Not surprisingly, the strobing makeup trend of strategically placing shimmer and highlighters to add light has made its way to the other side of the salon, to colorists and stylists. Hair artists are using the color technique to create fresh shades and enhance cuts.

Matrix Artistic Director Chrystofer Benson wants to share how to strobe effectively to get the most out of color and cut. "Strobing appreciates how light impacts color and shape," Benson says.

Although best known for his color expertise (he has won just about every color award available in the industry), Benson is also an accomplished cutter and stylist. For this session, Benson first cut the hair, knowing his light placement would pick up the texture of the new shape.

"My goal with the cut was to free up the weight and allow the hair to move." Using a razor and shear, Benson created internal texture and softened the surface.

Benson then turned the existing high-lifted golden ash shade into a melted finish. "The whole idea is to deepen the base, gradiate to pastel midlengths and feather to the existing blonde tips. It is the perfect design, both cut and color, for strobing."

Styling the perfect finish, Benson used the newly relaunched Total Results line—focusing on volumizing and hydrating.

Hair: Chrystofer Benson for Matrix
Assistant: Amanda Epstein
Photography: Roberto Ligresti
Makeup: David Maderich for Face Atelier Cosmetics
Fashion styling: Nikko Kefalas
Nails: Narina Chan for Artists at Wilhelmina

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, Click here.