Spring Transition: How to Ease Into {More} Natural Color
It’s time to face it, the natural look is in. Sure, we’ll always have a soft spot for the cotton candy pastels and the dramatic crimsons, but as we approach spring, the idea of being more laid back and low key is quite appealing. So if you’re looking to return to your natural color, or you’re just subtly changing your look, we’ve got a few tips.
First off, communication is key:
Have an honest conversation with your hair stylist about what you want, and if you need some ideas to help get you there, see below.
Go easy on the highlights.
Some highlights will naturally grow out, others might need a little help. You want to have your colorist help to soften the transition of color. They can do so by creating a soft blend between the roots and the ends of your hair. Whether you choose to cover the lighter pieces or just adjust the line at the root, it’s up to you. You should also ask your stylist whether a toner or a tinted gloss, to help enhance color, is right for you too.
Subtle highlights create dimension and still look natural
Don’t stray too far.
If you decide that you don’t want to go back to your actual color, ask if you can go two shades lighter or darker than your natural hue. Whether it be a chocolatey brown, strawberry blonde, or a lovely honey hue, you can find a shade that looks natural on you.
You can change it up but make it look natural by going up or down two shades from your own. Who says natural can’t be fun?
You want to relax for a while.
Don’t want to return to the salon for upkeep? Go for something low maintenance. Some call it “lived-in color”, others see it as a variation of Balayage, but ultimately you’re going for a blurring of color that looks natural. If done correctly, your hair color will have dimension, but you won’t see a harsh distinctive line between your roots and lighter color as it grows out -which means less touch ups - who doesn’t love that?
By creating an intentional dark root there won’t be as harsh a line as hair grows out which means more time between appointments.
Come into the light.
Hey little Goth mama, have you been dark for a while? Transitioning back to your natural or lighter color can be a little unnerving. But in this case, it’s all about baby steps. Work with your colorist to find a base shade that is lighter than what you’re currently rocking. After that, you can start blending in highlights. For those who’ve been dying their hair a very dark shade, it might take awhile to get to the color you once had, especially if you’re naturally light, so try to be patient. Look on the bright side, you might find a shade that suits you better along the way.
It takes baby steps to get back to your lighter shade after going dark for so long.
Come back to earth.
Did you decide to try a mystical grey, or a pastel pink? You brave girl, we’re sure you look great. But now that you’ve decided to come back to a more earthly color, you may run into some trouble. Where there are crazy colors there is often hair damage to follow - because as you know, it took a lot to get that perfect shade of lavender. This is where you must turn to the experts for an extractor that will remove the color gently. After that, you should be able to find a natural base shade to work from.
Be kind, unwind.
Lastly, be good to your hair. Even though you’ve made strides getting back to a more natural look, it may have taken a toll on your hair’s health. We recommend investing in a gentler shampoo and adding some at-home treatments such as a hair mask - a little more TLC in your hair routine will go the extra mile.