I love doing color. Highlights, slicing, and all over color services add a lot of fun and excitement to my work day. One of the most rewarding and challenging color pallets to work with are the reds. What someone means when they say they’d like to “go red” can mean a lot of different things. Sometimes, depending on skin tone a slight change in shade or hue can mean the difference between a stunning accent and a total disaster. Warmer skin tones tend to look better with coppers, warm chestnuts and auburns while cooler tones often look best framed with rich mahogany, cherry or scarlet tones. Reds can be very subtle or extraordinarily bold depending on what you’re after. If you’re considering trying red for the first time it’s sometimes best to first add a few red or copper foils to your existing color rather than going all the way. This can be a nice way to create some interest and excitement if you’ve been going blond for a while or can be a great way to spruce up your natural brunette tones without making a total commitment. Another nice option is a semi-permanent all over color. The Redken Shades EQ color line I use here at HBJ has consistently been voted the best semi permanent color line on the market. Adding not only stunning color but brilliant shine and condition to the hair Shades is a terrific way to step into red.
Red is the hardest molecule to push into the hair and the easiest to come out. Therefore, the product line your stylist uses for color and for maintenance after the service are more important with reds than with any other shade family. Again Redken comes through with three different product options to get sensational staying power and coverage whether hair is chemically damaged, going grey or just unprocessed healthy hair. I always encourage clients to use my Alterna Caviar line to protect their color at home. Utilizing a panted blend of fatty acids, anti oxidants, sea silk and U.V. blockers Caviar can add weeks to a colors staying power.
Going red is a big decision. When you’re visiting your stylist to consider the shift be sure to bring pictures of what you have in mind. A good stylist will be able to work from what you bring in by either reproducing that color for you or helping you find a shade that will work best for your skin tone. Collaboration and consultation are key. If you’d like to book you’re free consultation or would just like to talk about your ideal ravishing red I”d be more than happy to chat any time.