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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How to Color Your Hair:  Box Hair Color vs. Salon Hair Color

As you walk down the aisle of your local drugstore and try to figure out what hair color product to buy, there are a few things you need to think about. The truth is that most hair color products – whether professional (sold to licensed professionals only) or retail (for sale to the public) – contain the same basic ingredients.

The general composition of both semi-permanent and permanent hair-coloring products is the same, regardless of whom they are sold to. A major challenge in how to color your hair at home, is selecting the hair color that is the right one for your desired end result. You ask yourself, “Do I choose by the picture on the box? Do I make an attempt to decipher the chart hanging on the shelf? Do I take a shot at the instructions on the back of the box?”

Know what you have before choosing a box color

Before you journey into the world of hair color, know what you have. This means knowing the answers to basic hair color questions such as: What is your natural hair color or, as the professionals refer to it, level and tone? What is your percentage of grey?

Once you decide the answers to these questions, you should stay within 2 levels of your natural hair color. It is not a good idea to make a drastic hair color change on your own. Also, a golden rule of hair coloring to know is,” hair color will not lift or lighten previously colored hair.” This is a major misconception. Making your hair color lighter can only be done with a lightning product such as, bleach or color remover, which is usually sold to licensed professionals only.

Dimensional color in a box?

Now for that multi-color or dimensional hair color promised in one step . . . well, they are sold in the  aisle right next to the unicorns . . . in other words, they don’t exist! The only way to get dimensional color is to highlight or lowlight your hair color . . . period!

Good to know!

Before you leave the store make sure you have enough product for your hair. Most boxes of hair color are notorious for only providing you with a few small ounces of color. If you have any more than the less-than-average head of hair, you may want to by two or three boxes. You can always return unopened product.

Don’t forget to . . .

Read the instructions carefully. Find an old shirt that you can take off easily before showering, or, if you wash your hair in a sink, wear something without a collar. Have old towels handy and get your shampoo and conditioner ready (the boxes usually come with very small tubes of conditioner). Applying the color can be as important as choosing a shade.

Your best bet is to apply the product to very small and even sections. You can‘t just shampoo in or lather in hair color and expect good results. If it were that easy this article wouldn’t be necessary, hair professionals would be non-existent, and everyone would have beautiful hair color! Also, be careful that the color is applied on your head only. Removing hair color from tile, bathroom rugs, shower curtains, and skin can be a difficult process – if not impossible.

Choosing a professional

If all of this sounds like too much work, you might be right, but choosing a salon can be just as challenging as picking a box of hair color from the store shelves. The best way to find a salon is to ask around. Look for someone with a hair color that you like. Find a coworker, a mother at your child’s school, or even a woman at the mall or gym and ask them where they get their hair done. People are flattered when you notice. It’s a compliment to any woman and most are happy to tell you where they go.

Ask good questions

Once you find a salon, ask for a consultation before scheduling an appointment. This is a great time to ask important questions, such as: What has to be done to achieve my desired color? How long of a process is this? What is the maintenance or upkeep? What products do I need to use to best preserve this color?

Pictures tell a thousand words

It is a good idea to take a picture of hair color you like. Colorists really do like seeing pictures. This helps them avoid dealing with subjective and highly interpretable adjectives like “ash, brassy, buttery, low lights, etc.” These are words that if not used properly will land you in the color correction chair. But don’t forget one of the most important questions: How much is this going to cost? The last thing you want is sticker shock when you are checking out at the salon. You need to be sure that once you get a color you love, you will be able to pay for it and keep up with the maintenance.

Now that you are armed with the information you need on how to color your own hair or on how to find a profession to color it for you, the decision is up to you. Will it be the drug store or the salon?

Guest author Daniel Galloway of Salon Oasis of Boca Raton has 29 years of experience as a hair colorist, salon consultant, and industry educator at The Hair Design Institute. Follow Dann on Twitter.