Fall 2012 'Hair' Has Fall's Most Insane & Hot Trends

Fall's Most Killer Trend is Hair "Color"  &  Hair Accessories 

Now. . .....Have you seen all the amazing headbands & jewels for the hair ?

#1.) Hair Jewelry / Accessories and
#2.) Crazy Colors in every form and color : Pink - blue -  Red - Violet ....

In all my years of doing hair I wished for a season that was as jam packed as this one we are about to embark on... I swear I would dream the ideas I now see in front of my face in the Fall magazines. . I promise you I would think now "why can't we have jewelry for the hair??? Never in a million years did I think the amount of jewelry that is everywhere this season would happen in my lifetime.

So, for all of you with some guts and even for all of you without some  . . . load up on some.....feast your eyes on the most beautiful season of hair adornment there has even been.

 Crazy colors have been in for nearly 25 years..... they come in and go out almost as fast as a hurricane does. I got used to the short amount of time they would be around a long time ago. NOT THIS TIME !
They began last spring in this new and even CRAZIER CRAZY if there is such a thing. . .but I truly Thank the Lord Up Above . . . there is just something about  having  Crazy ASS COLORS on the Runways....on the biggest stars in the world.....

(photos from ELLE magazine - seems Ms. Perry has moved up in the world)

 Don't be afraid, dive right in and wear the ideas we have with pride and with a giant smile on your face.

The whole season looks to be extremely exciting as far as everything "hair" oriented. . . just check out our own sampling of some of my favorite headbands...that I have found the absolute biggest challenge to show you . . ..
HOW CAN I DISPLAY THEM SO YOU MIGHT EVEN SEE just a TENTH of how beautiful they are. Somewhere on the web I caught the name of this couple that were from India ... who were artists themselves...sounded like they met and their separated talents were combined to make a colossal brilliant line called Deepa Gurnami - just absolutely exquisite work.

Also how "timeless" they can be...
You may wear them Pocahontas style  or  regular hairband style,
if they fit one way
 they will fit the other
so you never need to worry about that. I have tried shooting them every which way and they always look like  pieces of brown ribbon......you miss the hand beading , the hand workmanship period.... which isn't fair to anyone

 . . . so I want all of you to get a glimpse of our headbands and ponytails . . . our prices for each item are dollars less than anywhere I have seen. These headbands are guaranteed 100%, you will be shocked at the quality they are truly a work of art.
 Killerstrands Store / Handmade headbands

Healthy Shiny Hair's Bloodline is the Water From Your Shower Head

There are a million and 1 Shower-Heads out there (if you cannot treat your entire water supply) you must invest in one of these

Water is extremely important within the 10,000 HEADS protocol ; it is the subject of 2 steps because of the time it spends ‘on’ and ‘in’ your body.

The water used on your hair when you shampoo and rinse is extremely important and alters both the length of your hair colour and the over all condition and health of your hair. Any process or product that results in damage to the hair strand and hair follicle needs to be changed or eliminated as we continue our quest for killer strands. This step is also made on the assumption that your tap water is as pathetic as it is in this area, if you have wonderful water–count your blessings, and you may also skip this step. For the remainder of you, it is the chlorine, most likely that you taste, chlorine is used to disinfect water, but at certain levels is not safe for drinking, showering or bathing. That water is as bad for your hair strand as it is for your taste buds.

The chlorine that is in today’s water is at dangerous levels within the bathroom, when you take a hot shower the chlorine vaporizes in the air, combines with other organic compounds in the air and forms chloroform gas, which is a strong irritant to the lungs and does cause fatigue. Besides the lungs the chlorine wrecks havoc on the hair and it appears as dried out, frazzled and depleted, it is one of the worst types of damage and very difficult to recover from. Young water polo players and swimmers come through the clinic, and with the chlorine levels in competitive swimming pools super high, the damage in these 16,17,18 year olds hair comes very close to some of the worst we’ve seen, it is almost the same as oxidation from peroxide burning where you will also see a lot of breakage and splitting. (If you have someone experiencing this problem please email the clinic KillerTrinity3@aol.com for the proper treatment suggestion, we have this solved with a fairly easy protocol).
To solve this problem of lousy water there are 3 levels of solutions, which depend on the amount of money you can spend and the type of living arrangement you have.

