Expert Answers for Tricky Hair Colour Questions

BEYOND THE BASICS

Q: HOW DO I LIGHTEN MY LOOK?

A: First things first. Take a look at your starting shade. Generally we don’t recommend going any more than 2 shades lighter than your current colour. So if you have medium brown hair, you could go light brown or dark blonde. If your final goal is light blonde, it may take a few colourings, but you’ll be happier with the result. Also, we typically recommend using a neutral or cool/ash shade to go lighter since that will help control the most “brassiness.”

Q: HOW DO I GO DARKER?

A: The same rule of thumb applies whether you’re going lighter or darker: stick within 2 shades of your starting colour. For a golden brown, try a warm tone, or for a dark ashy look, use a cool tone.

Q: I TRIED TO colour MY PREVIOUSLY HIGHLIGHTED HAIR AND THE PREVIOUSLY HIGHLIGHTED PORTION TURNED OUT WITH RED HUES. CAN YOU RECOMMEND A colour TO GO OVER IT AND TONEDOWN THE RED?

A: Both of these questions can be addressed with blonde colouring. You can use cool shades to refresh highlights or to tone down highlights that seem too red or bright.

Q: I FORGOT THAT MY HAIR REALLY GRABS GOLD TONES. TO TONE DOWN THE GOLD, SHOULD I USE A NEUTRAL OR COOL LIGHT BROWN colour? I DON’T WANT TO LOOK TOO DARK OR DRAB—IWANT A MEDIUM TO LIGHT GOLDEN BROWN HAIR colour.

A: Since you do want to see some warm golden tones, your best bet is to use a neutral brown colour to tone down the extra golden tones. If you use a cool tone, you could take out your warm tones entirely.