BLOND NIGHTMARE

What is it about blond hair that will make a woman sacrifice money, time, and even risk the very existence of her hair leaving her it over processed?


When I see a woman with hair that's very dry, yellow, and has "bangs" that were created by breakage, that's one versi0n of over-processed hair. Anyone can see that woman coming through the crowd. She possesses a confidence that comes with striking blond tresses that turn heads as they enter any room. The problem is that no one (not even her hairdresser) has informed her that her beautiful blond locks are no more.




What happened?

Generally the story goes like this...
Let's give our blond-chaser a name. We'll call her Esta.

Esta may have started with a few natural-looking highlights, but over the years she fell more and more in love with the brightness against her skin, noticing the sun-kissed sparkle it gave her face.

Then, before you know it, BAM! A serious case a blond-orexia developed!

Esta may have seen the red flags: the beginning of breakage, fewer compliments, and more concern from loved ones, for example. However, she ignored the signs, and now her hair has the tensile strength of cotton candy.

Who's to blame?

Along the way, Esta may have asked questions like, "Am I over doing it?" "Should I stop with the blond?" or "What product can repair my hair instantly?"

I have seen many clients like Esta over the years in the salon. I have seen them walk out with hundreds of dollars in products, subscribing to empty promises of their hair being restored. Honey, we all know you cant wake the dead!

This is where her hairstylist comes in. The only person who could have stopped this breakage backlash was her trusted hair professional. Don't get me wrong; clients play a role in the mistreatment of their hair. Still, the hairstylist should ultimately be held accountable and sent to "hairstylist prison."

Why should the hairstylist be held accountable?

Um... Hello!?! Who colored her hair? Who was the one selling her the products? And who was the one banking the dollars from the ever-faithful blond? Le Coiffeur, that's who!

Listen ladies, I have met so many women that have had this hair mishap, and you have a right to know that this could have been avoided. You also have the right to know when enough is enough. Remember, there's nothing sexier than healthy, beautiful hair.

How to solve this problem?

At this point stop and ask yourself which is more important: the appearance of blond hair, even though you are turning heads for all the wrong reasons, or checking yourself in to hair rehab and leaving the bald look for those edgy punk-rocker girls? In my opinion, the right choice is to change your hair color to a softer shade before it's too late. By "too late" I mean before the hair is so stripped that it loses its ability to absorb color, meaning you will make multiple visits to the salon and spend loads of money, and still not get it quite right.

If you are willing to take my advice heres how we start (it's hair therapy time!): First, put on some lipstick and high-kick the salon door wide open, making your presence known. Talk to your hairstylist and ask for help to resolve the issue. If you would like to start the journey to healthier hair, here are my personal recommendations.

Go back to natural.

1) Get Kerastase Forcintense treatment and follow the directions. I know, I know, I did say you can't wake the dead (smile). However, you can protect the hair from the hair color to come, and restore the hair to a somewhat natural color. Don't expect miracles- let's just focus on keeping the hair you have.

2) Consult with your hairstylist first about the process. Your hairstylist was the one who got you into trouble, but keep in mind he may not be the one to bring you back. Keep in mind it will take more than a couple of hours to get the old you back. It probably took years to get you to this point, so be patient. Most importantly the process of "going back to natural" that has beautiful tones and some shine can not be achieved in one application.

Here is a brief look at what has to happen with the application:

A hair filler- The hair has no pigment, so before applying the desired hair color, it has to have red and gold color added to the hair to stop it from becoming muddy or ashy. The filler is generally a semi or demi color.

The desired color- After getting the filler right, which a may take a couple of applications, the hair is either towel-dried or blow-dried. The color is then applied. The hair stylist will use his or her best judgement on where to start the color application. Generally the ends of the hair are avoided because they are the most damaged and may grab the color too quickly.


3) After having the color restored, be very careful and avoid tanning salons, steam rooms, swimming pools and the ocean. Invest in hair brushes that are gentle on the hair (like a Mason Pearson) and a gentle hair dryer like the T-3 Featherweight. (That dryer is kick-ass!)

Please keep in mind that the process of ruining your hair was not cheap so it will cost a lot to fix it. This process takes time and loads of product.

Remember, a woman's strongest asset is her individuality, so being different is wonderful - but not at the cost of your hair.

The editing of this blog was done by Camile Lamb of the Perfect Words,Ink.