Do you know the hair color buzz words?

When you are looking on the internet and see all those terms listed for the new trends do you wonder what the heck? How am I supposed to know what I want or even how to ask for it?

Well let me bring you a few terms today to help you understand what your hairstylist is referring to or what to ask for. There are so many but lets stick with dimensional color options today. So just to clarify that will mean there will be either foil or painting involved.

Traditional Highlights

Highlights are the heavy hitter for pretty much anyone wanting to go lighter. It is selecting some strands and lightening with hair color or lightner and can vary in width and amount. Traditionally this is done with foils and the highlighting cap. This method is often the fastest application and can be soft ribbons of color or extremely bold. And most often this application goes the closest to the root.

Babylights

This technique is one where very fine, delicate sections are woven to create extremely natural looking highlights. If this is your first time having this service it is also very time consuming to section so expect to take longer to go through the application process. But the grow-out can be so natural and seamless that you can go months and months between color applications if you wish.

Balayage

This is often thought of as a “look” from clients. But all balayage simply means hand painted. The process requires using either open air processing or to use cellophane to allow it to process a little lighter. The panting can be very natural to extremely large panels that are beautiful and dramatic.

Air Touch

This is a newer technique that I love to use when doing baby lights for certain clients. A blow dryer is used before placing the foil and it allows all the newer shorter hairs that fall out to be left natural. It is a super soft way to add color and looks super natural.

Color Melt

A color melt is when you use all over color and use different formulas to create a variation of color. This can be done in panels or all over. Usually you will apply the darkest color at the root then apply a middle color then a lighter color on the ends. So you will have at least 2 colors and can have more. This is the more modern shift from an ombré and is a super soft color transition and can look very intense or soft and natural.

Face Framing/ Contouring

This can be done with a traditional foil service, balayage or as a stand along service. The goal is the select the finest of sections in the front hairline to create the effect of your hair being in a pony tail all summer. It can be soft and natural or more dramatic.

Illuminating

Adding shine and gloss to the hair is one of the super powers of hair color. You can add babylights to the top of the hair and add a glisten to just a few sections. Or use an all over gloss to the hair which is a clear semi-permanent color.

Shadow Root & Lowlights

Adding lowlights or shadowing will allow your blonde to pop. When there is no depth to the hair it can look lifeless and a few shadows in strategic places can add amazing dimension. The shadow root pictured here allows you to have highlights all the way to the roots. Then a darker semi permanent color is added just at the root to darken the highlights to allow the grow out to be softer.

Refining, Glaze, Toner

After a lightening service your stylist may need to adjust the tone of your hair that it lifts to with lightner. Or once you have been out in the sun all month your color can fade a bit. This service allows the complete customization of your hair. We can remove unwanted warmth (aka too gold) or create a custom peachy, carmel, champagne, mushroom and so many more custom tones. Just keep in mind that you will need to refresh your glaze every 4-6 weeks for optimum color retention.

There are so many more terms that I could keep going. But these are some of the most popular today. That is why I love my job so much. There is so much variation and ways to play with hair and your imagination is the limits.

Have you heard one not mentioned above or want more details on another new technique drop me a comment below.