Lightened Hair Care
Whether you’ve gone for a banging blonde, or just a bit lighter than your natural, lightened hair has its own rules. Here’s how to get the best out of your new colour.
FIRST UP
You’ve got to let that colour really take hold. Don’t wash your hair (or get it wet) for 3 days. If you’re feeling greasy, attack your hair with dry shampoo – spray it on your roots, wait 30 seconds and brush it through.
WASHING
Washing your hair in cold water is best practice. Hot water opens the cuticle, and lets that colour leave your hair much faster. But lets be real, no one likes a cold shower. While you’re washing or wetting your hair, have the water as cool as you can handle.
Always use the shampoo and conditioner recommended by your stylist. We carry the products that work best with your hair colour, using other products can strip your colour out faster than you can say boo!
Less is more! That toner that gives you your custom colour will fade with ever wash. Think of it like chalk on a pavement – it will stay for a while, but it it rains – its gone! The less you wash it or wet it, the longer it will last. (bonus tip – invest in a shower cap to keep moisture away from your hair in every day showers)
Your hair has been through it to get that colour, you need to support it! Use the bond builder recommended by your stylist. We recommend using it every third wash.
Your hair is also going to feel mighty dry after all that work, throwing a treatment masque in your hair every second wash gives your hair an extra moisture boost and makes your hair feel soft and luxe. For extra colour boost, we can add your custom colour into the masque for you, keeping your colour fresher longer!
If you want to keep away from warm tones in your hair (brassy/yellow/golden tones) a purple shampoo or conditioner is going to be your best friend. Don’t use it ever wash – it can build up in your hair! It’s a use it when you need it type thing.
DRYING
Letting your hair air dry is always best practice for the health of your locks, but not everyone has the luxury of time it takes!
Before blow drying your hair, use gentle dusting of a moisture spray (don’t go ham here!) and a blowdry spray or cream. This will help reduce frizz and protect your hair from heat damage – which brings us to our next point….
HEAT
Heat is the killer of colour! Always use a thermal protector when using straighteners, hot rollers, crimpers or a curling wand. If you’re applying heat to your hair in any way – make sure you protect it! One swipe with that straightener without thermal protector and that beautiful custom tone we’ve created for you can disappear before your eyes!
If you can, get heat tools with adjustable heat settings, and keep the heat on low. 180-190 degrees (or the low setting) is optimal.
BRUSHING
We’re always as gentle as possible when we’re lightening your hair, but your hair is more brittle than it was before colouring. Be gentle and patient when you’re brushing! If you’ve got some knots: separate your hair into smaller sections, start with small strokes from the bottom of the hair with a light touch (combing or brushing in a downward motion), and then work your way up the hair. It’s going to take longer, but you wont break the hair! (Which inevitably causes frizz).
Hair is like spaghetti (no, this isn’t a crude joke) its hard to snap when its dry, but will easily stretch and break when it’s wet. Avoid brushing or combing your hair when its wet. If you need to (some situations are unavoidable) use your fingers to comb your hair (gently!) or a wide tooth comb.
STYLING
Product is your best friend to getting the look you want! Talk. To your stylist about the look you want to achieve, and we will show you how to achieve it and the best products to use for your style and your colour.
We talked about heat styling earlier, but how do you get that style to stay?? Let the hair cool completely before you touch it – once the hair is cold (and the hydrogen bonds have set) your style is locked in. Disturb the hair while its cooling (by touching it with your hands, brushing it or moving it around) and your disturbing the setting process and undo all that time you spent with your arms above your head.
Pesky fly always ruining your day? Spray a little hair spray on your finger tips and run them gently over the top of your hair – barely touching.
If you’re feeling like your hair is feeling a little lackluster or dull, a light serum or gloss spray is perfect to finish off your style – think of it as concealer for your hair – its not going to make your hair healthier, but it will make it look flawless.
YOUR HAIR CARE REGIME
Wet hair thoroughly – shampoo works best with lots of water!
Squeeze a small amount of shampoo into your wet hands (about the size of a 20 cent piece) and rub your hands together until you get a nice lather.
Spread the shampoo around your scalp
Rub like you’re in a shampoo ad – remember, you’re shampooing your head, not your hair!
Rinse thoroughly!
Shampoo twice
Wring out your hair – get as much of the water out as you can – water will dilute your conditioner or masque and make it less effective
Apply your bond builder when needed (follow the instructions on the bottle for this one!) leave for 5-20 minutes (or over night if you’re game to sleep in a shower cap)
Rinse (and shampoo if directed)
Squeeze out that moisture again
Apply your Treatment Masque (when required) or conditioner leave in your hair for 2-5 minutes. Apply it only to your mid lengths & ends (this is at least 2cm from your scalp). You don’t need conditioner on your scalp, the ski produces its own sebum which moisturises the first 2cm of hair.
Gently wring your hair, then towel dry by squeezing – never rub!
Apply your leave in moisture product and styling product as recommended by your stylist
Style those smashing locks!
