Aveda Trend Report: Toward the Light

Nov 12th, 2015

As evidenced by Fashion Week runways, Hollywood red carpets, and all over social media, going blonde is perhaps the biggest hair trend of the season. Just in time to celebrate this leaning toward lighter hues, Aveda's spring 2015 collection, Rare Bloom, focuses on beautiful golden flaxen hues with its new Enlightener Blonde Finish Protective Toners for customized blonde shades.

“From delicious honey ’dos to straight-up platinum, there is a blonde for everyone,” says Ian Michael Black, Aveda Global Artistic Director for Hair Color. “And while going from dark to light is incredibly fun, the route to get there can’t be taken lightly. The process requires care and consideration for the best blonde results for the individual.” Below, Black shares his tips on helping your client go from brunette to blonde bombshell.

Color Consultation
Going blonde can be a major change, so book time with your client for a thorough consultation. Suggest that your guest bring in photos of the type of blonde they hope to achieve. As the colorist, be sure to assess your client's hair health, consider its colored-treated history, provide a realistic outcome of their wants with suggestions for achieving the best blonde for him/her, and discuss a plan for upkeep.

Consider Skin Tone
When it comes to going blonde, it's very important to consider your client's skin tone, and advise him or her accordingly. Rich honey and caramel blondes are flattering on darker skin tones. If going light, pale golden shades can look beautiful next to warm skin. Keep in mind that ashen shades often contrast too much against skin’s natural warmth.

Understand the Process
Bringing a brunette to blonde takes time and care, so be sure your client has planned accordingly for the best results. The process for Meron’s blonde, (see below), took six hours. Make sure to communicate with your client that it’s going to be much better for his/her hair health and the final result to lift color at a slower pace. Sometimes, this may even take a few sessions.

Hair Health
During the consultation, advise your client to take the time leading up to their appointment to care for their hair with deep conditioning treatments so that the hair is at its most healthy for the service.

Don’t Blonde At Home
Going from dark to light can potentially be the most damaging process to hair. It’s not just about lifting the hair to a lighter shade, it’s also about toning it to the right hue. Remind your client that it's always best to see a professional when going blonde, as a professional will be able to gauge this properly.