Balayage…such a magical and alluring word. Romantic and pretty. It evokes thoughts of long, flowing hair, dotted with wild flowers, gently blowing in the breeze. Sun kissed strands naturally, yet gently curling around your face as you look off in the distance…dreaming of …okay, okay! But you get the idea. If your hair is a level 6 or below on a gradient scale of 1-10, you will never achieve anything lighter than a caramel shade unless its put into a foil packet. The foil conducts the heat and boosts the lightener past the caramel stage. Disappointed? DON’T BE! Just because a colorist uses a hair paper or more importantly, the dreaded foil, your hair will be stuck in the orange or yellow stage and your dreams of pretty, less ‘rooty’ hair will be dashed. DO NOT FEAR THE FOIL!!!! It’s all about the technique the colorist uses. I know some of you have experienced this. That’s why Michael Baxter, of Denver Hair Color and I are seeing you as new clients in our studios. It’s about the sectioning, processing time and product- but its also about expectations. The most famous balayaged hair is Giselle’s. That is true, original balayage! Sun kissed strands around the face and random pieces throughout, KEEPING IT OFF THE ROOT. let me say that again…keeping the lightener off the root, as if you spent the summer in Antigua, and its now next March. The lightened hair at the root GREW OUT! PLEASE, Ladies in search of great hair, don’t feel you have to be tragically trendy to achieve the color you want. It’s okay to have foil put in your hair. It is. I’m giving you permission. It simply means you don’t care much for roots…and that’s where most of us are. We can extend the time between visits with medium tones as well as low lights, to help with the regrowth. Let’s talk. I cant wait to meet you and ease your minds about the technique that’s best for you to achieve your hair goals. Happy Friday, and Happy Hair! Tricia