You were looking for the Jennifer Aniston thing, you got the Carrot Top the repulsive comedian thing. Sure redheads are, um, sorta great, not him, but you wanted buttery blonde. Why did you go red? You’ve been bitten by the dreaded brassiness, but there is a cure.
Any time you bleach your hair lighter, with highlights or single-process color (all over color), there is an awful chemical truth. You will eventually experience the dreaded nightmare: brassiness. As color fades, the residue “lifts” to a warm tone, and it is sayonara, sweet sunstreaks and hello, Bette Midler.
How to counteract the problem.
BRASS BALLS
Have your stylist do a single-process color all over that is near your natural hair shade. If you are covering a lot of gray, your stylist will have to do this anyway before highlighting. Consider changing your routine and stick to highlights just around the face for ease of upkeep.
WHITEOUT!
Overdid it? If you find yourself looking less Beach Bunny than Beach Blanket Bimbo, try this quick remedy. Over time, your highlighted locks get paler if you continue bleaching so periodically ask your stylist to “low-light” your hair to restore some naturalness. Low lighting is the opposite of highlighting, darker strands are added to your sunny tow head to turn down the volume. A great look once fall arrives, and paired with a pair of intellectual glasses, smashing.
GRAY SKIES ARE GONNA CLEAR UP
Two-tone? Gray roots are, repeat, NOT your look. Think flexibility. When you first start covering your tiny gray, a wash-in semi-permanent color like Natural Instincts will do the trick. The color enhances your natural shade, adds shine, and upkeep is easy, about every month and a half to two months. However, at a certain point, that trick will lose its potency and you will have to upgrade to permanent color, and/or highlighting to keep ahead of the gray. Have your stylist keep tabs on your gray development. Tell her you want info strictly on a need-to-know basis; otherwise, keep it to herself. Unless you’re dark, dark, dark consider adding some blonde highlights to camouflage those pesky “silver” hairs.
