To Tap, Smudge or Melt By Kristie Mesic

Root tap, root smudge, root melt! You may have heard your clients ask for these a lot lately. Do they really know what these techniques are or have they just heard these buzz words on their socials and decided it’s now a must have?

So many questions, but the most important thing you need to understand is WHY are you choosing a particular technique? Once we know the why we can navigate the how.

Let’s look at each technique:

ROOT TAP:

Why: For blondes that want to feel as light a possible but like a very slight shadow to soften the overall look.These clients are still a high maintenance client and will probably still be having their colour done every 6-8 weeks. A root tap will soften a colour but won’t turn it into a low maintenance colour. How: Apply foils in the application pattern you would usually use for that client. Once your foils have been processed and rinsed, apply a semi-permanent colour product that is the same level as your client’s natural colour to a 1cm area of the root. Allow this to process.

ROOT SMUDGE:

Why: For clients who like to see lightness and brightness, but also suit a deeper root colour to complement their skin tone. When the correct processing time for the root smudge has been allowed, this technique can assist a client into becoming a lower maintenance colour. However, remember these colours are semipermanent so they will fade out; but that’s perfect and what we want. As the semi starts to fade out and the underneath colour starts to peep back through, the natural regrowth would have started to appear and erase the need for an artificial root shadow, hence making it low maintenance. How: A root smudge technique can be applied over a foiling client or a freehand balayage client, depending on the individual desired result. I change between foiling my client as normal or using a freehand balayage technique. I love a root smudge result over foils personally. Once your lightening work has been processed and rinsed, apply your root smudge from roots to the desired length down the hair. I normally apply to about 3cm down, depending on the desired result. If you want to leave more lightness, then apply higher around the hairline. Remember to smudge with fingers and comb down for a flawless blend. If you have placed a money piece, make sure you leave this out until the last few minutes of processing, and apply a slight tap to this section (or for a bolder money piece, no tap at all!)

ROOT MELT:

Why: This technique is for clients who love the lives in look of regrowth or a true balayage look. For me this technique is perfect for brunettes or clients wanting a colour with only a small variance in tonal levels. Colours that are more contrasting will still work but are more of a fashion look. How: I like to go straight in with a balayage technique for the foundation work, always ensuring balance by leaving at least two thirds of lighter lengths to one third of deeper root melt. This normally allows the melt to frame around the eye level. It is a perfect technique to draw attention to your clients’ eyes and make them a focal point. You may be thinking if you have already completed a balayage technique why is there a need for a root melt? Although the first zone is already a darker level and blended, adding a root melt allows that darker hair to be refreshed, as well as presents the opportunity to deepen the natural level in that area or change the tonal reflect.

With each of these techniques always remember to blend the root application with the gloss/ toner being applied to the rest of the hair. This ensures a flawless blend.

Each of these techniques are great additions to a colourists toolbox BUT, a hairdresser should never use or adapt these techniques into a service in an attempt to hide sub-par foiling or balayage foundations.

Yes, these techniques will in fact do that but DO NOT use these as a band aid fix, or an excuse for lazy colour work. To achieve the maximum effect and longevity of these additions, the foundation of all colour work needs to be flawless just as you would do if you weren’t using one of these second process techniques.

Always remember that taps, smudges and melts will fade out. If you have used them to cover up bad foundation work, it will eventually be exposed. Have pride in your work, lay out the foundations and use these wonderful techniques purely for their intended result and purpose.