Single Application: A single shade of a coloring product is mixed and applied to the hair. This can be done on all the hair, or just some of it (as in: hilights or lowlights).

Two-Step Application: means it is necessary to use 2 steps to reach the desired results. The hair is first lightened with a lightening product to reveal the underlying tones. The amount of lift needed and the desired results will determine the degree of lightness to which the hair color is lifted. The hair is then "toned" with a gentle color mixture which will obtain the desired results. There are some beautiful Pastel shades available which give gentle toning effects.

Tint-back: returning the hair to a darker shade. First, a "filler" is applied to the hair to be darkened. It is a necessary step for anyone who wants to go 3 or more levels (or shades) darker. The "filler" lightly saturates the hair, then is wiped off or rinsed off. At this point, the hair is (or should be) the color of the undertone of the desired level, which can be a kind of funky (un-natural) yellow-orange or orange or red-orange hue (or even red or red-violet), depending on how dark the desired goal is compared to the starting level/tone.(Don't panic! It's supposed to be this color for the moment). Once it has been determined that the "filler" is holding onto the hair, then the desired shade/color is applied on top of the "filler". If the hair won't accept/hold the "filler", then the hair is too damaged and a different plan of action must be made. The filler acts a bonding agent to make sure the desired color will last and be natural-looking. Without "filling" the hair with the necessary undertone shade, you will experience rapid fading of your new dark color and/or the color will look fake and artificial. Understand that it takes a professional haircolorist with knowledge and experience in this area of haircoloring to know exactly which undertone shade is necessary to achieve the desired results and cannot be done successfully by the home haircolorist.

Multiple Application: using more than one technique or shade at the same salon visit.

Blonde-on-Blonde: lightening the natural haircolor and adding some hilights.The hilights can be done at the same time the color is processing (in some circumstances)... or sometimes it is necessary to add the hilights after the color is finished processing.

Hilights: Selected strands of hair are isolated, then lightened. Sometimes these strands undergo a single-process proceedure. Sometimes these strands are lightened and then "toned" to achieve the desired results. Your natural haircolor and the results your after, will determine which of these proceedures are necessary for your particular situation.

Low-lights: This needs to be done when your hair has gotten "over-blonded" over time, and/or when returning your haircolor to a fresher, newly hilighted look. Sometimes this can be done in a single-process proceedure by adding a little extra warmth into the formula to adjust for porosity and missing undertones, but sometimes the selected strands need to be "filled" first. The hair needs to be "filled" when there is more than 3 levels of difference between the lightened strands and the darker strands. If these hair strands are not "filled" first, then you'll experience rapid fading and/or a flat, unnatural color.

Gray Reduction: Let's say that you don't really want to color your hair at this time... but you've been getting more and more of those pesky "Natures hilights" (as I prefer to call those gray hairs). You like having a little gray... but now there's too much and it makes you look older or washed-out. Then Gray Reduction is perfect for you! Selected strands are isolated and then a shade which matches your natural dark haircolor is applied to those selected strands.

Glaze: A Glaze is different than a toner in that a glaze offers the added benefit of offering a tremendous amount of long-lasting shine, as well as, fine-tuning the tone (if necessary) to achieve a beautiful result.

Natural hilighting:.  results as soft and natural as possible, generally done on the top and sides of your hair. You want the hilights to blend effortlessly with no obvious lines or chunks. For this technique, I'll apply a multitude of tiny, thin weave/slices and/or combinations of weaves and slices to achieve the desired results. It lasts a very long time.

Chunking: Bold chunks of color are applied to the hair for a contrasting effect created by adding just a few chunky pieces or patches in precisely placed manner. You can have "chunks" in different shades, such as platinum or red or dark brown, or you can be just a little bit daring by adding some "chunks" of color which is just a couple of shades lighter (or darker) than your natural color.

This site established and maintained by Linda Lynn Jacobs, 2001. Updated October 2010. All Rights Reserved.