MALIBU 2000 WELL WATER SHAMPOO: Cheapest, easiest and works for traveling…a good clarifying shampoo. Now this can be tricky and the only brand that I have ever found (the Head Colourist at Vidal Sassoon turned me on to) is MALIBU2000. They have a number of different shampoos and protein packs, the one you want is the shampoo that says “WELL WATER ACTION shampoo” Sulfate-free. They have done the impossible, created a gentle for your colour/ hair follicle shampoo that cleanses the chlorine and other grime out of the water so it is not sitting on the hair, day in and day out.

This works when you cannot afford the shower filter, but our number 1 choice for this step is the:
SHOWER WATER FILTER: There are dozens of them out there, and everyone claims to be better than the next. The Aquasana brand seems to be the one a lot of clients end up with, you are safe with that one. Keep track of when you bought the filter and buy enough filters for the year (great gift idea for someone to get you). You save $$ if you buy filters when you purchase the shower head, but it is imperative to change the filter when recommended or it becomes useless. Another advantage to the filter: helps with the pH balance of your hair; imperative for soft, shiny hair.

WHOLE-HOUSE SYSTEMS: There are even more companies that do this than the other 2 combined. The issue regarding the chlorine in the water and the chloroform bomb the hot water creates has become well known, as it is dangerous for asthmatics and bothersome to those with lung problems, so the water industry has grown a lot in the last 10 years to help take care of the demand. Call 4 or 5 water treatment companies in your area, with Kenmore(Sears) being one of them, get estimates and tell them you are looking for water that will be as clean as Reverse Osmosis treated water and your concerns with your hair. Pick one and let us know how they do so we can start up a list of, “KILLER – water treatment companies”.

Using either of the last 2 methods will do wonders for your skin and the shower stall as well. Having that change in the water will give you softer, smoother skin and will keep your shower stall much cleaner so the purchase actually solves 3 problems, not bad for a single purchase.

Top 10 Tricks to Changing Hair Color Frequently

Top 10 Tricks to Changing Hair Color

Often & Safely...Often & Safely

• Put the "Health" of your hair number #1


• NEVER - EVER use a Boxed Hair Color Kit again


• Apply "After-Color" treatment for pH Level, following every single color service


• Follow directions on the brand of color you purchase - - we carry great color and it is not that expensive. I WANT EVERY ONE OF YOU TO BUY ONE less coffee this week, then "POOF" you will be able to afford decent hair color.


• Deep (overnight) condition once/week every week for the rest  your life


• Use VANISH, I suggest our kits...its the only Color Remover that not only works, but does not damage hair when finished, which allows the changing to continue. This is a huge secret I have let out of the bag, use it or don't do it!


• Never change entire hair color more than once in 30 days.( Pro's can do it, you cannot).


• Plan Ahead: if dark and going blond, begin the 'shampoo train' (shampooing 4-5-6 times:use lousy shampoo: in one evening: using start/stop method)-remember shampoo is most gentle method for removing hair color>yes it removes 'permanent')


• When using Lighteners (bleach) use Oil Bleach absolutely as often as possible (changing more frequently & safely > will be your reward!) We now have a great


• Plan Ahead (yes, i know its twice) doing radical hair color changes can be fun and possible if you just remember to keep in mind that you have to do something next, which is what many people forget, including hair stylists. Treat your hair kindly, if you do, it will reward you by letting you change the colors as often, as wild or as timid as you want.

I WILL NEVER-EVER USE BOXED HAIR COLOR KITS

I WILL NEVER -EVER USE BOXED HAIR COLOR KITS

I WILL NEVER -EVER USE BOXED HAIR COLOR KITS

I WILL LEARN HOW TO USE THE LEVEL SYSTEM

I WILL LEARN HOW TO USE THE LEVEL SYSTEM

I WILL LEARN HOW TO USE THE LEVEL SYSTEM

.................................Killer Chemist

Finer Points of Hair Color Application : Begining at the Basics

Killerstrands Begins at The Basics, of Hair Color That Is ...

Basics. People always talk about "going back to the basics" when they are successful. How the basics in training have gotten the Olympic athletes where they are now.

The basics in swimming? Get in the Pool .... put one arm over the other and kick like hell, seems easy doesn't it ?

I want to talk a lot more about the basics of hair color and hair health. I will be (trying) to re-organize the posts of this 5 year blog (OMG?!!) ... put the posts into chapters if you will ... more of a sequential order. Therefore, what is that called ?...... Oh, A Book .. Going Back to the Basics we are!  A Blog, is supposed to be a pleasant deviation from the rigidity of a book, which is the only reason I ever started this.  I felt maybe I would keep it up with this type of format .  I am the furthest thing from a writer.

