Farouk Systems, Inc., manufacturer of CHI and BioSilk products, formally announced today its withdrawal of its sponsorship of the Miss USA, Miss Universe, and Miss Teen USA Pageants and that it will not renew its sponsorship of those events. It also announced that it will have no further involvement in the Celebrity Apprentice program.

“Farouk Systems does not agree with or endorse the statements recently made by Donald Trump about immigrants,” said Farouk Systems CEO, Basim Shami. “Our company is multicultural with people of Latin American descent making up a large percentage of our employees and loyal customers. As a company proudly founded on the concept of coming to the USA in pursuit of the American Dream, Mr. Trump’s comments do not and will never reflect our company’s philosophy or practices.”
 

"Sometimes it is super fun to find a client who is willing to play with color and step over to a more daring and playful look, and then end the session in a mini salon photo shoot," says Colette Jones, owner of Giddy Up Salon and Spa in Okanogan, WA. One of Jones’ recent clients had several home applications of different DIY colors, so Jones decolorized the hair from mid-length to ends and then used Goldwell Topchic and Colorance to color balance and create an electric scarlet color. Recreate this fiery look with her how-to, below!

Decolorize
1. Use 1 scoop of Goldwell Silk Lift Strong + 35mL 20 vol. and 2 pumps of Intensive Conditioning Serum, applied in a compact foil application.

2. Mix several batches of Silk Lift and apply about 2 inches off the scalp, making sure not to apply to new growth.

3. Process and shampoo with Goldwell Dualsenses Color Fade Stop and then apply Color Detangling Conditioner.

4. At the shampoo bowl, mix 30mL 20 vol. Goldwell Silk Lift Developer, 30mL distilled water, 1 level scoop of Goldwell Silk Lift Strong, 5mL Goldwell Dualsenses Color Shampoo and 15mL Goldwell Dualsenses Detangling Conditioner. Apply to the darker areas, massaging into mid-lengths to ends, and process until tones shift to match mid-lengths of hair shaft.

5. Shampoo and condition again, and, after drying hair, mist with Goldwell Colorglow IQ Equalizer Spray and apply Goldwell Topchic formula: Electric Scarlet (below).

Background Foundation (new growth): Goldwell Topchic
40mL - 20 vol.
17mL - 7RR Max
17mL - 7RO Max
6mL - R-mix

Mid-Lengths to Ends: Goldwell Topchic
40mL - 30 vol
15mL - 7RR
15mL - 7RO
5mL - R-mix
5mL – Goldwell Blonding Cream

6. Shampoo and condition. Apply a pump of the Goldwell Elixir Versatile Oil Treatment. Let air dry, then style as desired.

Photo Shoot
The photo shoot was done in the break room using extra lights and a white wall. "Practicing your photography and makeup skills is a must when you have limited resources; it also helps you to understand all aspects of the shoot," says Jones. "Our salon has done a few shoots over the past 2 years and each time we learn more and more."
 

As the winner of the Joico Vero K-PAK Color Intensity “Extreme Colorist” competition, Ashley Spangenberg won a colorist’s dream — the chance to be one of the first to get creative with the two newest shades in the Intensity collection. The result is a mini-shoot featuring new Vero K-PAK Color Intensity shades Hot Pink and Soft Pink — a rosy riot of the two cheery hues.

Ashley was one of a group of Joico Advisors handpicked to enter the challenge. She was invited to create a 90-second video focused on the Intensity shades and demonstrating an Intensity makeover. The judges, Joico Vero K-PAK Color International Artistic Director Sue Pemberton, and Joico International Guest Artist Liza Espinoza and Joico Guest Artist Cherry Petenbrink, loved Ashley’s “Dark Berry Melt," a dramatic combination of Intensity “Crystallize Collection” shades launched in January 2015: Sapphire Blue, Ruby Red and Amethyst Purple.

To create her winning entry, Ashley used the following Joico formulas*:

Base: Vero K-PAK Chrome 1/3 N1, 1/3 V4, 1/3 RB + 2 parts Vero K-PAK Chrome Activator Accents:
Intensity Formula 1: 1/2 Magenta + 1/2 Ruby Red
Intensity Formula 2: Sapphire Blue
Intensity Formula 3: Amethyst Purple

*To get Ashley’s full formula and application step-by-step on this color-look go to: www.Joico.com/intensity

Says Ashley, "We work with [Intensity shades] constantly. I love that they’re intermixable, and what you see is what you get. All you have to do is swatch your formula on a piece of white paper to see the result. And in my experience they’re some of longest-lasting direct dyes available in the industry today, that also leave hair in the healthiest condition!”

