Can we all just take a moment and bow down to the queens that are rocking blond hair. Wow! I’m loving anything and everything blond right now. Lace frontals. Weaves. Faux locks. Afros. It’s all so stunning.
Women today want to do something different and bold. We see the majority of black celebs like Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj and Ciara wearing color, so we’re inspired by them. Locally, Namibian rock stars, both male and female have never been afraid of a little colour.
In this edition we explore the brown girls guide to going blonde; without looking like a clown. We cover everything from what shade to choose for your skin tone to how to maintain it.
-
START OFF SLOW
Like any new relationship, it’s best to start out slow to avoid damage. Going too fast can strip your strands and lead to damaged hair, so instead of all-over color in your first application, opt for highlights and build over the course of a few weeks.
“Going blond is not easy. It should be done in steps so that your hair is not compromised. Go to a salon and sit with a colorist to get the right shade of blond. Don’t just go to anyone because once it goes bad, it goes really bad.” Says Elanie, a local stylist based in Swakopmund. She goes on to add. “We see people whose color went wrong. To do a color-correction service is really expensive, and you can end up with damaged hair.”
Our go-to product is Olaplex, used once every two weeks. “I think I’d probably be bald by now if it weren’t for Olaplex treatments. The formula rebuilds broken bonds in your hair.” she added.
-
BE REALISTIC
Even with experienced professionals jumping into the blond pool, a bit of risk and faith is required to get the perfect blond shade. It’s not easy to predict the end result of dyeing your hair. Lightening hair has so many parts to it. It depends what colour you had on before, what the environment is like, what chemicals you use. Your result is never guaranteed until you have some kind of color done, then you’ll know exactly how it looks. Thereafter you can make amendments to get the desired shade. If the colour is too brassy (orange) then you can opt to add a toner to get the desired lightness.
-
FIND YOUR HUE
Let’s be honest: not all blonds are created equal, nor will every hue look superb on all skin tones. You have to choose the right color based on your undertones and eye color. For example, warmer (darker) skin tones go better with warmer (gold) hair color, and cooler shades with cooler tones. The choices are endless. They go from natural blonds, ash blonds, matt blonds, to copper, gold and silver blonds. To get the best tone for your skin, use a color chart and see how the tone looks next to your skin in natural sunlight. A quick tip is: the darker your skin, the warmer the blond tone should be.
-
TALKING TEXTURE
Relaxed hair usually leads to a lot of shedding and, unfortunately, breakage. But you don’t need to count yourself out as a blonde. It can be done, but you have to go to someone who understands porosity. Long story short: an experienced professional will know when your hair is at its limit.
For natural and curly girls out there, your coils may not be the same after coloring. Unfortunately, color can change the texture of naturally curly hair, leaving it with a lighter curl pattern and dryer hair, so expect some slight shifts in the way your looks and feels.
-
PUT THE ‘M” IN MAINTENANCE
When it comes to at-home maintenance, the number one rule? Always use shampoo for color-treated hair. Rule number 2, Never underestimate the power of a good conditioner. Using an oil-based moisturizer can really help hydrate the hair further. It’s critical to use intensive treatments that will help put the moisture back in the hair and strengthen the integrity of hair. Make sure to purchase an at-home maintenance kit from your salon or beauty supply shop. We love Olaplex. Number 3, an at-home maintenance treatment, specifically for colour or chemically treated hair.
-
HAVE MORE FUN
For most, going blond is about getting out of their comfort zones. If you are going to dare to embrace your adventurous nature, you might as well have fun in the process. Experiment with different looks and styles; there is so much technology available to the average person that we can push the envelope further and be more daring.
For more on haircare products; view www.twincare.co.za for a comprehensive list of our brands.
Main image: Merja Iileka (@shadows.of.wolf) | Hair coloured by Lyrischia Da Silva (@haihcsiryl)
Sources: http://coveteur.com
