Lived-in colour - What on earth is it?

Balayage, foilayage, teasylights, babylights, airtouch, root stretch, root melt, root tap, tipouts......These some of the terms you may have seen thrown around online and your thinking "what the hell is it I need to book in for?!"

So, what do all these terms mean?

As a client, I want you to disregard all the terms mentioned earlier. Erase them from your thoughts because they don't describe a look; they are technical terms for techniques that we hairdressers use to achieve lived-in colours. To create a lived-in colour, we might employ several of these techniques in a single session to achieve the ideal blend and result for our clients. The only thing you need to decide is... do you want a lived-in colour?

Ok, but what is a lived-in colour and do I want it?

There are countless variations of lived-in colour. These range from high impact, which provides maximum brightness throughout most of the hair with a softly blended root, to a brunette style featuring sun-kissed golden highlights for a luxurious look, and everything in between.

The key point to keep in mind is that all lived-in colours result in low-maintenance hair. Some styles can last 10-12 weeks, while others may extend from 3-6 months. I even have clients who visit only once a year for their colour and just come in for a cut and blow-dry (occasionally a toner refresh) to maintain a fresh look.

The Pros:

• Infrequent salon visits make it ideal for busy women who lack the time to go to the salon every 6-8 weeks.

  
  

• The annual cost is lower than a traditional colour service since you don't need to visit the salon as frequently.

  
  

• Hair health is enhanced. Getting traditional highlights every 6-8 weeks can be damaging to your hair. With lived-in colour, lightener is strategically applied to maintain brightness in key areas. This approach reduces the need to overly lighten every strand, allowing us to create stunning bright blondes.

  
  

• The grow out is blended and subtle, eliminating any harsh regrowth lines. Your colour will appear blended, and the regrowth will look intentional.

How long does a lived-in colour appointment take?

Depending on your thickness of hair, the starting canvas (what your hair is like when you come to the appointment) and the desired result, it can take anywhere from 3-5 hours.

Indeed, this isn't a brief appointment. Achieving a lived-in colour involves several steps, from foiling the hair to add lightness, to incorporating lowlights if necessary, performing root melting for a seamless blend, and finally applying toner to reach the ideal shade. These steps are numerous, but they are absolutely worth it!

How often do I need to come back?

This varies based on the type of lived-in colour you desire. For those with a more high-impact look, it's typically around 10-12 weeks. This is because there's a higher concentration of blonde near the roots, resulting in less dimension to soften the regrowth. For the Signature blondes, my clients can extend to around 12 weeks or more, depending on the natural depth of their hair compared to the blonde. I find that clients who are at a level 6 or higher (think dark blonde or lighter) can often see me only 3-4 times a year, with some visiting just twice annually!

Next, we have the Golden Glow clients, who's colour usually last for months! Some opt for the full service just once a year, with toner touch-ups as needed.

Tips for maintaining your blonde

To get the best out of your new, fresh lived-in colour, follow this advice...

First and foremost, it's crucial to purchase professional shampoo and conditioner. You've invested a significant amount in your hair colour, so avoid washing it away with inexpensive, low-quality supermarket shampoos and conditioners. Professional products are designed to protect and nourish your coloured hair, ensuring your stunning, glossy toner lasts as long as possible. You certainly don't want your blonde hair becoming brassy, dry, and brittle, clogging the drain!

After that, I always recommend using a heat protector. I favour one in a spray bottle that can be applied to both wet and dry hair. Use it on your hair before any heat styling. This not only limits the amount your will become frazzled by the hot tools but also reduces the amount of toner that is removed. Yep, heat can decrease the lifespan of a toner.

Heat is the number one! While not many of us can simply wash and go, and most need to blow-dry to manage our hair, reducing the amount of heat you use can significantly improve not just your hair colours longevity but also its overall condition. Aim to wash and blow-dry your hair only 2-3 times a week, lower the temperature on your straighteners and curling irons, and always apply a heat protector whenever you use these tools on your hair.

Treatments. My preferred treatment for all types of lightened hair is the K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Mask. A little goes a long way! Use this product every 4 washes. After shampooing your hair twice, towel dry to remove excess water (don't brush it yet). Dispense up to 3 pumps into your hands and rub them together as if your life depends on it. I find that ensuring your hands are dry before dispensing the product makes it easier to emulsify the product faster. Once your palms look like they're covered in Sudocrem, you're ready to apply. Take small sections of your hair and gently pat the product over them. When it seems like there's no product left on your hands, rub them together again, and you'll find more product magically appears on your palms. Repeat this until no more white appears on your hands and you've applied it to all sections. Allow the product 4 minutes to work, then gently brush it through, starting from the bottom of your hair and working your way up. That's it; you can begin drying your hair. Top tip: If you're like me and absolutely can't live without applying conditioner to your hair, you can apply your usual conditioner over the top of the K18 mask after the 4 minutes, then rinse as usual.

Not certain if this service is right for you?

Schedule a consultation with me. We can discuss your needs, assess your hair type and condition, and evaluate any existing colour you may have. Together, we'll determine what will not only suit you but also fit your lifestyle.

Book your consultation here