 Hair color will never be : "I would like to be a Level 10 with silver highlights" - I and a few dozen others here in the USA could actually do that task no matter what. I pride myself in becoming a great student of Lucie.... my mentor. She can do it and so can I. The deal with it is ....we would be doing this on a hair models hair so we would never have to see her again. What I learned when I got to the outside Salon was...I needed to care about how healthy their hair was ..because you build a great clientele by having your hair color on hundreds of people's head.

 And that is what happened. 

I am missing a lot of the smaller in-between-basics I need in order to attempt to organize the Blog like a book....sort of. Yep the basics have always eluded me in life as well ... I always learn the beginning and then speed by the basics to end up in the advanced area.

So, here we go with some of the basics of hair coloring. Killer style. I'm trying to teach myself how to write shorter-to-the-point posts.

Wish me luck.   I think I blew it already !

 

The topics today...

• P & S tests : Patch & Strand Test
• ..........2nd post this week . ...will be some basics on actually mixing from the tubes

There are 2 tests in hair coloring, and if you have never even seen or heard of one, that's bad and it scares me for you. But, with the amount of clients Hair Stylists need to cram in one day to make just a decent salary is crazy, they barely get by on what they make...the only one that is getting rich is the owner.

  These both are mandatory at least here in California. 

•  the PATCH test 
•  the STRAND test

 both have their uses and I am going to just explain them and let you know why we have them and the good and bad points. Coming from the Academy of Hair that I did ..... they didn't stress these tests as they don't have them in England.. When I got out into the real world, I did them the first month....then realized - realistically there is simply not enough time. The Client couldn't be bothered 98% of the time. But, I know there are people who are sketched & sensitive to different things now, so if you are -- stand up for yourself .  My way around it all was to have every single client fill out a 10 point questionnaire before I ever touched their hair...1 question was "are you a sensitive person" (obviously not emotionally - you can't image some of the answers I received..." yeah I cry at sad movies...." ?!?!?!?)

Patch test: This test is supposed to be performed on every person that sits in a Stylists chair for hair color and especially if you have never had haircolor on previously. If you are a sensitive person like sensitive to foods, medications, pollen, you know all those types of things I would definitely either perform one on yourself, or if you are headed to the Salon, call ahead and ask them if you can come in the day before your appointment to get one. I'm fairly certain they are required in every state, if they are not....write your congressman. Seriously. If you order color from us, you may request a free patch test kit...it has all the supplies for you to do one very simply. The idea is to put the color on a part of your skin for 24 hours. No shower. Check it and presto zesto - its either a 'yay' or a 'nay'. 

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but you could be OK with one brand, and change brands, it could be different ( that is super rare).

Another thing never trust hair colorists/stylists.....

You know how you wonder what the waiters are doing to your food in the kitchen..

I saw things in the color room that made me shudder....

If you worry about germs etc... start reading the Blog....I have never been to a Salon myself  since I was forced to quit. I have a broken collar bone/shoulder blade, never healed right, so it is soo hard to do myself.

Strand Test: much easier - but I still find so many of you not taking me up on this one... When you have had multiple kinds of hair color on your hair over the years.... you just never know what a person is going to end up with during the recolor process.. 

That is the main mission of this test.  

If you apply the intended color to just a small portion of your hair - you or I or whomever has something to work with....I cannot tell you the amount of people that call here in a panic, with many of you most of you wondering what to do because they VANISHED off all their old hair color all day......  then applied the color over the whole head of hair.....I mean it says in my directions - all the tricks to not having that happen if you are not going to follow that....boy that is frustrating. I open up the world of professional hair color to you and you don't follow it? You got me there. You win. 

 I'm taking my ball and going home then.

They act as though I am trying to trick them and there is an easier way. 

1st of all if that really were the case... why would I tell you differently, you obviously have not read a thing about us here. I was the first person to crack this theory on the web, of opening up the professional world of color/products and styling, to you, I see no world that would make sense in.

There is an easier way and I am telling you it is exactly what you find on the shelves of your local supermarket, Sally's & CVS ..... "shit-in-a-box" .

I just saw the other day....some rim-rod has made one for 4X the money & is selling them... same theory . . . . they have no theory. Just a bigger bottle, a pretty brown box.

