Summer Red Hair Color!

by Joseph Kellner Hairdresser/Film Maker/Mua

Single-process color can appear flat and one-dimensional. To avoid this, Joseph Kellner suggests layering several variations of scarlet over each other: It reads as one color, but it’s full of texture—it doesn’t feel like a block of red. Mixed one color for your clients scalp area and a lighter version of that for the rest of her head. Then added fine brownish-red lowlights throughout and put subtle highlights on her ends so that they don’t look too inky. For a believable red you want to stay within your natural base color. If you’re a dark blond, golden copper is good because there are undertones of that in your hair already; if you’re a light brunette, opt for copper; if you’re a medium brunette, think auburn. There’s nothing prettier than a child’s sunny copper hair—it has so much dimension. When you are hair coloring never choose a level 3 levels lighter than your base color. You will acheive a financial commitment you are not ready for.

Instead of choosing hair color based on someone’s skin tone, I focus on their eyes. If you have yellow in your eyes—a golden brown or hazel—think warm reds. If your eyes are black-brown or pale blue, go cooler. The reasoning for playing up peepers instead of skin. A lot of natural redheads have a pinkish complexion, but then others have a more golden one. People always find ways to modify their skin tone, whether it’s tinted moisturizer or self-tanner. For the ideal eye-enhancing shade of red, I recommends holding different colored hair swatches up to your forehead. Then, once you decide on your favorites, have your colorist do test strands.

Red is one of the most difficult colors to keep; it fades ultra fast, so you’ll want to use a pigment-protecting product with UV filters. It’s also one of the most difficult colors to get away from. Red tends to leave a residue, especially on blond hair. Be willing to stay with a warmer version of whatever your color was before. Even if you were originally a brunette, you’re going to have an underlying red tone for a bit.

While infusing your hair with red takes a few hours, I don’t recommend stripping the hair. Wait until your hair has faded before going to the salon—you want Mother Nature to help you get back to where you want to go. Once you finally do visit the salon, I like to start with a gentle professional product to take the red out, then have you come back in after a day or two to apply a more intensive chemical remover. And what ever shade of red haircolor you choose, please remember to use Salon hair care for your artificial hair color. Try Kalea Rose only available at the Joseph Kellner Salon in Orlando, Florida 32836.