Once Ashley was notified of her win — and was sent amazing prizes like an iPad Mini and 24 tubes of Intensity - she was invited to create another shoot to showcase the two new Intensity pink shades. “They gave me the colors, a budget and unlimited creative freedom,” Ashley says.

Mindful of the gradating pattern of a rose petal - deeper at the base and gradually lightening toward the ends — Ashley created this vivid yet feminine combination of pink hues on a rosy violet base.

To create her “Pink Rush” look she used the following Joico formulas:

Base: Joico Vero K-PAK Color 4VR + 10-volume developer
Accents: Joico Vero K-PAK Color Intensity Hot Pink and Soft Pink

The model began as a natural Level 5 with regrowth and faded mauve and blonde highlights. After pre-lightening, Ashley applied the base shade to the new growth for a modern, “rooty” effect, then applied the two pink shades in alternating sections — horizontal in back and vertical in front around the face. Some sections were solid and some were blends of the two pink shades, Hot Pink at the base melting into the pastel Soft Pink. “I was trying to interpret a sun-kissed effect using shades of pink,” Ashley explains, “so I wanted the hair below the occipital to be lighter.”

“This was the first photo shoot that I was responsible for,” Ashely says. “I couldn’t be more excited and thankful to Joico for this opportunity!”

Present Tense, Schwartzkopf Proffesional's Modern Style Collection, brings the latest runway inspired trends to life with Pearlescent pastel hues, Chik Rock sophisticated rocker style and Hippi Glam bohemian festival locks.

Learn more about the collection in The Colorist July/August Digital Edition!

There are interesting creative divides that come from some interesting perspectives on creating texture/highlights in hair namely, foiling, Balayage, hair painting and even a cap for some. I have friends who say, "I only..." foil, hair paint, Balayage or use a cap, and I have some friends who use multiple ways. I must confess, on occasions I will use all professionally, including, yes, a cap.

So, what I want to look at this month is: What are the advantages or opportunities with each? I'm not going to share pros/cons because I think I can prove a positive and I know I can prove a negative.

FOILING
Probably the staple technique for many of us who have been in the industry 10+ years. Ironically, foiling is only about 40 years old as far as mass acceptance by our industry. In fact, until the late 1980's most guests had to still call a salon to see if they had someone who could foil! The advantages with foiling are placement, both product and sectioning, plus the isolation and saturation control. The use of a foil allows great control for selection (slicing or weaving), where the product is applied, and because the foil is below the section when the product is applied, over saturation is not a problem and many consistencies/viscosities work easily. Additionally, because of the protective enclosure the foil creates, both drying out and bleeding into other areas is greatly controlled. Finally, the placement that foiling allows because of the isolation it creates allows for horizontal, vertical and even diagonal back or forward to create different effects that are easily seen visually in the outcome.

BALAYAGE
The oldest of all the techniques, Balayage has been around as long as color or lightener has been applied to hair in a "sweeping stroke." Balayage is more like point cutting than hair cutting. Think about it this way, when you cut hair (straight across the hair perpendicularly) the outcome is the same, i.e. full head of foils placed horizontally (the 1980's wrap). If it was done well, you were blonde, and if it was done badly, you were stripy and better was not a choice. But with point cutting, how the scissors are applied is more important than the fact that they closed! Because even deep point cutting applied vertically into the hair removes very little and creates soft outcomes, even though the action of the scissors are the same, the application causes great variance in outcome, Balayage is the same. Foiling traditionally is to the scalp, Balayage is to where it is needed or wanted. Most of this is because of the saturation that is created with the application of the brush. When foiling, the brush is pushing down on the selected hair in the foil, and even if applied mid length, traditionally creates good saturation and a strong line of placement. The sweeping stroke of Balayage creates the opportunity to melt selections away while still creating the saturation needed for distinct placements that are visually scalp to end or not.

HAIR PAINTING
This technique is the newest and a modern progression of the traditional Balayage. While the sectioning tends to be much bigger, it is still a gentle stroke that is needed, and to my eye is more like razoring than scissors. With Balayage, it is selection of the section, stroke of application and saturation of product that creates the traditional beautiful pieciness that is beautiful Balayage. With hair painting it's different; the sections are broader, the application of product is broader and saturation for much of the selection is minimal at best. Though hair painting uses much bigger selections for sections, much of it is hardly affected because the product is "surface brushed," and only the mids/ends are saturated through with generally a lightener. (I love Goldwell Silk Lift Strong.) That is where the major color shift is seen while melting away as it approaches the scalp.