Everyone wants to get in on the Hair Color making business, that is why Paul Mitchell bought up RENBOW and ruined the 1 true & remarkable hair color that existed on planet earth. The hair color itself is a very very profitable one, the mark-up is so high. I wrote last years statistics down so these aren't exact... but it is an over $$50 billion dollar a year business, and in these hard financial times.....P & G - (the largest hair color manufacturer in the world) business was up 4.7%.  I found this to be soooo true when I was in the Salon, when economic times were bad women would skimp on something else <> NOT on hair color.

I'm sorry but hair color is only simple and easy in 1 area .... and that is if you have 100% virgin hair. I could give consults with 1 email, life would be grand

That is when hair color is easy. The rules are short and quick ... so I would like to turn the board around and send you to the corner, because 95% of you already have color on your hair !!

So...no, jumping through hoops ... I don't know about where you live but in southern California hair color is more important than sunglasses.

Just ask Perez Hilton.

Pink.

Britney.

Cher.

Rhianna

Lady Gaga

and any one of the illegal blonde's:

Gwyneth

Kate

Scarlett

Claire

HAIR COLOR IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN SUNGLASSES AND SUN-BLOCK

and you heard it here folks !

 I've failed miserably in keeping this short

I am going to try something for 2 weeks - - I am going to write 2 posts a week, 1 here in the Blog and one in the Newsletter we have been sending out. People like it and its here to stay.

So, in trying to fill in a lot of the blanks I have found I missed. That is how you will catch them.

Thanx, KC

                                                               

Every Once In a While a Comment Just Means So Much . . . .

I receive many comments from people throughout the world. Most Thank me for writing this Blog & all the education I provide for the public. Secondly - for Killerstrands own product line. Every single one I read : makes my day better, I read them all and absorb them all - so please never stop. But on an especially hard day for me - this one just hit the right minute.... it  tickles me when someone masters the Level System of Hair Color, on their own.   Touche. . . whomever you are . . . KC    I have ordered from your site and still love my Thriven. Keeping my hair healthy, minimizing thinning and coloring. I currently use wella, but am interested in your Lanza line. Your site has taught me so much about hair and has enabled me to finally find a great stylist (Sassoon trained) that made such a difference in my hair. I have also learned about the level system which is invaluable. Thank you for your site and your store, my hair is in better shape than it has ever been, now to work on my skin ..........  unknown  - - Hudson, NH  . . . .  KC

KillerStrands Most Powerful Step : After Every Time You Color Your Hair...

Colour After-Treatment Process 

Throughout these posts you may find my views different from the norm, that would stem from specializing in 3 fields instead of one. More often than not I eliminate useless steps and tasks purely developed for tacking on a few extra bucks to a bill or invoice. That just was never me. I work on the theory: the better the job I do, the more people will flock to me, that theory has worked well in life for me.

No sooner said....I am asking you to add a step to your regimen you most likely have never heard of. I would be surprised if many stylists use this step routinely it adds 'time constraints' to an already overcrowded day usually, it is just as important as a neutralizer is with a perm, in my opinion....basically its the same thing.

This is something every person with $150 - $350. highlights should be aware of. Choose your words carefully when trying to find out if your stylist does the step. Be nice!

An after-treatment is absolutely necessary for oxidative hair colour treatment ( which is any color with peroxide). Only with these after-treatments can residues of hydrogen peroxide, alkali or perusulfate's (bleach) be removed. When you put your hair through the coloring process you are shaking up the pH level. After a color, perm, straightening or any chemical process is complete the hair goes into a type of 'mini-shock' and the single best way to 'un-shock' and restore & relax your hair to its original pH level is to apply one of these 'post'-treatment's for 10-20-30 minutes.Depending on the procedure I would even consider wearing IN-TENSIVE overnight to really keep the hair in a stage of BLISS ....Just try it once, it truly is the most remarkable of all my discoveries I feel.

Its really very simple after your last rinse you apply the product to hair, comb thru, leave on: 10-20-30 minutes and rinse. That's it, you're ready to go and your hair is one happy damn camper!

