Look Younger and Sexier with Brunette Hair

It’s time to bust the old wives tale that, “darker hair makes you look older.” when you reach a certain age. This myth has been floating around ever since I can remember. I’ve worked in Beverly Hills for 20+ years as a hair color specialist and hair stylist so I’ve experienced hundreds of hair coloring transformations. And, in going from blonde to brunette, it has been my experience, the darker hair color makes many women’s skin tone glow and look more alive! On top of that, many who make that change from blonde to brunette, look YOUNGER! Yes I said it, younger. . . this is not a typo.

I know some of you might find this surprising, as you’ve been told you should lighten your hair after a certain age.  But, this idea seems is not true in all cases. Many women come in with hair so lightened, it makes they look sickly and washed out. I have seen more extreme blonding on women over 50, that makes them appear grey and sallow, defeating the softening effect they were looking for in the first place.

The trend of deepening blonde hair to beautiful shades of  brunette, has remained big in Hollywood for a while now. Celebrity hair stylists have taken the likes of Hilary Duff, (above) Ashlee Simpson and Nicole Richie, from blonde to brunette and brought them new life! Not to mention plenty of  media attention. There are more than just a few celebrities hopping off the blonde bandwagon and opting to ride the brunette train.

One of my favorite things with this change is how the skin glows when hair color is deepened and how it can really make the eyes pop! I recommend going no more than one or two levels deeper in color than your natural base or color of your eyebrows, it’s  always the safest choice. For more softening we can always add some caramel highlights, especially around the face, to break up too much of a solid color look.

Ask your stylist and colorist their opinion. They can assess your current hair color and condition, and make recommendations on how dark you can comfortably go for your skin tone.  Just remember, it’s always easier to add more color. For a beautiful blonde to brunette transition, just keep it natural looking whatever your choice may be.

Guest author and celebrity hair stylist Carmela Tunzi, of Juan Juan Salon in Beverly Hills, has over 20 years experience as a hair colorist and stylist. Some of her A-List clients include Mariah Carey, Janice Dickenson,  Molly Ringwald and more. You can follow Carmela on Twitter @Carmela_Tunzi.

Got a question, war story or comment about this topic? Click on the "Leave Your Comments" link at the very bottom of this article. Some of my best ideas for future articles come from reading reader comments. I'd love to hear from you!

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Balayage: brunettes are jumping on the sun-kissed look too!

Balayage is the French word meaning “to sweep” or paint. To balayage the hair is to use a brush and hand paint highlights on to the hair. This technique allows the hair to look more natural and sun-kissed . . .  just like a child’s hair. I love Loreal’s concept of “Less is More,” it applies with the technique of balayage.

I began using the balayage technique on my clients in 2007 and it made me rethink how I previously thought of hair color. I fell in love with the technique and how it looked on my clients hair. And best of all, my clients fell in love with how their hair looked!  It creates a more natural grow out. Balayage application creates highlights softer by the roots and bolder towards the ends, which looks more natural than highlights done with foil applications.The foil highlight application gets lost towards the ends.

Another big plus with going with a balayage technique is that you won’t need to come into the salon every 6 weeks for a touch-up as you would with regrowth from a foil application. You will get use to seeing more depth at your roots and the highlights from balayage pop out more, giving a more beachy effect.

The placement of balayage or ombre color is more artistic and more visual than a foil highlight application. You can balayage lowlights on to the hair, which also looks more natural and not as streaky or chunky as some highlights can become.

Most of my balayage clients come in every 3 months for a touch-up. Some clients wait up to 6 months, but most come in-between the 3 month period to get their roots touched up or a toner/gloss, or just face frame highlight. Those of you who are use to the foil application of highlights or lowlights, don’t freak out! Talk to your hair stylist about easing you into the transition. Your hair stylist can also balayage your hair heavier around your face and hairline for an easier transition. That way you won’t feel like you still have regrowth when you leave the salon.

So for new clients looking for that next best hair color trend . . . this is it. Remember the service will most likely cost you more because of the skill and technique level and the time involved. But in the long run, it won’t be as many trips to the salon. It’s the perfect time now to get your hair sun-kissed ready!

Guest author Lisa Amato has been a hair stylist for 21 years. Specializing in natural looking balayage hair color. She is certified in Loreal Professional hair color and  INOA no-ammonia hair color. Lisa trained under Jack Howard and the “Queen of Balayage,” Nancy Braun at the Loreal Academy in New York. Lisa has worked under Kris Sorbie, Chris Baron and Sam Villa, along with Kaz Amor. Lisa is certified in Great Lengths Hair Extensions. Follow Lisa on Twitter, Facebook

Got a question, war story or comment about this topic? Click on the "Leave Your Comments" link at the very bottom of this article. Some of my best ideas for future articles come from reading reader comments. I'd love to hear from you!

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 “If you don’t look good . . . we don’t look good.”

Hairdressing the ‘Sassoon’ way means working with the hair in its natural state and giving the wearer a hair style that works precisely for their style and ease. This was a totally new concept back in the 60′s

The phrase, ‘wash and wear hair,’ was born with Vidal Sassoon’s and was an innovative, original vision back in the mid-60′s. Before that a trip to the hairdresser for most women meant, a standing weekly appointment to be coiffed and teased  into a sort of  helmet-head hair style guaranteed to hold in place till the following weeks appointment.

Dippity- do, was the elixir of styling gels in those days and no one got out without having it slathered all over their locks before the hair was set with prickly brush-rollers and picks to hold each roller in so tightly that they would leave their mark in the head long after the comb-out.  Lordy Lord, . . . Thank-you Mr.Sassoon!

Vidal Sassoon was a pioneer in our industry whose innovations haven’t been surpassed.  He turned the world of hairdressing upside-down with his new visions and concepts. He thought about hair and the client in an entirely new way.

CBS News reports, “My idea was to cut shape into the hair, to use it like fabric and take away everything that was superfluous,” Sassoon said in 1993 in the Los Angeles Times, which first reported his death Wednesday. “Women were going back to work, they were assuming their own power. They didn’t have time to sit under the dryer anymore.”

He left his mark in more ways than one. He launched Vidal Sassoon Academies in the United States, England and Canada. There he shared his vision of how the hair should be cut to fit the hair type, lifestyle and bone structure of the client. He had a tremendous respect for the value hair stylists can make in the lives of their customers every day, thereby receiving an enormous sense of happiness and fulfillment in life.

Thanks Mr. Sassoon  R.I.P.

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