THE CAP
Yes I will use a cap. Why? Ever try to make bright blue or pink on someone with short blonde hair? Yeah, we can foil it or paint it on the lightener to get us to the pale yellow we need to be, but when we wash the hair we will "lose" the sections because we can't "hold on" to them like we can with long hair. In this case, I can see where the hair is coming from through the cap. I can apply the lightener, decolorize, shampoo and apply my bright color directly/exclusively to the decolorized pieces only that are washed and still isolated because of the cap selection.

So why choose? Well, if you want to specialize in one you would have to, but for me the best choice is the one I need for the guest in front of me, and some days that is all four.

-Patrick McIvor

Top stylist Rianna Taylor of Salon Head Candy in Cherry Hill, NJ recently created this golden-pink hair color, aptly dubbed "Mermaid Sherbert," for her client. Below, she shares the steps she took to achieve the gorgeous look.

Get the Look:
1. Says Rianna, "I balayaged her head with 30 Vol. and Olaplex and let process for 45 minutes.

2. "I then rinsed that out, dried her hair, and applied Joico's Magenta and Pink (equal parts) to the root area of the balayage. I then added Pink with a dab of Orange diluted to the mids and ends.

3. "I let process for 30 minutes, then blow-dried and styled!"

For more from Rianna, follow her on Instagram @rianimal_.
Follow Salon Head Candy on Instagram @salonheadcandy.  
 

The Procter & Gamble Company announced the signing of a definitive agreement to merge 43 of its beauty brands with Coty Inc. in a Reverse Morris Trust Transaction. Among others, the transaction includes P&G’s Salon Professional business.

P&G Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer A.G. Lafley commented, “This represents a significant step forward in the work to focus our portfolio on the 10 categories and 65 brands that best leverage P&G’s core competencies. Coty will provide an excellent new home for the businesses and brands we are merging today, as well as for the talented people who are operating them.”

This agreement will enhance Coty's beauty portfolio and expand its offering in the salon professional channel, where it has already built a nail care category presence through the acquisition of OPI in 2010.

“We are delighted and privileged to join forces with the Wella team and its portfolio of iconic salon brands," said Bart Becht, chairman and CEO of Coty. "The salon channel is a large and attractive category at the very top end of beauty, and Wella is a key building block of our growth strategy. With its legacy, unique brand portfolio and highly capable organization, Wella has firmly earned its place as a leading partner for hair salons. We are looking forward to being a part of its continued success.”

“As two iconic houses strongly anchored in their beauty heritage, Coty and Wella are a perfect fit. We are both driven by a passion for beauty, creative freedom and the entrepreneurial spirit that was embodied by our founders. We are honored to join the Coty family and are excited about the possibilities this represents for Wella’s mission of elevating hairdressers and the hairdressing industry,” said Sylvie Moreau, global executive vice-president of Wella.
Until deal closing, expected in the second half of 2016 and subject to all the necessary regulatory approvals and completion of any required information and consultation processes, Wella will continue to operate as the Salon Professional unit of Procter & Gamble. Separately, certain of the fragrance brands require the consent of the licensor to transfer.

“We’re looking forward to our future with Coty, and we remain firmly focused on supporting our salon partners consistently and with the continued excellence that they have come to expect from us,” commented Sal Mauceri, Wella North America.

“Over the past years, Wella has been going from strength to strength, and we have great plans to continue to delight our salons. We will continue to build on our portfolio with several exciting product and service innovations, supported by our world-class sales and education team.”

Hairstylist Dustin Stone recently helped his client achieve this gorgeous, icy blonde haircolor. Below, he shares his formula and technique for recreating the beautiful hue!

Get the Look:
1. Says Dustin, "When the client first came to me she had level 6-7 hair, previously colored/highlighted. I first began to lighten her in 4 quadrants using Schwarzkopf Professional Blondme 9+ and 20 vol., keeping the lightener about an inch away from the scalp.

2. "After processing for 45 minutes at room temperature, I applied Schwarzkopf Professional Blondme 9+ and 7 vol. to zone 1 (re-growth area) and processed for another 30 minutes.

3. "I then rinsed the hair and shampooed using Schwarzkopf Bonacure Fibre Force.

4. "For the toner, I used 30g Ice, 20g Steel Blue, and 12g Lilac Blondme Toning Creams mixed in equal parts with 7 vol. I applied to damp hair and let process for 25 minutes."

