Hair Color At The Highest Level is Much Simpler Than it Appears
Who knows why, but I make my job and writing these Posts much harder than they need to be. As a Top Colorist you get stories of how your clients got to where they are... that at times can be so long, I cannot believe it is one person. Truly, they are mind bending. I know you all think that how you got there will help us, but here is the absolute truth : all of that doesn't matter. It doesn't matter that you went from boxed color to Sally's and around the corner to the best Salon in your city... and you have spent thousands of dollars and hours of time - - and your hair is horrendous. It simply : DOESN'T MATTER, however meaningful to you. Isn't your goal : better hair color, truly?
Ouch, did I hurt anyone's feelings?
Boy I hope not, that is not the point. What I hope to do is to clean up the Home hair coloring world so the stigma's are gone. . . the truth is told and the Salon experience for those that choose that method is understood. There is something that comes from being raised in California {don't worry I know you all think we are nuts...and bonkers} - a freedom, a 'who-gives-a-shit' lifestyle, a healthy yet -- many times NOT so healthy existence in a world gone mad. Hardly seems worth it sometimes, especially if the planet is as doomed as we keep hearing. But anyway . . . see how I too, can get side-tracked. Which is what I am trying to teach you NOT TO DO. Stay on point, when speaking to me or yourself, the Group about your hair color dealings. If you do that one thing it will get you an answer on how to fix your mop. How great would that be?
THE POINT HERE IS SIMPLICITY when dealing with trying to straighten your hair color out, which is why so many of you happen upon our little struggling BLOG/GROUP & STORE. The reason I want to teach you this? IS to get you the answer you ultimately want - - only faster.
Drop the long stories, drop the lengthy-ass history . . . and "cut-to-the- chase" ( my personal favorite line ) and you know why ? ? You will get a better, more cared-for, more efficient answer to your puzzlement about your hair Color problems.
When I was training a very long time ago... she would give me a line-up of 15-20 clients.... I would have 15 minutes to go down the line and come up with the heads of hair "FORMULA's for all the clients. Now if each one had a long drawn out story . . . we would still be there. That is not how Sassoon works, they are a Hair Color BOOT CAMP, that's what I called them as I never quite had an experience like that before and I truly felt like I was in Boot Camp of some sort. The only information I could have would be the answer to 3 questions and 3 sentences written by the client and that was it. The 3/3 Method of Hair Color Formulation I would later teach all my assistants.
You would be surprised how that is all we needed. . . many times I got to the point of not needing the 3 sentences. But when I moved from the Academy setting to the Salon I gave every single client that sit in my chair a Questionnaire prior to me ever laying my hands on them.
That is what I want you all to work on, when you come to the group and ask questions. . . or in any future Consultations I conduct. There is one key word in each sentence...can you tell us what that word is? Please enter in the Comments section below.
The 3 Questions
1.) What is your virgin Level and Tone ? __________L _________T
2.) What is your present Level & Tone? __________L _________T
3.) What is your desired Level & Tone? __________L _________T
Now those 3 sentences . . . what would YOU choose to tell a top Colorist, if you could. If you were in this situation? For so many of you with Color issues, can you shorten your story down. I would hope that by hearing that this is not as complicated as so many of you think . . . that maybe you will take the plunge and give home hair coloring a shot. Its really not that hard, its really a very simple hobby. As with all things complicated in your life - research and study . . . I have 2 years of POSTS - right here in front of your face.
I have opened up the stigma of the Hair Color world for you to learn, and you know what I know for sure....??? Is that it works, I have hundreds of Crib Colorists that have taken the time, to read through the entire Blog and they are all successfully coloring their hair at home. No, you will not learn it all in a night.... not even 2 nights. Its not hard - - but is not just a 20-30 minute read either.
Anything good, does not come easy . . .
if I have learned one thing in life - is that 1 sentence is true. I don't believe there are any free-rides. You want to home hair color your hair and have it look like Gwen Stefani's or Gisele's. . . first you need to learn to "lower your standards" to who is exactly standing in front of you when you are in front of that mirror. Look at the "type" of hair you have, then IF you would like to have a celebrities hair, which can very successfully be done at home - be sure you pick a celeb's hair that is similar to your your type. Do they have the same texture? Do they have the same type of hair YOU have. If not, get over it - - and move on till you find one that does. There seems to be more celebrities than people now a days - its pretty ridiculous.
