Avoiding Hair Color Mistakes
By Taylor James Stylist
Fantastic Sam ' s Cut & Color, League City Pkwy
When it comes to getting a new hair color, you can do everything right; from stalking Pinterest for the perfect balayage reference pic, to eating beanie weenies for a week so you can afford that upcoming appointment you’ ve been dreaming about. All that effort, and you can still walk out of the salon feeling underwhelmed. If you’ re ready to put an end to the disappointment, this article is for you! There are common coloring pitfalls that you don’ t even know you’ re making. From picking the wrong shade for your skin tone, to color placement that doesn’ t flatter your face shape. Here’ s what not to do...
Bad color placement: This is where highlights are not strategically placed throughout the client’ s hair to suit their facial shape, hair texture and length. To avoid this make sure you have a thorough consultation with your stylist. Talk to them about how you can accentuate your face shape. A lot of times clients don’ t realize a couple pops of color could really change their whole look! Ask for suggestions- your stylist is a trained professional, and when you find the right one they will never steer you wrong!
Dodgy ombrés: This technique is usually done free hand, and let’ s face it- humans c a n m a k e m i s t a k e s. T h e m o s t c o m m o n being a lack of blending, causing a less than desirable outcome. When done well though, it can look like a heavenly blend of tones hugging your head! Always ask to see some of your potential stylists work, or better yet, check out their webpage and browse at home. Stylist’ s tend to post the work they do the best at, so if a stylist has tons of beautifully melted together colors displayed you can feel good about sitting in their chair!
Color bands: This faux pas is essentially when a colorist hasn’ t quite matched your roots to your mid-shaft and ends, creating an unbalanced and disjointed finish. When you’ re paying money for a hair service always make certain you are getting what you paid for! Analyze your end result! Use their hand mirror to check out the back! Don’ t feel like you’ re being picky, when a stylist realizes you truly care about the work they’ ve put into your hair it can really make their day!
Bleeds: This isn’ t when a stylist snips your ear, it’ s when color expands while in a foil. It can happen if too much product is used, or if the foil isn’ t properly folded. Ultimately it leads to the color overflowing( bleeding) out from the foil onto parts of your hair it wasn’ t intended for. Not a good look! Take your time after you get foils and look through all of your hair to check and make sure you don’ t become a hair victim! On the bright side, it is usually an easy fix.
Bad toning: Toner usually takes place after a lightening service. It creates an equal blend to all lightened hair. Make sure you are asking for the tone that suits your personal skin tone. Just because platinum blonde highlights look good on Sally doesn’ t mean they’ re right for you! Don’ t be scared to wear warmer tones! Most people don’ t like brassiness in their hair, but really it can be very complementing on the right skin tones! If you prefer wearing gold opposed to silver, it’ s probably because it looks better on you. This means you look good with warmer tones. If you prefer silver to gold, you’ re probably cool toned and will look better with blue / violet undertones in your locks! If you have no clue, just ask your stylist! That’ s why you’ re sitting in their chair!