For more from Dustin, follow him on Instagram @Dust1nSt0ne!

 

ColorpHlex, a worldwide leader in color strengthening, is sending one lucky salon professional and their guest to the 2015 Contessa Awards in Toronto on November 8, 2015. The exciting event, which will name the Canadian Hairstylist of the Year, is one of the most prestigious hairdressing competitions in the world, with cocktail parties where attendees can rub shoulders with the beauty industry's elite, a glamorous awards ceremony gala, and live presentations by top stylists.  

To enter ColorpHlex's contest for a chance to go to the 2015 Contessa Awards, simply post before and after photos on the colorpHlex Facebook and/or Instagram pages using the hashtag #colorphlex, and you will be entered to win. The prize, valued at $2000, includes roundtrip airfare for two, hotel accommodations, and tickets for the awards. The contest is open to licensed hairdressers in the U.S. and Canada only and pictures must be posted by midnight on September 25, 2015. Videos are also acceptable and there is no limit to the number of entries per day per person.
 

Goldwell Regional Artistic Team member Michelle Vance created this amazing energetic look using rebel colors within nature. Her inspiration came from the vibrant colors of sunsets, feathers, and the desert using fashion colors that come from nature with Goldwell products like SilkLift. Here’s her step-by-step on how to achieve this look.

Hair Transformation Formulas:

Step 1:
Pre lifted:
40ml 40vol + 15ml 12BN + 5ml Blonding Creme
Front Bandeau Prelighted:
1 Level scoop SilkLift Strong + 35ml 6% (20vol)

Step 2:
Background Shade:
50ml 20vol (6%) + 20ml 5VV + 20ml 7BG +5ml 3VV + 5ml VVmix

Step 3:
Bandeau Slices:
Reconstructed Teal: 5ml GN@all + 5ml TQ@all +3ml Bl@all + 15ml BM@6

Step 4:
Reconstructed Lemon:
10ml YY@all +5ml GK@all +20ml NA@8

The first ever Matrix Inspiration Salon, Salon Mayan in Huntington, New York, held its grand opening on Thursday, July 9, 2015. The opening kicked off with a ribbon cutting ceremony with members of the Huntington Chamber of Commerce, Matrix Vice President of Business Development Gail Cohen, Matrix General Manager Paul Schiraldi and Salon Mayan owner, Ben Aharon. Reality TV Star Kelly Bensimon joined the launch party shortly after, touring and raving about the beautiful new salon.

Attendees mixed and mingled as they enjoyed an afternoon learning about professional styling tips and tricks from live stylist demonstrations while trying out an array of Matrix products. Local residents came to show their support for their beloved salon and really shaped the event into one for their own community.

Salon Mayan is the first of many Matrix Inspiration Salons to come throughout the country. “Matrix gives us everything we need to connect with existing and potential clients as well as overall support for our salon and staff. I’m really looking forward to continuing as part of the Matrix family, growing this salon and opening new locations in the future!” says Salon Mayan Owner, Ben Aharon.

See more photos from the grand opening event in the slideshow below!

Marietta, OH-based hairstylist Amanda Harsche recently transformed her client's hair from average ombré to this bright and beautiful rainbow look. Amanda used new PRAVANA VIVIDS Locked-In colors to create this fun look. See her formula and step-by-step process, below!

Get the Look:
1. Says Amanda, "[I] started with a faded Matrix SOCOLOR 3VR to blonde ombré done about 2 months ago.

2. "Formula 1 for shadow root: 2 oz Matrix SOCOLOR 4M with 0.5 oz. 3VR 10 volume - Apply as a staggered new growth 3-4 inches down.

3. "Formula 2: Matrix Light Master with Olaplex and 40 volume - Balayage up the the shadow root application.

4. "Lifted to about a level 9/10, but since there was a buildup of previous 3VR, she pulled really, really warm. [I] toned her with ColorSync 10A to pull some of the warmth out.

5. "[Next, I] rinsed and shampooed, then dried her.

Vivid a formula: PRAVANA VIVIDS Locked-In:

• Teal
• Blue
• Purple
• Pink
• Yellow

6. "Starting at the bottom nape of her head, I took down a 1-inch-high horizontal section. In that section, I alternated 1-inch sections between 2 of the Locked-In colors (pink, purple, pink, purple).

7. "I then pulled down another 1-inch-high horizontal section and alternated 2 different colors (teal, blue, teal, blue).

8. "I continued this method and switched up the alternating color combination until all the hair was saturated. She only wanted a little bit of the yellow so I only alternated that into 2 rows in the middle of the head.

