Rule #212: If you ain’t cheatin’, you ain’t tryin’.
My Natural Blonde: I’d love to be one of those people whose hair just naturally grows the color they want it to be. I’ve got a couple of friends and family members I’m secretly shaking my fists at for just that coveted trait! If you’re like me, then you need some help when it comes to getting that perfect shade of “natural” color your genetics have denied you. I wanted to share the magic that my hairstylist, Nancy Gomez, does to my mop ‘o hair every five weeks at Sheri Marie’s Salon in Cypress.
Nancy is a big fan of traditional highlights to achieve that “natural” blonde look. Balayage just won’t get me to that real platinum blonde that I’m going for.
Balayage is French word for free painting. It’s when you take a section of hair and literally paint it on rather than traditionally putting it in a foil. When the lightener is concealed in the foil, it keeps working and processing. This gets you passed the orange/yellow phase, and therefore you are able to achieve a blonder result.
Balayage is an open air technique (versus the foils we use for highlights). It stays on in the open air, and when the lightener drys, it stops working. So, if your hair is still processing and the lightener dries and your hair is still yellow/orange, that’s the color it will stay. It won’t continue to process and turn into the bright, platinum blonde we’re aiming for.
Balayage will still work, but it will take a couple of times to get you to the blonde or platinum blonde level.
There are definitely pros and cons to each of them, and they give very different looks. That’s why it’s important to talk to your stylist to find out which technique is best for you.
I love plopping myself into Nancy’s chair and getting the royal treatment! It’s definitely my “me” time.
It’s also a mini therapy session where Nancy and I solve all the world’s problems! Nothing better than not only walking out with my “natural” blonde on and getting to spend time with such a sweet soul, too!
I feel like the “if you ain’t cheatin’, then you ain’t tryin'” mentality fits my blonde perfectly.
I’m not even sure what my truly “natural” hair color is anymore to be honest. And I’m totally okay with that!