Adding tones to blonde hair

Hair: Michelle Lawley, Royston Blythe
Photography: David Goldman

Dear Hair Doctor,

I have long hair that I’ve coloured blonde with box colours for many years. I’ve been letting my natural hair colour come through for the past five months and I now have five inches of mousey ash-brown regrowth. I was blonde when I was a child but my hair got darker as I got older; my colouring suits fairer rather than darker hair. I would like to have several blonde colours put into my hair along with my natural hair colour.

Please can you advise what I should ask for when I visit a salon? How they will go about lifting the roots and putting colours through the length?

Thank you very much for your help in this matter.

Anon, UK

Hi,

When I read this I immediately thought of Elle Macpherson. Keeping bouncy blonde tones through long, medium-coloured hair creates a stunning, beautiful effect. I would do this by swirling balayage through the layers of your hair in different tones, working two or three different levels into the hair to give depth, texture and tone. Keeping it lighter around the face will really brighten the complexion and make it feel flirty and fun. Tell them not to give you 1990s stripes as this won’t be the look you are going for. After a service like this I often give a golden or pearly rinse over the entire head to make it look really expensive. This will be a crowning glory.

John Clark, Brooks+Brooks Hairdressing

Hi,

Different tones of blonde will give you a much more natural result and reduce the look of your regrowth coming through by breaking up the solid line of colour. Choose two or three different shades of blonde for your new highlights and also ask your hairdresser to paint some lowlights through the old blonde, using your natural colour. This will allow you to grow out your existing colour and achieve a gorgeous, multi-tonal highlighted look. Protect your colour and increase shine with a product such as L'Oréal Lumino Contrast shampoo and masque, formulated for highlighted hair.

Michelle Lawley, Royston Blythe

Hi,

Lifting your root area is a simple process, one that shouldn't require a bleach.  My suggestion would be to have a brand new colour applied all over and some highlights applied to the hair to give areas of lightness; not applying the colour to the old blonde but toning it all together at the end to give the highlights an even finish.  You must have a strand test to ensure your natural hair will lift and your box-coloured hair will tone. A specialist colour technician is what you need to find.

Nelson Brown, Browns

Hi,

Making sure you see an experienced colourist who can give you a thorough consultation will ensure that you understand what is achievable and the steps it will take to achieve the look you desire. At HOB Salons we offer the ‘perfect consultation’, incorporating the use of visuals and looking at skin tone as well as clients’ natural colouring to create the perfect look, uniquely tailored to you.

This season sees the introduction of 3D colour, which uses a layering technique of colour to create a multi-tonal effect and would be perfect for the numerous blonde colours you desire. Seamless three-dimensional colour will enhance your hair’s texture and add gloss and shine to your locks.

Christel Lundqvist, HOB Salons

Hi,

Firstly you will need to book a consultation with a colourist and explain what your needs are. Take visuals as they always help, especially if you know how you want to look. Alternatively ask for some visuals in the consultation. Highlights at the roots with lowlights using the balayage technique on the ends with your natural colour will give you the desired look. But only a consultation will give confirmation on this.

Clare Lodge, Paul Edmonds