9. "I processed for 30 minutes and then rinsed and conditioned the hair. Rinsing with Locked In was amazing because the water runs clear so you could really see the colors come to life in the hair!

10. "Blow drying her was the best part because every way the hair moves reveals a different color combination. Curls and braids really bring this color to life but wearing it straight is fun too! I can't wait for her to come back for a retouch so we can experiment with even more color combinations!"

Check out the slideshow below to see images of this gorgeous look in progress, plus the final result!

For more from Amanda, follow her on Instagram: @mandaharsche.

 

The Ice Collection by LAKMÉ features pure, cool blondes and steely hues inspired by summer storms. Paired with multi-layered cuts and dominant fringe, the collection is the definition of platinum perfection.


Get the Look
1. Bleach the hair with K.Blonde and Collage Hydrox 30V. Section off the areas that will later be separated from the rest of the hair.

2. Apply 10g Chroma 9/20 + 10g Chroma 10/17 + 1g Chroma 1/00 with Chroma Developer 18V to area A. Apply 30g Chroma 9/20 + 10g Chroma 10/17 and Chroma Developer 18V to area B.

3. Apply Chrome 9/20 with Chroma Developer 18V to area C. Apply Collage 10/20 with Collage Hydrox 10V to area D.

4. Divide the nape area into two triangles.

5. Layer the hair from the center, taking all the hair over the first guideline.

6. Join the sideburns to the nape. Bring the temples forward and cut.

7. Cut the bangs, graduating them from a central guideline to obtain an oblique shape.

Final touch: to get flexible hold and heat protection, spray i-Tool by K.Style on dry sections of hair and use straighteners to straighten the hair.

See the step-by-step images in the slideshow below!

by Patrick McIvor

Remember when guests used to come to the salon to get green taken out of their hair? Heck, we were even upset if it wasn't booked as a corrective service. Today, it's common to have guests ask for green to be put in their hair… or pink, blue, violet, yellow, or any color humanly/chemically possible to make or see on the visible light scale. The challenge today is not in making these colors, it's in managing the guest's expectations and the realities of unnatural colors ("unnatural colors" meaning those that do not grow naturally on a human head, i.e., blue, green, pink, purple, yellow, teal, etc., as opposed to blonde, brunette, red, black, golden, strawberry, etc. Some colors such as red, golden or strawberry hair colors can be natural or unnatural in appearance, depending on the intensity of the tone.).

You know what the general consensus in our industry seems to be with many of the unnatural hair color results? When you want them to last, they don't, and when you want them gone, the seem to be more permanent. But things are changing, new technology is out there and there are some old school tricks that can still work too.

Getting Color to Stay
In the past, you were not expecting the hair to be in great, or even good condition when using many of the classic unnatural hair colors. In fact, the worse the condition, sometime the better the color took! Today, however, condition is something we need to consider. Firstly, we need the hair to be in good condition because guests today want to still be able to change their color, meaning they might want blue today but next time they might want pink or yellow, and if the hair isn't in good condition that might not happen. Secondly, condition is important because the dye we are using isn't designed to simply stain the hair with a certain pigment. Instead, some colors today are actually made to color the hair by penetrating into the cortex and attaching there, creating longer wearability that's comparable to permanent haircolor wearability. So, condition is something we can control and influence.

Another big factor in increased longevity for an unnatural color is cleansing. The more you wash, the more color is washed away. So, if you want it to stay, try dry shampoos. I love KMS California 2 + 1, KMS California HAIR PLAY Makeover Spray, and ARROJO Dry Shampoo and Dry Conditioner (yes, there is a dry conditioner from ARROJO!). My rule for unnatural color: everyday washing is bad, every other day washing is better, twice a week washing is great, once a week washing is perfect, and less than once a week, ask the people around you.

