HOW TO: The UN-Ombre

Candace Bossendorfer has been loving ombre for the past two years, but is now helping her clients gradually go from the power color design to something more organic. "It's been a great look for some time," she says, "but now it's time to break from the trend while still keeping some light on the ends."

While that still sounds like OMBRE, Bossendorfer notes that this is the 2014 version of the pattern."Is softer, more gentle," she says. "Beautiful natural tones are a trend of their own."

Bossendorfer demonstrated the transition on client Kimberly. "Ombre is now replaced with a trio of tones including caramels, chestnuts and ivory blond. All are placed just right for exposure."

In her consultation, Bossendorfer chats about color "personality", an Aloxxi concept for color designation, used instead of color levels which regularly confuse clients. "It's a great idea," says Bossendorfer. "Saying Mona Lisa Smile is more interesting to a client. It's more fun than suggesting level 7 and 8."

For this more woods-y finish, Bossendorfer added both high and low lights, while adding some depth to the ends and warmth to the base. For highlights, she placed Aloxxi Chroma 10B in weaves with what she calls an "organic" placement around the face. The ends were deepened with Tone 7G  (blended with 10 volume developer) while Tone 6N was used at the base. "We're going for a more natural progression," says Bossendorfer. "There is nothing 'factory' about this look," she adds. "This look is what you would see in sunlight." A signature highlight is placed at the crown to drape ove the back "Like a waterfall."

When Kimberly asked for a name to her final personality she was thrilled to hear it is "A Touch of Tuscany." Echoing what everyone, including Bossendorfer, felt in the salon, Kimberly said "I love it!"