Effects of an after-treatment:
Removes hydrogen peroxide, alkali, and peroxide residues.
Closes the cuticle layer and give the hair shine
Stabilises colour for longer durability of the colour
Protects from creeping oxidation
Makes the hair easier to comb

The trick here is using the right product..it must have the correct ingredients to accomplish the process. There are hundreds of lines of colour...Matrix, Redken, Clairol, Framesi,  each one makes an after-treatment product. Its just not one of those "glitzy" packages or marketing wonders that drown our universe. But a very necessary part of the process for healthy hair. We now make our own product we call IN.TENSIVE that is our number 1 seller here at Killerstrands. Here is the link, as this product works so many wonders you are going to wonder how you eve survived without it.
Take me to IN.TENSIVE in KS store . . .

Killer Strands is located in the heart of L.A. so we have access to many wonderful sources. But, my goal for this site is ...I'd like this site to work for everyone, across the country.

                                 See The Peek-A-Boo Strands of Light Bronze under the dark midnite color so many things can be done to hair now a days it truly is this giant Canvas with a million different brushes to choose from. . . .

So now we have put this after-treatment product together for you - - so everyone is able to have the most fan-tab-u-lous After-Color Treatment in the world  - -  at their very own home.
This little trick of mine, using a "post-color treatment after every single hair coloring will keep your hair strong shiny and undamaged....it truly is, one of the best kept secrets on the hair planet!
This is an excellent After-Treatment, it deals with the pH level better than anything I have found.

Remember, having your hair at the proper pH level (slightly acidic - 4.5 to 5.5) produces shiny-healthy-happy hair.

KC

Killer Chemist

Lets Talk Hair Color Categories <> Beginning w/ Demi-Permanent

There are a four hair color categories in the world of hair color:

• Temporary Hair Color
• Semi-Permanent Hair Color
• Demi-Permanent Hair Color 
• Permanent Hair Color

At this particular time, ALL OF YOU....want to know ALL ABOUT: Demi-Permanent Hair color... 

It lasts longer than semi-permanent, is great for first timers, great for when that first grey hits your temples, is perfect for men/women wanting to color their grey at home with top quality hair color.

I developed a love and deep affection for the newest category of hair color many years ago, as soon as the category was announced, now, nearly every single line has a demi-permanent line of hair color. 

We, carry 3 different demi-permanent lines :  

• Wella Color Touch   
• Schwarzkopf Toners
• Demi Toners for Blondes + Brunettes....Various Brands

When I began in the hair business, Demi Permanent Hair color did not exist. this new category added a whole new plethora of hair coloring ideas and options that are endless.

• great choices for Hair Color "first timers"
• clients 'new' to Gray hair
• even "teen" Hair Color benefits from new class of hair color
• men, perfect for men's hair color 
• let alone all tricks we use it for in Hair Shows + Editorial Shoots 

 We use multiple Demi Permanent brands of Hair Color here at KillerStrands

 Demi is used on almost all Hair Color & Shampoo photo shoots. . . for any & all the boxed hair color brands . I'm sorry to say we don't use the product that is inside the box, we use the most expensive and BEST LINE of Hair Color that exists. What people want and look for is:  ? ? ? ? Shine - SHINE - SHINE - SHINE, and awesome condition. I mean besides the obvious "Photo Shop--ping" and silicone shine serums we have used since the 1990's if you can believe that ! We hi-jacked the silicone serums from the ethnic hair care companies...who found them to help with their FRIZZ 20 years ago which is pretty funny if you think about it.. that's how I found them 15 years ago!  We used to keep our photography secrets - hidden and away from the public. 

A while ago on the front page of the Los Angeles Times were 2 photos of a model  . . . both were in Color ....

The entire page was devoted to explaining in detail how the PHOTO SHOP program works and how almost every single actor, model and even sports celebrities have PHOTO SHOP Editing rights on every Photo taken of them - prior to publishing. The reason this article was in there? Seems one of the Kardashian sisters (who live near here)  had a photo taken of her and published 'accidentally'  PRE- PHOTO SHOPPING procedure. Turns out the young lady is a lot heftier than we see, think or believe her to be. Boy did that news spread, (operative word being 'spread')  - -lawsuits were threatened, yelling and screaming ensued we could hear all the way in my city 20 miles away ( not really but sounds good- - -  right?) all sorts of important things like that were flung from email to email.!! The result? The article on the front page of the Los Angeles Times, when I saw that initially I just laughed and laughed. It actually was a relief and I couldn't wait to not be restricted by that "silent" code of conduct.... 

