Take a client with the most amazing, thick, abundant head of long hair (who loves the au naturel look)…and try to find a strategic solution for her pesky gray strands. Color star, Lisa Satorn, of LA’s much buzzed about Nine Zero One Salon pulled it off, no prob. Here’s the download — and the formula — on her super- sultry, tropical transformation:
901’S STRATEGIC SOLUTION FOR PESKY GRAYS
THE ASSIGNMENT:
Lisa Satorn’s gorgeous client “has beautiful, thick, naturally-long hair that loves to live in a less-is-more place.” Problem is, she also has some grays sprinkled throughout and was eager to bid them a fond farewell. That’s easier said than done sometimes; in fact, Lisa very rarely does a permanent gray base “unless absolutely necessary.” Why? Because it creates an obvious grow-out situation, which this low-key client wasn’t eager to deal with every month.
THE CHALLENGE:
Lighten and freshen the color on a very full head of hair, and camouflage those grays without creating a high-maintenance, constantly-in-the-salon look.
THE INSPIRATION:
Coining the look “Island Vibes,” Lisa dreamt up the lush hair on a tropical island, and titled this particular color combo, “Sunshine Blonde.”
HOW SHE PULLED IT OFF:
“I added lots of blonde + natural ash tones to mimic my client’s natural hair growth, which camouflages the gray for low-maintenance hair,” explains Lisa. “No harsh grow out!” The color placement was cleverly devised around gray blending.
Formula 2 (Highlights): Blonde Life Lightening Powder + 20 Volume LumiShine Developer
Formula 3 (Lowlights): 1 oz (30ml) LumiShine Demi-Permanent DD Crème 6NA + 1 oz (30ml) LumiShine Demi-Permanent DD Crème 8NA + 2 oz (60ml) 5 Volume LumiShine Developer
Formula 4 (Shadow Root): 2 oz (60ml) LumiShine Demi-Permanent Liquid 8NA + 2 oz (60ml) 5 Volume LumiShine Developer
Formula 5 (Toner): 1 oz (30ml) LumiShine Demi-Permanent Liquid 9NWB + 1 oz (30ml) LumiShine Demi-Permanent Liquid 9V + 1 oz (30ml) LumiShine Demi-Permanent Liquid Clear + 3 oz (90ml) 5 Volume LumiShine Developer
Step 2: Simultaneously lowlight simultaneously with formula 3 for added depth and dimension.
Step 3: Process and lift to a pale yellow before rinsing
Step 4: Shadow root with Formula 4, leaving the hairline out. Process 5-7 mins before applying toner all over with Formula 5
Step 5: Comb through to melt the colors together
Step 6: Process 10 min. Shampoo and condition with Joico K-Pak Color Therapy.
Ta-da!: The end look was bright and sunny around the hairline — both for a pretty “pop” and to disguise the gray. Explains Lisa: “As her hair grows out, it becomes a cool and effortless transition into soft golden highlights with pops of lightness on the ends. I wanted it to look like she had been spending lots of time on an island!”
