3 Proud Haircolor Transformations From The Redken Artist Network
As a stylist, there are few things more satisfying than a color correction success story. Not only does everyone love a good before and after transformation, but the look on a client’s face when he or she leaves the salon looking like an entirely new person makes it all worth the hours and hours of work. Industry veterans have likely done hundreds of these types of services over the course of their careers, so we asked three Redken Artists to share their proudest color correction moments, and spill the details on the formulas they used to achieve them.
Matthew Tyldesley
“This client color correction shows a progression from two appointments at around 12 weeks apart,” says Matthew of his client’s transition from a brassy brunette to a brighter and beautiful blonde. At the first appointment, he lightened her hair all over using Redken Flashlift, 30 volume and pH Bonder. Then, after processing, he shampooed and dried her hair. The next step was to apply Redken Chromatics 7NA & 8NA with 20 Volume Oil In Cream Developer in zone one and alternate 9Ab and 10p with 30 volume Oil In Cream Developer on the ends. Finally, he highlighted and toned with Shades EQ Silver Green Pastel and Crystal Clear.
At the second appointment 6 weeks later, he saw that the color had maintained, so he did a heavy highlight along with a Blonde Idol base bump in zone 1. To tone her highlights, he used Shades EQ in Crystal Clear and Silver Green Pastel.
Kate Curran
“I was particularly proud of this transformation because I used a ‘Less Is More’ attitude to approach the changes,” says Redken Artist Katie Curran, who notes that she relied on the new Shades EQ Processing Solution for Precision Application to make it happen. “This guest came to me as a color correction, and we decided that what we didn’t like about her haircolor was the brassy tone of her highlights. We saw that the light pieces started too high, and that there was a dark area in the nape section that didn’t blend, as well as the stripe effect of her previous highlights,” she explains.
Curran started her application with 06N Shades EQ painted on from zone 1 down into zone 2 to create a shadow root. “I wanted to highlight her gorgeous cheekbones by having the lightest pieces start in that area,” she says. “I then Balayaged a couple of sections through the nape area with Flashlift and 30 Volume with pH Bonder. My next step was to paint alternating sections with 06N Shades EQ and 08T Shades EQ to tone down but still utilize her already lightened pieces.” After 25 minutes of processing, she rinsed the client’s hair thoroughly and glazed all over with equal parts 09Nb and 09V. Then, she followed up with pH Bonder Step 2 for added strength and shine.
Woodward Bartlett
“Silver and other bright haircolor trends have always been a passion of mine,” says Redken Artist Woodward Bartlett. “I was inspired by anime and manga characters starting in middle school and started having my hair lightened as a client in high school trying to emulate the look. Then, as I began my Redken journey, I continued perfecting that silver tone on my clients.”
To transition her client from her natural red to silver, Bartlett used Flashlift and 20 Volume Pro-oxide Developer with pH Bonder on zone 1, blurred into Flashlift and 30 volume Pro-oxide in zone 2-3, taking 1/4” - 1/2” sections in foil globally.
“It’s all about getting rid of the yellow tones and bringing the hair to a level of luminosity,” she says. “You want the undertone to ‘glow’.” It’s the same idea with bright colors and pastels: all yellow tones have to be erased to achieve the look.”
She lifted the shade to pale yellow, then rinsed it out, checking for unevenness. “If any extra lightening is required to even the tone, I then apply Flashlift and 10 Volume Pro-oxide with pH Bonder to towel dried hair in problem areas,” she says. When the hair had reached its ultra-pale yellow tone, she rinsed again and applied pH Bonder step 2 for 10 minutes. Next came Extreme Shampoo and finally Extreme Conditioner. The last step was to dry and tone the strands using Shades EQ Gloss 08T 1oz. + Crystal Clear 1oz. + 2oz. Processing Solution.
“The starting level was a level 7 with virgin hair,” she says. “Make sure to send your client home with new Color Extend Blondage so she can extend the life of her tone at home.”
