Salon Guide
This salon guide will help you navigate through all the possibilities available for your hair. From the most basic salon services to the most advanced modern day salon techniques, all hair services are covered here. Designed to be informative for first-time salon goers all the way up to veteran salon regulars. Map out your salon journey here.
Intro to the Salon
Feeling overwhelmed by the many choices at the salon for your hair? Don’t worry this salon guide will help you select the haircut, hairstyle and hair color that is right for you. This guide will also explore chemical services like perms and hair straightening. We’ll also look at smoothing treatments. Having a hair done by a professional can make you both flattering on the outside while confident on the inside. With an in-depth consultation with a salon professional selecting your optimal look is made easier.
The most important thing you need to remember is that it’s not the hair that makes the woman; it’s the woman that makes the hair.
Haircut Styles
There are many factors to choose from when selecting a new haircut style. These include face shape, hair growth pattern, hair texture and lifestyle. Salon goers should also consider the current state of their hair. Hair color and the chemical services that have been received in the past can play a part in what options are available to them in the present.
There is a wide range of cuts, but most of them fall under one of these basic types.
One Length
Sometimes referred to as a bob, one-length simply means all of the hair is the same length, except the very front area. The front area is generally shorter in order to frame the face. One of the advantages of the one length is that it creates an illusion of fullness and volume.
Graduated Cut
When the hair is cut on a bias, creating an angle this is called a graduated cut. In most cases, a graduated cut is done in such a way that the hair close to the face is the longest. The hair gets shorter and shorter closer to the back of the head. Graduated cuts are most common with hair lengths between the chin and shoulder.
Layered Cut
With a layered cut the hair is cut all over the head at varying angles. This creates depth. When shorter hair is layered the result is generally more volume.
Asymmetrical Cut
This cut is all about unbalance. Asymmetrical cuts feature one style on one side with a completely different style on the other side. With asymmetrical cuts no two sides are the same. One side can be short and clipped while the other side can be long. This style of cut can be used to either create attention or to soften a facial feature.
Hair Color
The two main types of hair color are semi-permanent or permanent hair color. Semi-permanent color adds color. While permanent color involves 2 stages, which are: opening up the hair shaft and adding color. Another option is temporary hair color. Temporary hair colors are generally short term and how long they last depends on at home care.
Hair color can be applied all over the hair or partially in sections. Creative colorists will use a variety of coloring techniques in order to achieve different outcomes.
All Over Color
When the colorist applies a single shade of color from scalp to end this is known as all-over-color. This can be done to lighten or darken the hair in one single process. From covering gray hair to adding shininess to dull hair, all over hair color has many benefits.
Root Touch-Up
When your natural or gray starts to grow out from a previous color service, a root re-touch is a good method to retain your colored look. Root re-touches are done from the scalp covering the re-growth.
Balayage
You might have heard the word balayage thrown around. Balayage is a French word meaning “sweeping” or “painting”. The term has been adopted by the salon industry to describe a coloring technique involving painting the color on with a brush. Balayage goes hand in hand with a variety of new color styles. Balayage can also be achieved while laying down. This is known as a layage.
Layage
A layage is a lay down version of the balayage. This coloring or lightening technique involves painting the color or lightener on with a brush while the client’s hair is fanned out on a table like a canvas. The layage rewards the client with a stunning natural look because it gives the hair colorist a great deal of control and access to the client’s hair in ways other coloring and lightening techniques can’t achieve. The layage is sometimes referred to as “fluid hair painting”.
Foiling
This technique uses foil to separate strands of hair for processing. Foil is pressed up against the hair and the color is brushed on. This allows coloring to be contained.
Hair Color Styles
There are a variety of finished color styles that go beyond an old-fashioned all over hair color. These exciting hair color styles include:
Pinwheel Color
The pinwheel hair color technique is a form of coloring and/or highlighting where hair is sectioned off from the center of the scalp down to the tips in coordinated patterns. Colors are then applied to each section. Combining two or more colors can create a unique visual. Alternating and ordering the colors also adds to the pinwheel effect.
Color Melt
Like a melted crayon the fashion color melt is a hair coloring technique that melts and spills colors on to one another. Like an ombre multiple shades will be achieved.
