“My Client came in and was feeling a little drab and was tired of the ‘brassiness gold’ she was seeing in her,” Sabrena Handley (Sabrena_hairartist) of Guin, AL says. “She had an overgrown balayage and it had been almost six months since she had done anything to her hair.” There was banding, fading, new growth, and previous different levels of color throughout. “She wanted brighter and lighter hair, and added she didn’t want the ‘color’ to change much with different lighting.”

Hair color makeover by Sabrena Handley

Hair color makeover by Sabrena Handley

After several hours and what she describes as a lot of tender loving care, Handley achieved the desired look. “Sometimes we don’t have to do a lot to the hair,” Handley says, “but we do have to pay attention to what is going on within each section of hair and treat it accordingly.”

Here Handley shares the details for the correction:

STEP 1: Divide the har into 4 quads, from center part down to the nape and then from ear to ear. Clip each section off. Inside each quad take ¼ inch partings and use an alternate slicing and micro stich foiling technique. “I wanted to leave a little depth throughout her hair to create some dimension.” Within each slice apply Redken Blond Icing with 20 volume Blond Icing Developer. With the Micro Stitch method apply Redken Blonde Icing with 10 volume Blonde Icing developer. Apply from zone 1 to the banded area.

STEP 2: While processing, use a freehand technique to the hair between. From the banded area to ends apply Redken Flashlift with 10 volume and allow to “air process”. 

STEP 3: Lift to a pale yellow and then shampoo with Redken Blondage Shampoo. Follow with a Redken Chemistry Shot treatment using 1 shot of each Extreme and All Soft. Let sit for 10 minutes. Rinse out with neutral water. Towel dry the hair.

STEP 4: To tone, apply Redken Shades EQ gloss in 09N + Processing solution from Zone 1 through to Zone 3. Let process for 20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with cool water. Then apply Redken Extreme Conditioner and let set for 5 minutes. Rinse and style.

STEP 5: To finish, detangle the hair with Redken One United. Then apply Pillow proof Primer for heat protection and faster drying time, followed by Redken Full Frame 07 for volume. Dry the hair in sections using Sam Villa Artist Blow Dryer within a Medium Round Artist Boar Brush. For added smoothness, spray Redken Iron Shape 11 throughout the hair. Comb through and polish with Sam Villa Sleekr Iron.

Hair color by Sabrena Handley

Hair color by Sabrena Handley

Maggie Mulhern

Maggie Mulhern

Beauty and Fashion Director, MODERN SALON

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