INSPIRE

Van Gogh wrote, "Inspiration exists, but it has to find us working." What do you think he meant? I don't imagine that 'Starry Night' came to him while he lazied around in bed till noon. Likely, it found him whilst looking up at the sky drunk with questions, self doubt, love and the need to create. He was searching. Inspiration found him...working.

How does inspiration find you? It  finds me when ever I allow my mind to give in to something greater than myself, which usually comes in the form art. Lucky for me, my work is art. So needless to say, I am always inspired at work. 

To me, hair is such an art. I am constantly looking for ways to create shape, color, texture, and style. Hair is architecture, sculpture, painting, and movement. It allows me to harness design concepts and create something new and different each and every time. I find inspiration for new hair ideas when I look at the textures of trees in winter vs. summer or seascapes of waves crashing. I see and feel inspiration all the time and with the onset of Spring, I can almost hear it knocking on the door with it's cool, blonde hand. I am so excited to shift from warm reds, violets and dark chocolaty browns to the cool colors of spring and summer! I can't wait to create messy layers, playful textures and highlights that resemble white sandy beaches or that cool auburn sunbeam blasting through your iced tea.

So what specifically does that look like? Well, it looks like Summertime and Hawaii got married and had a love child named, Balayage. Whether you're a natural shade of blonde, dark brown, ginger or anything in between, balayage is where it's at. It's how you get those perfect ribbons of natural sun-kissed pieces throughout. It creates depth and texture, it's low maintenance, the grow-out is easy peasy and you have more creative control with color placement which makes it a tailored fit. Best of all, it's very natural looking. That's not to say that a foiled highlight can't offer you extraordinary results; they're just different. Like dark vs. milk chocolates. Both are delicious. Also, you don't have to go crazy with the bright blonde highlights either. I'm naturally a dark brown and I LOVE my rich caramel colored balayage (blended with old foiled highlights). The contrast of my natural color against the ribbons of caramel look super natural and melted. But if one WERE to go crazy with the blonde... well, go big or go home! Platinum is back (says I)! If you're thinking of rocking platinum blonde this summer then you're my hero and I want to live vicariously thought you. Ha! Seriously though, for those about to rock, I salute you!

Without further adieu, let's take a look at some balayage, foiled highlights and platinum in action. You'll see many variations of tones on a wide range of natural base colors. Long hair, short hair, cropped hair, shaggy hair, braided hair, curled hair, layered hair, shaved hair... all showcasing stunning and gorgeous highlights. My inspiration for this Spring. 

The 5 golden rules of going blond...according to a brunette.

Blond. Le sigh..... It's beautiful. It's friggin' envious! Maybe the grass is always greener on the other side, but maybe it's just greener where you water it? Well, if you're thinking about watering your grass with bleach, there are five golden rules that are really important to consider when making the decision to go blond. 

Number 1 - Be patient!   

First thing's first: know your level. I'm a level 3, dark brown. Natural hair color can be described by a number! A color scale from 1 to 12 (12 being the lightest possible blond and 1 being black) can help you find your magical number. This scale is like the universal language of math, but for hair stylists. It's rare that anyone over the age of 16 actually has a level lighter than a 7. Generally, the lighter the natural color, the easier it is. If you fall between a 5 and a 7, you're a great candidate. Level 3 is dark brown and makes it quite a bit more challenging to achieve a natural looking blond. However, if a level 3 were absolutely determined to do it, well... where there's a will, there's a way. The most important thing to keep in mind if you're dark is that it's NOT going to happen in a single step. Be patient! If you care at all about preserving the structural integrity of your hair, you should do it in a muilt-step process. Begin with a full foil of highlights. Tone the highlights if necessary to a more desirable and natural caramel blond. Give your hair a few weeks to recover. Then get a partial foil of highlights to add more blond with multi dimensional shades. The second process will be a hugely noticeable step from the first, revealing way more blond. If necessary, and it very well could be, a third partial foil may be required, or maybe just a balayage. The third step covers up any remaining dark hair while also touching up existing blond. This milti-step process allows your hair to recover from the bleach, giving you time to do conditioning treatments to restore proteins. It also allows your stylist to help get you the most natural looking and precise blond that you want. Foils certainly aren't the only way to get a beautiful blond though. Balayage and ombres can also deliver gorgeous results. Are you going platinum? A multistep process over a more prolonged period of time is strongly suggested. 

Number 2 - Know your blond budget

Going blond requires maintenance! If you're going to do it, make sure that you can afford the upkeep every 4 to 12 weeks, depending on the desired blond and your existing natural level. Remember, the lighter you naturally are the easier it is. Thus, less maintenance is requiered. Retouches aren't the only maintenance required, however... this leads us to the wonderful world of product.

Number 3 - Be ready to upgrade

Typically, going blond requires higher levels of ammonia or bleaching products. You will notice a texture change in your hair that most likely will require less shampooing and more conditioning. I recommend finding a gentler, sulfate free shampoo and a reconstructive treatment mask (conditioner). Avoid color shampoos. Colored blond hair is porous and can grab too much pigment, leaving unwanted highlights. Though a violet-based shampoo is helpful in reducing brassy tones, it shouldn't be used on a regular basis. There are some incredible products for color/bleach treated hair. Ask your stylist for help! How you style your hair on a daily basis should also be a determining factor in the product you use. If you blow-dry and/or curl/straighten your hair daily, your hair is going to need some special products to maintain its health and structure. 

Number 4 - Be ready to change up your make-up!

Your hair color is the frame of your pretty face. Going blond will directly affect your current shade of lipstick, which will most likely need to change. After you go blond, get some make-up tips from a cosmetic counter by someone who has never seen you before.

Number 5 - Find a blond color specialist

Be on the lookout for someone whose color you admire. Ask them, "Who does your color?". Don't be afraid to ask someone that same question whose color you think is hideous, so you know where not to go. If your colorist pulls out a crochet hook and a plastic cap, reschedule with someone else.  Also, consider asking for a glaze. After going blond, a glaze is a non peroxide treatment with a sheer shade option that helps acheive that perfect blond tone and seal in an extra 4 to 6 weeks of shine.

If you're on the other end of the spectrum, having already been down this road and you want to reverse the process, do it slowly as well. Grow out some roots and add darker low lights, using the same multi step process.