Can You Leave Now? Getting Color Out
What can seem even worse than getting unnatural colors to stay is when you want them gone in a hurry. Like, for instance, when little Billy and the high school swim team "bleach" their heads and dye their hair blue for the state meet, and then Grandma passes away two days later. Now, Mom shows up at the salon and says, "Get this out now because Billy's a pallbearer!" The challenge can be, if your town is like ours, little Billy probably lightened his hair with liquid bleach and used Kool-Aid to make his hair blue, and now the hair is just done. In these cases, black haircolor is usually not an option to just cover it, and more lightener is probably not better. If it was a color like Elumen from Goldwell, I could use RETURN which reverses the ionic charge that gives the Elumen colors their permanent wearability. But, because Billy didn't use professional products, a product like RETURN can't hurt the hair, but may not be the most effective. Sometimes, old school tricks are good to know - if you want to make an old school stain haircolor fade, use hot oil! Why? Because the hot oil wants to occupy a lot of the same space that the classic staining hair colors take up. Think about it: oil can be used to remove makeup because it gets between the skin and the makeup. Oil-based furniture cleaners clean so well because the oil penetrates the buildup on the furniture, allowing grime to break free without breaking the surface it has become attached to. In these instances, hot oil can only make things better because it almost accelerates the fading process and pushes as much color as it can out of the hair. I like to apply hot oil - anything "over the counter" like olive oil works - by heating the oil in water, fully saturating the hair, then wrapping the hairline with cotton. Let it cool, then apply a plastic cap and place the guest under the dryer, reheating the hot oil on the head. While the oil is warm to the touch, saturate with a cleansing or clarifying shampoo (I like Goldwell KMS). Work through the oily hair and lather, then place back under the heat for 5-10 minutes. Bring to a sink directly from the heat and rinse with hot (not scalding or burning) water. With recent unnatural haircolor of questionable origins, this old school hair trick can have color running away.

New Technology
I've been very lucky to be a part of the Goldwell family for the past 3 years and during that time I have come to love the results of a technology I had not been familiar with that had an outcome that blew me away. Look around for new technology because if I hadn't been formally introduced to a color like Elumen, I would never have believed I could create both natural and unnatural color results with permanent wearability and the intensity of tones I can create. Then, to balance that with RETURN - what a product! Never mind the technology of the product, RETURN allows us to do amazing faded haircolor.

Sometimes the problem with natural is that it is just that - natural. This year's wine is great; last year's vintage, not so much. It's not the vines fault, nor the vineyard owners' or the ground on which the grapes were grown. The problem with "natural" is that nature changes, and each time the outcome can only be known in the end. Predicting otherwise too precisely only increases the chances of being wrong. The same seems to be true with unnatural haircolor. Yes, I know we are making your hair blue today, and I'll be able to better tell you how much it will fade when you come back for your next appointment.

-P

Redken 5th Avenue recently announced that model, DJ, and trendsetter Amber Le Bon will serve as the haircare company's latest brand muse. Le Bon joins an elite collective of Redken muses and trend creators, including models Lea T and Soo Joo Park, renowned hairstylist and fashion industry legend Guido, and celebrity haircolorist Tracey Cunningham.

Amber is the daughter of Duran Duran’s Simon Le Bon and supermodel Yasmin Le Bon. Known for her amazing fashion sense, trendsetting hair and spot-on musical taste, Amber has DJ’d for Victoria's Secret, Gucci, the British Fashion Council Awards and many other Fashion Week events. She has appeared in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Purple Fashion, Tatler, W, Vogue Brazil, and Vogue Spain.
 
"Amber’s amazing style and incredible energy make her a perfect fit for Redken,” says Leslie Marino, General Manager, Redken US. "She’s a fearless fashionista who’s not afraid to change her hair and try new styles and colors.”
 
Says Amber, “It's so exciting to be Redken’s new muse! I love having healthy hair, but I also love playing with my color, so it's important to have a really great colorist and the best products. Redken was so fun to work with and I had the best time shooting!”
 
Amber Le Bon will make her Redken 5th Avenue debut in August 2015, appearing in a print and digital campaign for Sombre Haircolor. Amber’s hair was colored by Redken Artist Sean Godard using Redken’s professional Chromatics and Shades EQ haircolor formulas.
 
Follow @Redken5thAve and @amberlebonofficial for more to come!

 

Balayage, the art of free-hand highlighting, is quickly becoming one of the most in-demand services in salons today. As the trend grows in popularity, stylist find that different tools are required in order to achieve the best balayage for their clients. Just in time, PRAVANA, has announced its new, game-changing lightener, Pure Light Balayage Lightener, specifically designed for the art of balayage.

To coincide with the upcoming release, PRAVANA partnered with hair guru and Balayage expert Guy Tang to develop the Pure Enlightenment Balayage Kit, featuring Pure Light Balayage Lightener as the key component. The kit has everything stylists need for Balayage techniques including the new lightener, three new Pure Light Activators, brushes, a palette and exclusive education and techniques from Tang himself to offer customized, beautiful blonde, sun-kissed tresses to clients.
 