I am enjoying learning what a wonderful knowledge base Killer Strands has born... so many of our members can spout off Levels,Tones and procedures in the Group and wow it makes me proud of all of you that have taken the time to read what was very difficult for me to write. I now know why people 'teach' . It can be very rewarding ... what a wonderful warm feeling to see and hear a group of people spout off some of your very own verbiage, teachings, etc. It is just inspiring to me. . .truly inspiring.
Remember my number one recommendation if you are an old member a new member. . . or just a member. Start at the beginning and read forward. . .go a week at a time - if you can't handle anymore. Read the entire Blog, that one suggestion has retrieved the most compliments . So there is your project for the week. . . set goals, even with your hair, get it in the best shape it has ever been. Have day after day of GOOD HAIR DAYS.... it's not that hard, I promise.
This comment is a bit beside the point of the post, so please excuse me.
ReplyDeleteThe third pic from the bottom, the one with the back view of the girl holding her hair, is her hair color an example of Ash?
Great points, I hope everyone takes them to heart and really hear what you are saying. Now, how about some postings on coming up with color formulations and combos of colors. I think more time has been spent on going blonde and we know this is one of your areas of expertise and most requested service. However, I am sure you are probably have other areas of expertise like teaching us the art of how to combine multiple colors. There are just no posts on how to do this. And yes a few of us are trying to get our hands on some swatch charts/books. They are very hard to come by even on Ebay. We would love to know!! So....if you could find the time posting on how to go about combining colors would be great!
ReplyDeleteThanks again for this wonderful blog.
I totally agree with the above post on all points. I'd love to see some more info on other colors.
ReplyDeleteAnd any tips on getting ahold of color swatch charts would be greatly appreciated.
Please tell a newbie "Where the beginning is"? Are you referring to the blog, or group as a starting point???
ReplyDeleteWhere is the beginning of both?
Regarding Wella swatch charts: I think if you send in a certain number of empty Koleston or Color Touch boxes they will send you a swatch chart. I do not know the details, though.
ReplyDeleteHi
ReplyDeleteI agree with you 100%, I always read you! Please help me, in a past post you say that natural hair level 3 can be dye with 12 ash and 40 vol to get 7 ash, I did that and I got Very Light Golden-Orange Blonde, I tried to cover that with a 7 ash, didnt work, so I used 6 ash, and it was fine for a week, now it looks orangey again. My hair always get orange-reddish, should I use a 7 ash with 40vol and half color blue or green? I want to reach a level 7 ash or at least a 6 ash. My hair is straight, fine, I am latin. Thank you! : ) Betty
Yes, There is soooo much good info here, but I'm getting lost and not sure where to start? Just trying to learn how to do my own color. Where is the starting point???
ReplyDeleteScroll to almost the bottom of the blog page and you'll see a long list of dates. The bottom date is the first week, so start there. Happy reading! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Slim :-)
ReplyDeleteSlim,
ReplyDeleteNo, I would not say that is a good depiction of ASH...
That is kind of an upside down question.
Remember Ash ... in the world of hair color is any color a particular manufacturer has used to get rid of warmth.
it can be lavender with one company and green with another....
So I hope you can see why I don't quite understand what you are asking.
But, no I guess would be the answer...that is not a photo of "Ash"
KC
Sending in Box tops is for licensed hair stylists ONLY that will not work for anyone else you must have your a REP.
ReplyDeleteWhat I am trying to do with this site is not disrupt the licensed hair stylists. I am not here to ruin the way they feed their families...but to help those that have no access to decent hair color, something I have found to be an out-of-control problem.
Its a careful line I am walking, but I do not wish to sling information out there that could possibly hurt the licensed stylist...so be careful -- please.
I don't have anything against anyone in particular, just trying to do my own little corner of trying to help the men/women of America out in the way I know best.
KC
Ok, I see what you mean. I thought that would be the case. I was just curious because the color seemed a little... cool, i guess?
ReplyDeleteIt seems that a lot of people talk about their "ash blonde" or brown, or whatever color, but I've never really seen a true ash. I always thought it was just as you said it was, a tone companies make to balance other tones.
not sure if any of that made sense..