Today, highlights are nothing like the chunky stripes
you had back in high school. If looking back at your yearbook photos
has traumatized you enough to swear off highlights, the color technique
of adding dimension to your hair has come a long way since the
afternoons you spent at the salon with your hair wrapped in foils.
[post_ads_2]
Following in the footsteps of ombré and balayage is color melting, an even more subtle approach to highlighting your hair. Unlike balayage, this technique doesn't use two colors. Instead, the colorist will add more of one to create a seamless finish.
RELATED: How to Use a Root Touch-Up Kit Without Ruining Your Color
This [color melting] is similar to regular balayage only with an added color melt or root-fade done after," explains celebrity hair colorist and Olaplex ambassador, Chad Kenyon who works with Ashley Tisdale and Rachel Keller. "With the melt we’re not so interested in having those stark 'pops' of light around the face. They’re there, but instead of being so obvious they're underneath the color melt in a more iridescent, glowing way."
"I first make sure that the face-frame is completely
balayaged and 'light' because this ultimately gives a super fresh look
by lighting the face with visual upward mobility," says Kenyon. "It's
strobing on the hair (think makeup
contouring with light, not dark for the hair). Next, make sure that I
balayage the mid-lengths and ends to create a super sun-kissed look with
fewer threads of light toward the base/roots." Once the balayage is
complete, he goes in to apply the color melt. He finishes by rinsing the
balayage lightener, and applying a shade between the roots and top
balayage shade at the roots. "I leave it on for three to five minutes
and take my special Goldbrush and Brush the applied color through the
client's hair to the ends."
The technique, which works well on all hair colors,
is the *perfect* option for freshening up your highlights for fall'a
transitional weather because of its soft, warm finish. " A lot of my
clients don't want to do balayage right away after the summer," says
Kenyon. "I can simply do a color melt, which melts the root into the top
part of the balayage, and it buys us some time. The deeper root also is
a nice, soft, alluring look for fall-winter. "
[post_ads_2]
Following in the footsteps of ombré and balayage is color melting, an even more subtle approach to highlighting your hair. Unlike balayage, this technique doesn't use two colors. Instead, the colorist will add more of one to create a seamless finish.
RELATED: How to Use a Root Touch-Up Kit Without Ruining Your Color
This [color melting] is similar to regular balayage only with an added color melt or root-fade done after," explains celebrity hair colorist and Olaplex ambassador, Chad Kenyon who works with Ashley Tisdale and Rachel Keller. "With the melt we’re not so interested in having those stark 'pops' of light around the face. They’re there, but instead of being so obvious they're underneath the color melt in a more iridescent, glowing way."
[post_ads_2]
[post_ads_2]
If you want to give color melting a try this fall,
ask your colorist for the highlighting technique by name, or a
shadowed-root. Bringing along reference photos will also help your
colorist understand the exact look you're after.
Even better: maintaining color-melted highlights is
just as effortless as the dye job looks. Kenyon says to run a dry oil
through your strands every time you moisturize your face, and to reach
for dry shampoo instead of over-shampooing your hair, which can lead to
fading.
[post_ads_2]
He also recommends spritzing one of his Ombré Highlight Sprays (available at Ramirez|Tran Salon
in Beverly Hills) to boost your color. "You can spray in your own color
melt along with a blend of argon oil, Moonstone Extract and other
hair-nurturing ingredients that will keep your hair hydrated and shiny
even after you shampoo away the shimmery, glistening color melt," he
says.