To create this effortless-looking, sun-kissed hair, PRAVANA’s Pure Light Balayage Lightener differs from the rest as it contains a proprietary blend of Rice Flour and Kaolin Clay to form an outer shell that hardens, encapsulating the hair and lightener inside and keeping it moist, allowing for extended open-air processing. The smooth, whipped consistency allows hair artists to be precise with application with no bleeding, swelling or movement. The three Pure Light Activators are formulated with Aloe Vera and special blonding catalysts that when used with the Pure Light Balayage Lightener, reveals the most effective Balayage consistency while preserving the integrity of the hair.
 
“I am thrilled to collaborate with PRAVANA on the Pure Enlightenment system to offer stylists the most innovative lightener and activators designed for Balayage,” says Tang. “Together, PRAVANA and I made sure that the lightener had all of the best qualities a stylist needs for hair painting. The Pure Enlightenment system includes my favorite brushes, toners and an innovative palette to complement the incredible new lightener and activators. To my fellow stylists: your clients will leave with gorgeous, sun-kissed hair that looks vibrant and healthy!”
 
The 10-piece Pure Enlightenment Balayage Kit comes with:

• Pure Light Balayage Lightener (16oz)
• Pure Light Activators (10.2oz) in Low, Medium and High for 1 to 5 levels of lift
• Pure Light Balayage Palette: a unique ergonomic board with a built-in reservoir to hold the Pure Light Lightener
• PRAVANA + Guy Tang Balayage Brushes in Small, Medium and Large constructed with the cult-favorite Framar Accusoft bristles
• Meche sheets: re-usable color barriers that allow the lightener to stay moist longer and to create a barrier between color applications, if desired
• DVD featuring exclusive Balayage education and techniques created by Guy Tang

 
PRAVANA will simultaneously be launching another color innovation that pairs perfectly with Balayage services - ChromaSilk Express Tones (sold separately). These gentle, ammonia-free toners create beautiful blondes and leave hair healthier and shinier in under 5 minutes. Stylists can use the ChromaSilk Express Tones to offer customized color for their clients following any Balayage, highlighting or blonding services. Available in eight intermixable, high-shine shades: Copper, Gold, Natural, Beige, Ash, Pearl, Violet and Clear to deliver lustrous, long-lasting tone.
 
HOW TO USE: Mix Pure Light Balayage Lightener with Pure Light Activator of your choice, using these ratios- 1:2 (PRAVANA recommended), 1:1 1/2 (thicker) or 1:2 1/2 (thinner). Apply to dry hair. Process until desired lightness is achieved. For added color possibilities, tone with the ChromaSilk Express Tones.
 
AVAILABLE: Pure Enlightenment Balayage Kit and ChromaSilk Express Tones will be available at select salons and professional beauty stores locations nationwide in September 2015. For locations, please visit http://www.pravana.com/salon-locator.

[Images courtesy of PRAVANA]

Kristin Pellegrino, a hairstylist at Head Candy Salon in New Jersey, recently helped her client go from basic brunette to beautiful, bright blue. Get Kristin's formula and how-to below so you can recreate the look for your own client!

Get the Look:
1. Kristin first lightened the mids to ends using Wella Blondor + 30 vol. and Wella Blondor + 20 vol. on the re-growth.

2. For the blue, she mixed Joico Intensity Cobolt Blue and Orchid 2:1 to make the deep blue, and used Arctic Fox Aqua Marine. She used diagonal slices alternating Deep Blue and Aqua. The Aqua sections where done with the Deep Blue at the root, then v-shaped with the Aqua balyaged through the ends.

See more images of the final look in the slideshow below!

Co-Owner and Stylist of Theory Hair Salon, Brittney Murphy, created this chic look to showcase her best style for this year’s Color Zoom Challenge. Her inspiration came from tribal looks of gray and silver tones and fashion colors that come from within nature using Goldwell’s SilkLift products. Here’s her step-by-step on how to achieve this look:

Hair Transformation Formulas:
 
Step 1: Pre-Lighten
 
80 mL Topchic 12% (40 vol) + 30 mL 12BN + 10 mL BC
 
Apply half inch out from the root to the ends.
 
Step 2: Root Application

Apply 60 ml Topchic 12% (40 vol) + 30 ml 12BM to the root and process for 45 minutes.
 
Step 3: Shampoo hair
 
Step 4: Dry hair
 
Step 5: Virgin application of back to back micro foils - Apply 35 ml 9% (30 vol) + 1 scoop of Oxycur Paltin. Process until desired level is reached.
 
Step 6: Pulled foils then applied SilkLlift + 20V at root, and SilkLift + 30V through remaining hair.
 
