “It can look like you have tiger stripes in the back.” The longer your hair, the more dimension that’s required, so ask for highlights or lowlights. Also, heat styling and blonde hair don’t mix well. Goddard encourages her clients to rough-dry their strands thoroughly, since cumulative damage from hot tools “can fry lightened hair,” she says. Hydrate your tresses with Original & Mineral Conquer Blonde Silver Shampoo, then use Redken Blonde Idol Sulfate-Free Shampoo a few times a week. MAINTENANCE: “Blonde hair can go brassy when everything is lifted too high,” says Zand. Keep your base darker, and add lightness with highlights to maintain depth. If the sun is the culprit, tone down brassiness with an in-salon gloss. Warning: The blonder you go, the higher the maintenance. “Think of blonde hair as a white T-shirt,” says Robinson. “The more you wash it, the more discoloured it becomes.” GLOSSY BLONDES SKIN-TONE SECRET: Those with fair complexions with pink undertones may want to try an icy strawberry blonde by adding neutral copper tones. Pale but warmer-skinned? “You’ll look best with golden apricot,” says colourist Rona O’Connor, who works with Debra Messing. For medium skin, go mahogany instead of copper. Kevin Woo, founder of Centro Hair Salon, likes L’Oréal Professionnel Majirel for non-bleached red dyes that still come up strong in hue and sustainability. STYLE TIP: It’s crucial for those with short red hair to have multi-tones and dimension. For longer hair, one colour looks chic. MAINTENANCE: “The biggest issues for redheads are dull ends and looking washed out,” says O’Connor. Maintain luminosity with an in-salon demi-permanent gloss every four to five weeks to replenish colour. At home, prevent fading with Percy & Reed Perfectly Perfecting Wonder Cleanse & Nourish and Pureology Reviving Red Shamp’Oil and Reflective Condition.
BEST FOR BLONDES
DI D YOU K N L’Oréal
O Professionnel Pro Fiber Reconstruct W Masque is great for ? revitalising overly damaged and over
processed hair.
L’Oréal Professionnel
Pro Fiber Reconstruct Masque, RM102 (200ml)