Colour cues

style notes Salon secrets:

BLONDE AMBITION

Going lighter as the weather warms up is hardly a new concept, but if you’re colouring at home, there’s an art to ensuring you don’t damage your hair in the process. Here’s how to lighten your locks safely

MONEY PIECES

One of the most popular and least damaging methods for going blonde right now involves lightening a small, concentrated section of the hair rather than taking an all-over approach.

“Money pieces and face-framing highlights are very much on trend,” celebrity hairstylist and make-up artist Hayley Dutton says. “There are so many ways to achieve this technique, which is why a reference image is so important.

“If you are confident with lightening products and feel like giving it a whirl, Clairol have a product called the Nice’N Easy Frost & Tip, where you can pop on a cap and pull through pieces of hair and control how much you want to lighten.”

BABYLIGHTS

After the Y2K revival sparked the return of chunky ribbon highlights, this season sees a softer approach to foils, with babylights a top method for achieving a seamless blonde.

“Babylights are popular because they offer a much finer finish,” Hayley says.

“This is achieved by highlighting more sections of the hair, which creates a more natural, sun-kissed look. It’s a more precise method compared to freehand highlighting.

“Babylights can also be integrated into other highlighting looks such as a balayage to create further dimension.”

PLATINUM TONES

When Kim Kardashian went bottle blonde for the Met Gala earlier this year, it sparked a platinum ambition among the masses.

But is the high maintenance hair shade even achievable?

“I mean, anything is doable, right? Going platinum is probably the biggest hair commitment you can make,” Hayley says.

“Before going platinum blonde from home, consider how dark your hair is currently. Realistically, you can only lift your hair five shades lighter from what you are now.”

If protecting your hair’s integrity is important to you, Hayley suggests a staggered approach where you gradually lighten the hair, with two to three weeks between each session.

“If you’ve coloured your hair prior to this, colour remover might be required in order to start the lightening process with a clean base,” she says.

AFTERCARE

An often overlooked step in going lighter is how you care for your hair post-lightening.

“All Clairol semi-permanent and permanent colour packs include a treatment or conditioner to use straight after treatment and a few weeks later to ensure you are on top of that hydration and care,” Hayley says.

“Treatments are imperative for blondes; dry and damaged hair really needs some love. I always recommend a protein-based treatment to assist in rebuilding (clients’) hair and restoring strength and softness.”

“Before going platinum blonde from home, consider how dark your hair is currently. Realistically, you can only lift your hair five shades lighter from what you are now.”

— Hayley Dutton

WE LIKE Garnier Olia Max Bleach, $16.99; Clairol Natural Instincts 9 Light Blonde, $13.99; Vitality’s V Vegan Colour Light Ash Blonde 8/1 100ml, $14.99; Vitality’s V Vegan Colour Activator 18 Vol 500ml, $7.99

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