Peekaboo, y'all.
By Rebecca Norris, Allure
At this point, being the hair-color fanatics that we are, we’ve seen it all. [Rainbow prism hair](https://www.allure.com/story/rainbow-prism-hair, hidden rainbow layers beneath office-friendly facades — we've even gone crazy for glitter-infused balayage. But, today Russia-based hairstylist Nanameuw’s rainbow masterpiece is what's got our attention. Unlike other hidden rainbow layers, Nanameuw’s work features an equally bold top layer to conceal the expertly-colored ROYGBIV goodness beneath. Obviously, we wanted to know more.
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At this point, being the hair-color fanatics that we are, we’ve seen it all. [Rainbow prism hair](https://www.allure.com/story/rainbow-prism-hair, hidden rainbow layers beneath office-friendly facades — we've even gone crazy for glitter-infused balayage. But, today Russia-based hairstylist Nanameuw’s rainbow masterpiece is what's got our attention. Unlike other hidden rainbow layers, Nanameuw’s work features an equally bold top layer to conceal the expertly-colored ROYGBIV goodness beneath. Obviously, we wanted to know more.
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“Whenever dyeing in bright colors, I always start with bleaching the hair,” Nanameuw tells Allure. “For this look, it is very important to first whiten the hair along the length, and only then applying the bleaching powder to the roots, so that the background of clarification is uniform throughout the length of the hair.” She points out that whenever clarifying her bleached base, she only ever uses 2 percent and 3 percent oxide to keep the hair in good condition throughout the coloring process.
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Once she created the perfect white base for this look, she moved on to coloring by first dividing the hair into sections and pinning the top section of hair out of the way to give direct access to the hidden layer. “Starting at the occipital area, I applied each color of the paint very carefully with a narrow brush to dry hair so the color doesn’t flow,” she says.
[post_ads]She further explains that, when creating a style like this, she makes sure to only use a 3cm brush so as to not stain the wrong parts of the hair. She prefers to paint the whole layer moving from one color to the next, as opposed to clipping each section out of the way. “After all the elements of the rainbow are painted, I neatly fold them together,” she says. “I like when strands of different colors touch, as it allows the shades to make a soft gradient.” Once the hidden rainbow was folded and protected, Nanameuw unclipped the top layer and hand-painted it with that bold purple hue.
If you want to try your hand at this hair color or explain to a professional how to recreate this look, but are afraid that ultra-precise painting may be too much of a task, take colorist Rachel Bodt’s advice and go section by section. “To create a look like this, I would recommend doing one color at a time, allowing it to process and then rinsing it so it doesn’t bleed,” she tells Allure. “I would then wrap the section in foil or plastic to further prevent bleeding before moving on to the next section.”
[post_ads]Now, if you decide to take the plunge and get this kind of dye job, remember that, as with any color-treated style, you’ll need to switch up your hair-care routine. “To maintain color for longer, it is important to use a balm with a low pH,” Nanameuw says. “It smooths the cuticle of the hair, so the hair color isn’t washed out as quickly.”
In addition to balancing your pH, she recommends adding masks to your weekly routine and insists on using thermal protection. “Doing this will allow you to keep the hair in good quality, and the [healthier] the hair, the better the color keeps.” If you want to take your hair-care routine a step further to preserve your expertly-dyed crown, Bodt recommends heading to the salon once a month or every six weeks to get each section glazed for a color boost that will extend the life of your look.
See more at: Allure
