As the weather begins to heat up, you will have clients asking for lighter and brighter hair with a natural feel. Through color choice and placement technique you can create the perfect shade for the client chasing an "endless summer". In this tutorial we see a mix of traditional highlights with pieces of free-hand balayage to accentuate the design and emulate a truly "sunkissed" look. Hear what David Stanko, Redken Educator and sought after colorist worldwide, has to say about the products he chose to use and why, in this... COLORIST CONFESSION!

 "New Blonde Idol Free Hand is moist and creamy, so it won’t dry out on the hair strand. When you’re careful, there is no transfer to the other strands. Excellent pull-through and great hair saturation are evident and controllable, and there is no clumping. This allows you to apply it with gloved hands or paint it on with a brush."

-David Stanko

THE CLIENT

Nina is a Natural Level 6, and alternately schedules her appointments for either partial or full-head highlights. Summer months—and her mood—demand lighter pieces around her face and throughout her hair design. 
 

THE FORMULA

Highlight using Up to 7 De-Dusted Lightener and create the lighter pieces with Blonde Idol Free Hand. I like to use the Redken Salon Gear Mini Whisk for easy, uniform mixing of my formulations

FOR NAPE AND BACK:
Up to 7 De-Dusted Lightener + 10 Vol. Pro-oxide Cream Developer

FOR FRONT AND TOP:
Up to 7 De-Dusted Lightener + 20 Vol. Pro-oxide Cream Developer

FOR THE LIGHTER BITS:
After highlighting, mix Blonde Idol Free Hand with 20 or 30 vol. Pro-oxide Cream Developer, and creatively determine the focal points around the front, sides and back. Gently paint on Blonde Idol Free Hand to selected strands not in foils, then allow to open-air process.
 

OPTIONAL GLAZE

2 oz. 09G Vanilla Crème Shades EQ Gloss
2 oz. Shades EQ Processing Solution

 

In this 8 part series you’ll hear COLORIST CONFESSIONS for all types of shades and scenarios. Be sure to stalk Redken to see when part two - High Drama Highlights arrives.

For more education and information about the COLORIST CONFESSION series take a peek at Redkenpro.com and learn more about Blonde Idol here!

Check out Redken on Bangstyle for all the latest fashion forward tips, tricks, and product picks!