Hallelujah! I could finally talk about it all openly and not have to worry I was the one blowing the whistle on the whole process. I WANT all the info out there, so young girls know the truth about these models that they look up to. I want them to see and hear how much work we go to, to make them look perfect , its something they can never achieve and it took me  a lot of years to comes to Terms with myself.....

The 2 photos of the model ( which were huge) showed the difference in very explicate detail, the photo on the left was the "Before" Shot.....the photo on the "right" was this woman "Photo Shop-ped" and 'After'. The article was a good one, I didn't even need to read it, I knew exactly what it said.... but when you have based a huge portion of your career on the deception we call advertising.... 

Well ---> It was as if I had been holding my breath for years, and I finally could let it out . That is what that article and those photos did to me and I'm sure every single other artist that works on advertising & photos and in that genre, from make-up people, to hair, to production, to P R, to Publicists, Agents, to the Celebs themselves. The truth finally out there.. OMG, don't you just LOVE the Internet..... here are the photos:

 

This is what young girls strive to make themselves like. . . something that just isn't even real. Please educate your daughters and yourself on this deception.... that is very carefully crafted.

Now, let me get back to Demi-permanent Hair Color.The newest classification of hair color which is called Demi Permanent is deposit only and referred to as 'semi' permanent by some manufacturers, it is very similar to semi, but more long lasting.  Some of the European companies have chosen to use super low volume peroxides to differentiate the semi from the demi lines. But if you read the first post, which I hope you do/did . . . “True” Semi-Permanent hair color is not mixed with any sort of developer or catalyst and that is how I feel it needs to stay. I teach you all this, in the hopes honestly, it depends on the manufacturer, the Colorist or the school as to how it is defined. My education is Vidal Sassoon based which is known as the "Harvard of Hair Schools" so I think you'll be safe using my criteria.

First of all it helps if you understand a little bit about the technical side of how hair dyes work. Semi-permanent color consists of tiny molecules that enter through the cuticle but they don’t affect the natural pigmentation of the hair. Because these molecules are so small they can be washed out after only half a dozen washes.This is the one and only hair color that does not change your own hair color at all. The rest do, which I know is odd to many of you. But there are no rules in hair color, there is no one single HAIR GOD that regulates how the hair color system works.  The hair color manufacturers make it up as they go along.

 DROP GOES THE JAW of most of you!

I have seen "Semi-Permanent Haircolor Boxes" where they provide developer in the box. That is a major hair color company going AGAINST the rules of haircoloring in order to sell a product to you. As you can see a semi-permanent hair color Can not and Should not COME with DEVELOPER. Maybe if I put this here, people that come to visit here,  will begin to learn and someday some of you will begin getting mad, when your hair color has been destroyed due to that fact. You must start writing .... start turning those companies IN.   Where do you turn them in? start with your local congressional Rep (Google it) and then CC the Food and Drug Administration (Google it).

Demi-permanent color also enters through the cuticle but it combines with other molecules in your hair to make it larger molecules and these take longer to wash out....Demi permanent color is used with any developer 3 Volume all the way to 18 Volume. So many of you get all in a fluff when I tell you 15 Volume is Demi the same as 10Volume ...the same as 6 Volume ... all of which we carry.  Hair color is a scientific science it is not an Artistic painting. If you follow the rules of the science that I try to teach ........you will have successful color. It also involves color theory from the artistic world though so you cannot just be a Cosmetic Chemist. When that web site online that claims to be all Cosmetic Chemists and they answer all your questions and they claim" they don't work for anyone". Ask yourself ........who do you know who works all day on a business does it for free??? My answer to you........No one.  The Cosmetic Chemists  HAD to get together with the hair artists in order to make the hair color chemistry work correctly, because they did not understand color theory at all.

....which brings us to Permanent hair dyes, these react after entering your hair because they use ammonia and peroxide which shrinks as the molecules of color go in the hair strands and then makes the color molecules EXPAND so they cannot get out once inside.... it makes the molecules much too big to be washed back out of the hair. If you keep this information about molecules in mind when deciding which hair dye to use then it will stop you from choosing the wrong product.
Always make sure that you do a strand test before dying your hair, this makes sure that you have the color you want and that you don’t react to the dye, remember different dyes from different makers have different chemicals in them. There is no UNIVERSAL SYSTEM over-seeing the hair color business . . . that implements these rules/laws .  Its up to each hair color company to follow what we hope is this universal LEVEL System I talk about so much.

 Remember . . . You may ALWAYS request a Free Strand Test with your purchase, I do that to show you how much I believe in them.