Shadowbox
When the colorist colors just the hair underneath the top most visible layer of hair, this is called a shadow box. This color style is popular with salon goers not yet wanting to commit to an all over hair color. They can trial a pop of color underneath to see if they like it. It can also be used to create a shadow effect when the color is lighter on top and darker underneath thus adding dimension.
Peekaboos
A random section of the hair is highlighted or low lighted. This is often done in the under-layers of the hair. Normally, a blonde would choose hair lowlight shades to create contrast between darker peek-a-boo hair and light natural hair.
Contrasting
Colors large sections of hair for an impactful look. Contrasting can be done to different placement such as the bangs/fringe area with contrasting colors or even subtle shades within a hair color.
Lowlights
Lowlights involve darkening strands of hair by using colors that are darker than your natural color. Lowlights can add contrast and dimension to your hair while also the ability to try new colors without fully committing to an all-over hair color.
Ombré
In its classical form this style is darker at the roots gradually blending to a lighter color at the tips. Ombrés are ideal for salon goers wanting a low maintenance style as grow out will not be an issue. Some variations of the ombré include:
Caramel Ombré
This look is both natural and sophisticated. As the name suggests the caramel ombre mimics the colors you would find in caramel candy with hues of gold, amber, and blonde.
Reverse Ombré
With a reverse ombré we normally see lighter at the crown and darker towards the tips. Hence, reversing the color order. Dark to light becomes light to dark.
Red Ombré
With a red ombré we see a transitions from brunette to red giving the hair dimension. Natural at the crown and red towards the tips. The tips become vivacious.
Blonde Ombré
A blonde ombré works within a parameter of two tones of blonde. Generally, the darker blonde is at the crown blending to a lighter blonde at the tips. The effect boldens with how much difference exists between the two blonde shades.
Go beyond this salon guide and discover more about ombré hair coloring services including pictures and care tips.
Bleaching and Toning
Bleaching is the process of making the hair color lighter. A professional will use bleach to remove pigment. In other words, the colorist is taking away color. After the hair is bleached, toner is used to add pigment back to the hair to lift the hair to a desired shade of blonde. Bleaching can be done all-over the hair or on part of the hair with highlights.
Highlights
Many salon goers like to add lightness to the hair without bleaching all over. A good technique for achieving this is highlights. Highlights can be applied with foil, balayage or by a special frosting cap. If you want to go darker try lowlights.
Learn more about all the options by visiting the hair highlights Vancouver WA page.
Frosting
Although this technique has diminished in use to foils, some hair projects still call for it. The “cap method” refers to the use of a plastic cap (frosting cap or tipping cap) that fits over the head. Hair strands are then pulled through the cap and the hair is bleached giving a frosted look.
There are many different tones and shades of blonde. Here are few examples:
Balayage Blonde
For flawlessly natural results have your blonde hand painted on via the balayage or layage technique.
Classically Natural Blonde
Natural and timeless.The classic blonde is an envious look and always in fashion.
Go beyond this salon guide and discover more about blonde bleach, and toning services including pictures and care tips.
Perm Services
When you alter the compounds of the hair in order to make it curled this is referred to as a perm. Perms are a chemical service and can come in a variety of wave formulas and curl rod styles. For the purpose of this intro salon guide here are a few examples:
Spiral Perm
Usually done with long perm rods the curls will generally be tighter. The effect is spiral corkscrews.
Body Perm
If extra volume is what you seek then a body perm might be right for you. Good candidates for body perms include people with thin or flat hair. The loose curls add life to the hair.
Root Perm
Perming just the roots can add life to limp hair by giving it volume at the crown. Root perms are ideal for shorter hair and can even add angles to your hair style.
Loose Wave Perm
As the name suggests the curls are very loose. This type of perm can be suitable for people that want just a little curl and don’t want to over commit to the curl.
Go beyond this salon guide and discover more about perm services including hair care tips.
Smoothing Treatments
If you like your hair straighter and want to reduce frizz then you might be a good candidate for a hair smoothing treatment. Sometimes referred to as a Brazilian blowout, smoothing treatments can tame the frizz and even reduce your morning routine as you will be spending less time with trying to tame your mane. Unlike Brazalian Blowouts, smoothing treatments are formaldehyde free.