From Blonde to Red: Simple Steps For a Big Change

"Sara remembers that when she was a child she had 'reddish' hair," says hair color icon Beth Minardi. "Currently, her hair is between a level 5, lightest brown, and a level 6, dark blonde.  About a year ago, she was 'blonded,'  so the mid-lengths and ends have grown out and remain very light."

To transition to red, Minardi realized she was working with two types of hair at the same time: the natural hair/hair color which is very long and grown out, and the previously bleached/blonded hair at the mid and ends of the hair shaft.

"My job, to make her into a great redhead requires that I create a flattering red shade on the virgin hair and transform the bleached, blonde hair into a red shade. This requires lift and deposit on the root and a tint-back, or addition of tone, on the hair lengths."

Here Minardi shares the details for this transformation:

Step 1: Using Beth Minardi Signature Permanent Creme Color, mix one ounce of 6TAN with 1 ounce of 7CoR with 20 volume developer. Take tiny, even sections, apply to the natural hair.

Step 2: While processing, immediately replace the gold, orange and red pigment into the bleached hair lengths by adding a no lift, acidic conditioning color. Using Beth Minardi Demi Liquid Hair color, mix 2 ounces of 10C with 1 ounce of 8C and 1/2 ounce of 6CG with equal parts of 5 volume developer. Apply evenly and thoroughly, penetrating every strand of that previously lightened hair. "So, as the darker natural hair was being lifted and deposited to red, the hair lengths were transitioning from blonde to red."  

Step 3: Process for 30 minutes at room temperature. Rinse, shampoo and condition.