  If you have long hair make sure that you cover it properly with the color in any of the categories.... otherwise you will end up with streaks you don’t want and make sure that your hair is clean and damp before applying the dye.  For the absolute best application I would ALWAYS suggest applying one of our Malibu2000 COLOR PREP Applications.  Make sure that your bathroom or wherever else you dye your hair has plenty of fresh air - its just great for the lungs and health...don’t use hair conditioner for a day or so before putting on the hair dye but you should shampoo your hair to makes sure that it’s clean. 

 When using Level 7 and darker I would suggest using a Barrier Cream       which you apply around the hairline....it keeps the color OFF the skin, at the end of the process with darker colors. On the flip side there is also color-OFF that is used when the procedure is done and you didn't get it all off the skin.

If you stain your skin when dyeing your hair then rub a little stain remover. You will lose some hair when dying it but to keep this to a minimum after you have dyed it rinse it with cold or lukewarm water.

I like to think of Demi Perm Colors as any color line that uses above 5 Volume and below 19 Volume Developer, which makes this the perfect category to be used on men's, the first grays and up to 20 -25% Gray.

I use Demi Permanent Hair color on almost everyone EXCEPT if you want to go LIGHTER, that is the BIGGEST difference....in Demi-permanent color and Permanent color. The only action that will happen is Deposit of color - no lift <> no lightening......so remember that. There is no SUCH THING as a Semi-Permanent Blond no such thing as Demi Permanent blond. Those words make absolutely NO SENSE. If its a Level 9 blond that means it is a TONER .....remember why? because the developer is 10 or 13 Volume and that means its deposit only.  

I am of the belief that depositing color in the hair strands of either gray, white, or simply middle-aged (weak) hair can add:

• strength
• shine
• illusion of thickness
• reduce frizz & tangles 

This formula generally imparts vivid color results, and is ideal for covering un-pigmented hair, refreshing faded permanent color, depositing tonal changes without lift, corrective coloring and low-lighting.

 First of all it helps if you understand a little bit about the technical side of how hair dyes work. Semi-permanent color consists of tiny molecules that enter through the cuticle but they don’t affect the natural pigmentation of the hair. Because these molecules are so small they can be washed out after only half a dozen washes. Demi-permanent color also enters through the cuticle but it combines with other molecules in your hair to give larger molecules and these take longer to wash out, which brings us to Permanent hair dyes, these react after entering your hair because they use ammonia and peroxide and this makes the molecules much too big to be washed back out of the hair. If you keep this information about molecules in mind when deciding which hair dye to use then it will stop you from choosing the wrong product.  

Always make sure that you do a strand test before dying your hair, this makes sure that you have the color you want and that you don’t react to the dye, remember different dyes from different makers have different chemicals in them. If you have long hair make sure that you cover it properly with the dye otherwise you will end up with streaks you don’t want and make sure that your hair is clean and damp before applying the dye. I feel using our product that is a pH BALANCER  and is called INTENSIVE....helps with the shine and the longevity of the color on the strands...

By their very nature, demi's or deposit-only hair colors darken the natural hair color when applied. They cause little or no damage to the hair and are generally positioned as gentle and mild due to their low ammonia or no ammonia content. In recent years, many top  colorists will apply demi to the 'lengths' of the hair while permanent is applied to the roots. That is how the true color application should be applied.

Apply Permanent color to the base and Demi Permanent ot the ends to refresh the color if you are just trying to stay the same color.

This fights the build-up effect that can occur on previously colored hair and is also less aggressive, resulting in less damage.

Demi-Permanent Hair Color

• contains no ammonia
• is mixed with an activator, such as peroxide
• activator lifts cuticle slightly so color sits in and under the cuticle
• lasts 18 to 20 shampoos
• fades gradually and then washes out to the original color of the hair
• used for toning, changing tone, filling in highlights, and going darker
• good way to temporarily change hair color to try something new
• also recommended to color hair that is already significantly damaged or over processed

Demi-permanent hair color is, in fact, permanent hair dye mixed with low volume (usually a 5,10 up to 15 Volume) developer that blows off the ammonia from the permanent tube so that only color molecules penetrate the hair shaft.

Demi-permanents are much more effective at covering gray hair than semi-permanents, but less so than permanents.

However, demi-permanent hair colors must be used with caution because they are, in essence, permanent color and the darker shades in particular may persist longer than indicated on the box.