Tone/Platinize: 60mL Colorance Lotion + 20mL 10BS+ 10mL 8SB. Process until desired level is reached.
 
Crescent Mood Bandeau Section: Back to back slices:
 
Formula 1: (Elumen) Reconstructed Brick: 10mL NB@4 + 10mL BG@6 + 10mL YY@all
Formula 2: (Elumen) Reconstructed Concrete: 15mL BL@all + 15mL NA@8 + 2mL PK@all + 2mL TQ@all + 1mL NA@2.
Formula 3: (Elumen) Reconstructed Moss: 25mL GB@9 + 10mL BG@7 + 10mL GN@all + 2.5mL YY@all + 2.5 mL TQ@all + 2mL BL@all
 
Background Color: (Elumen) 30mL AN@5 + 30mL NA@8 + 30mL SV@10 – Process until desired level is reached

Haircare company pure BLENDS recently partook in Bella NYC Magazine’s Summer White Hamptons Party on Saturday, August 8, at Beautique in Southampton, New York, with the brand's Coco-colada Shampoo and Coco-colada Conditioner included as part of the swag at the star-studded event. The annual celebration highlighted the summer cover issue, graced by the star of Bravo’s Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Lisa Vanderpump who hosted the event with style and glamor.

Vanderpump arrived with her husband Ken Todd, along with their adorable, dressed-in-white pooch, Giggy, and fellow housewives Kyle Richards, Lisa Rinna and Eileen Davidson. Other celebrities at the extravaganza included Countess LuAnn De Lesseps (Real Housewives of New York), Liza Sandler (Bravo’s Secrets and Wives), Ten Travis (actor, producer of Scandal) and Jill Nicolini (CBS News).

Courtenay C. Hall, Editor-in-Chief of Bella Magazine, called the event the most successful to date, with over 400 guests in attendance. All attendees received pure BLENDS' Coco-colada Shampoo and Conditioner from American Culture brands - a luxurious, hydrating, color-safe, sodium chloride-, sulfate- and gluten-free duo.

Editor-in-Chief of Bella Magazine, Courtenay C. Hall and actress Lisa Rinna

Coco-colada Shampoo and Conditioner utilizes a unique formulation which infuses botanicals, keratin and collagen into hair fibers, strengthens and delivers optimal anti-breakage benefits, as well as revitalizes dry, damaged hair and restores integrity.

For more information, please visit www.pureblendshaircare.com.

Charlotte Murray, a hairstylist at the UK-based Frockalicious, recently created this gorgeous, pastel mermaid hair color for her client. Says Charlotte, "We wanted to achieve a high-fashion pastelized mermaid feel with pops of pink and yellow complementing each other to create a soft, delicate color. In this case, my client Lydia already had her hair pre-lightened to around a 12 ash, perfect for this kind of soft color." Get Charlotte's color formulas and how-to for the look below!
 

Get the Look:
FORMULAS:
1. Instamatic Pink Dream 60mls & Wella Color Touch 6vol (1.9%) 60mls 1:1
2. Instamatic Muted Mauve 30mls + Smokey Amethyst 30mls & Wella Color Touch 6vol (1.9%) 60mls 1:1
3. Instamatic Jaded Mint 30mls & Wella Color Touch 6vol (1.9%) 30mls 1:1
4. Instamatic Ocean Storm 30mls & Wella Color Touch 6vol (1.9%) 30mls 1:1
5. Crazy Color Canary Yellow 30mls

HOW TO:
Note: Usually the hair needs to be pre-lightened to at least a 12 ash and sectioned from ear to ear, from the natural parting to the crown, then down the middle back.

1. Apply Formula 4 (Ocean Storm) to all of zone 1 (the root area) and stretch it down to at least 2 inches.

2. Develop for 10 minutess to a dark blue.

3. Apply any formula and smudge it into the blue, then apply another color at the bottom to create 3 different colors in each section. Make sure each color is blended into each other to create a rainbow ombré look.

4. Switch to any color combination or color a compete section one color and switch it up.

5. Leave about a 1-inch section at the top and do that blue so its a seamless transition.

6. Develop for at least 15 minutes, keeping an eye on the hair.

7. Rinse with cold water to stop the colors running and shampoo twice with Wella Color Save Shampoo.

8. Rinse each time with cold water!

9. Apply a Ph balancer and Affinage Summer Survival UV protection conditioner and rinse well.

10. Dry and style at desired

Credits:
Color, cut and style by Charlotte Murray at Frockalicious

[Images courtesy of Tottie Murray via Facebook]