Blake Lively, Drew Barrymore, Rihanna, Scarlett Johansson and Mandy Moore... it seems as though the whole of Hollywood is going as red as the carpets they live to walk on...
Blake looks ravashing in rooi
If you’d also like to cross over to the crimson side this season, you’ll want to read this first; we chatted to Candice Donadel, a hairstylist and owner of Mirrors Hair Lab in Cape Town. Donadel used to be the colour trainer for L'Oreal and Redken, so this girl really knows her hues...
Can anyone pull off red hair?
Women with olive complexions or yellow undertones in their skin will look great with cool violety shades of red (think mulberry and cranberry), while women with naturally dark hair look great with deep, rich red shades without an orange or copper tone. If you’ve got lighter skin that’s sensitive to the sun, you should opt for cool coppery shades with lighter tones. This also applies to ladies that have naturally lighter hair. We have an awesome Redken recipe where we mix our Titanium shades with Copper for an electric cool tone…
Why is coloured red hair especially prone to fading?
Red colour molecules are relatively big and can slip out of the hair quite easily. If you’re not using a professional range of hair care, it will fade fast. Make sure your salon stocks L'Oreal, Redken or Matrix as they have the technology that turns the molecule into a star shape that doesn’t slip out of the hair shaft as easily.
How else can you fight the fade?
Sun is a real colour stripper! Products that are high in antioxidants and UV protectors are very good for fighting those harmful rays. Sulphate-free shampoo is the new colour saver! Most shampoos you buy off the shelf are filled with sulphates and these exfoliate the colour molecule out of your hair, causing it to fade. Great sulphate-free shampoos include Pureology, which are designed to care for coloured hair, Redken Colour Extend or Matrix Biolage Colour Care Therapy, all available at salons.
Redken Color Extend shampoo and conditioner
If you decide to go red from a box instead of using your colourist, is there any over the counter brand you deem better than others?
The best tip I can give on choosing a box is that dark to medium brown hair is where red pigment lives naturally, so these are the ideal bases to get red and stay red when colouring. You should then choose between a 3 to a 5 in your choice of tone. Red hair can often go wrong, especially when you try to colour over a previous colour. This is because tint on tint goes darker, never lighter and this can cause bright red roots with bands of darker colour towards the ends. Also, if you put it over blonde, it could go pink! A hairdresser knows these things first hand, so I don’t recommend a box for something risky like ‘red’ or ‘blonde’.
Once you're over the red and want to get rid of it, what should you do?
Again I’d consult a professional, especially when you want to eliminate red altogether for a cooler brown as you need to add a certain amount of green! To go blonde, you would need to use a professional colour remover that doesn't damage your hair like a traditional ‘bleach bath’ would - or turn it pink!
To make an appointment at Mirrors Hair Lab, call (021) 424 3931.