If you select links we provide, we may receive compensation.
The allure of stretching out the time between professional touch-ups is often too powerful to ignore.
And, like any moth-to-a-flame reflex, the stakes are also much higher.
@christappleton1/ Instagram
“I stay in touch with my clients and will troubleshoot their individual situations,” she says.
“My advice would be to communicate with your colorist and get their recommendation.
They know you and your hair.”
Team Byrdie loves the MatrixTotal Results So Silver Maskand the Kristin EssSignature Gloss in Winter Wheat.
That means you have one color program, rinse, and you’re done.
Normally,single-processis best for an allover change or forroot touch-upstoconceal gray hair.
FYI: These can only be used to darken your hair or change the tone.
So, at least, that rules out one of the many potential risks.
If choosing a peroxide, Carhart says to keep it “low, low, low!”
“We can’t reattach your hair if it’s been broken off!”
“If your hair is naturally darker (medium brown to black), use 20 volume.”
Choose Your Method
There are a lot of ways to physically highlight the hair.
None of that is going to happen for a home tool.
Techniques like balayage and backcombing are meant to lighten the ends and highlight all over.
Plus, with those techniques, you don’t need to have your ends touched up much at all.
Your hair probably looks good."
Remember: This tutorial is the last resort to save you between visits.
You will only be dealing with your roots.
With that in mind, Carhart suggests using a foil technique for bleaching.
The amount of time you leave it on will be dependent upon your colorist’s advice.
Again, we emphasize not getting started with a single-process color just because it seems easy and straightforward.
If you’ve purchased your own materials, mix your bleach and peroxide into a thick but blended consistency.
You don’t want it to be too runny or soupy.
see to it your gloves are on even while mixing.
If bleach touches the skin, it will burn.
Before you do this, check that your hair is clean.
If you do a strand test, specifically with bleach, be sensitive to maintaining your foil placement.
“I would just fire up the foil slightly and look at it.
When it looks yellow or pale yellow, its ready.
The quickness or slowness of the chemical reaction will depend entirely on the individual,” she explains.
“Typically, light hair lifts faster, and dark hair lifts slower.”
It sounds like a lot of extra work, and it is!
“Only highlight the ‘T-zone’ where you part your hair and around the face.”
That back section can basically be clipped away safely.
“The parting area and hairline are the only working zones.
Sectioning is only meant to keep your work area clean and organized.
Start wherever your natural parting is, either on the side or down the middle.
“Begin by slicing super fine sections (like, see-through!)
using your tail comb to weave some pieces of hair out,” says Carhart.
Place the thinly sectioned hairs onto your foil and stretch them down taut against your head.
You want it to be rich and thick but still spread out into an even layer.
You shouldn’t need too much since the sections you’re working with are so fine.
“ensure to saturate, but not over-saturate.
Don’t be too shy with saturation, either.
If your software isn’t saturated, you’ll have a splotchy, spotty-looking bleach job.
The most important part of applying your bleach is to ensure it does not touch the scalp.
If bleach touches the scalp or skin, rinse the area immediately.
If you find any hard-to-reach areas, Carhart simply says, “Don’t do them.”
This is the secret sauce that eliminates brassiness and other unwanted tones to help you reach your desired outcome.
When it comes to your toner, “keep it simple,” says Carhart.
“Ideally I would try and take the foils out at a place where you dont need a toner.
If your hair is blonde, this is much easier.
You wait until the highlights are a pretty color, and then you take the foils off.
If youre a brunette, you better pay closer attention.”
The overlap could cause a funky color spot or potential breakage.
The potential of leaving the bleach on too long could also create a problem for your toning approach.
The color you want to see before you remove the foils to rinse is yellow.
After the bleach has been thoroughly rinsed out, you’ll apply your toner.
Turn to your conditioner after your toner is completely rinsed out and you’ve shampooed your hair.
That way, you don’t have to put yourself at risk of pulling the foils off too late.
Blue conditioners will help neutralize the warmth if your hair pulls more orange or yellow.
Otherwise, any deep conditioning treatment will work.
Virtue’sRestorative Treatment Maskis another great option and will help restore your hair from the inside out.
Keep up this treatment until you lose that straw-like feeling when shampooing.
Blow Dry and Cross Check
Now it’s time to see your best efforts in action.
Blow dry around the hairline and part first, even if you didn’t do a bleach-and-tone.