The two best lines in this category are:

• Wella Professional meaning Koleston Perfect, Illumina, Color Touch,Blondor, MAGMA
• Schwarzkopf : Igora Royal, Vibrance, BlondME

to date I have tested most every line and am still headstrong about these brands: its results & quality are top-of-the-line
d

Shhaarroonnn - America's Got Talent Judges' Hair Color Formula . . .

Sharon Osbourne has held a soft place in my heart since she first appeared on what was one of the very first Reality Shows on MTV... 20 years ago. . . . . .

I never knew who Ozzy was and when I found out by watching this show I became a lifelong fan . The whole thing was just a crazy - crack-up, funny - funny show and the best part is .. it truly was Real. That was before they came up with the idea to manufacturer reality shows... But, its nice to see this family remained intact throughout the whole debacle. It seems they have calmed down and now seem soooo non-radical what with Jack developing MS and having a baby all at once it seems.

 I have colored many a woman's hair Sharron's color... it has always been this great Violet Red....in the coloring world we refer to it as VRV or the Violet-Red-Violet Tone. So, without going into too much of the Killerstrands Teaching Song & Dance ... I am going to give you a few simple rules before you tackle this formula on YOUR hair..... that must be followed.

Sharon has the most incredible head of hair - ever - she has enough hair for 6 people ....which I honestly feel makes her hair just look like an illuminated Crown..

She like so many of my former clients has a Salon built right in her home......so 'we' go to them..... she doesn't have to leave the house to have her bi-monthly toners applied to refresh the boldness this particular color demands to look like it does on-camera.

So there is 'what' you need to be aware of...... but nowadays, its easy to get a colored shampoo We make a Red Violet one or a Red or a Violet Tinted Shampoo its called - Bleeding Heart in  BURST  that will keep it fresh and shiny  and they have been super popular hear in California........

Its what we call a Violet Red Violet  VRV.......... So remember what you have on your hair to begin with.....AFFECTS EVERYTHING IN your Hair Color Results.
If your hair color currently is Darker than the below formula - - you MUST VANISH out the color FIRST.
Vanish is the one and only safe - peroxide-free and bleach-free product that truly removes hair color with not one little tiny ounce of damage....which is music to my ears....
Remember, the most important trick in the world for me doing hair the "Killerstrands way".....is to have it end up as healthy "after" the coloring as it was "before" the coloring

Assuming your hair is  a level 5 or "lighter' the following formula will nail it....

with grey:

5.0 + 55/46V + 44/65RV   + 20 Volume

without grey:

5V + 4RV + 20V  ( 30 Volume only if you are a lot darker and have virgin hair)

Killerstrands Store = Koleston perfect has had the reputation for years for having the best RED + the best RED/VIOLETS

Its funny before I saw these photos I would have sworn you should use more of the Violet Tone than the RV tone.... now I take that back, she looks more Red than Violet.... but Reds are a funny thing, they can completely change a full level in either tone or Level with just one shampoo and you have yourself a complete new hair color each & every day.

Or you can work at it like Sharon does and give yourself toners of those same colors.... only with the Translucent Developer or the Demi.... and poof you have it all in a nutshell.

The Typical Journey a "BOX" of Haircolor Puts You Through

This week was very heavy with emails from those of you - who are caught up in the cycle of using boxed hair color, you want out....but you claim price and knowledge of  'how-to-become' a Crib Colorist'...seems over your head. You think you can't learn a few rules and make the switch -  you think you might as well just go buy one more box-o-crap as I like to refer to it....

So for fun I drew up a little graphic to show you the cycle of how much chaos & $$ that one little box will cost you in :

• stress
• money
• hair health 
• oh and did I mention 'stress' ?

I would imagine many of you are laughing right now??
Or crying maybe ... ??
Well I made this so hopefully it will rattle you a little, and get you to spend a little time with us here at Killerstrands, working out your hair color formula with one of our two lines of hair color. I know it may seem over whelming but we are here to help with this. We have the KILLER 9 Questions and if you answer those and send them in with your order I will send you the answer to your hair color solutions - we will soon have some kits up as I iron out the details of how exactly to do that for those of you who don't take my offer up of sending in your Killer 9 with your order - any order....in which I will then return your Consultation results.
I am prepping a series on : 'Simple & Clear Hair Coloring' that will get rid of all the big explanations and will condense it right back down to the basics of the process.

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hope
this
helps