Color Without Compromise: Blondes Shine with Goldwell LightDimensions SilkLift Strong and Colorance
Are your blondes feeling blah? Give ’em a lift with LightDimensions SilkLift Strong
Sponsored by Goldwell
Kayla Stewart Wins Keune's Blonde's Best Friend Competition - See Her Winning Blended Blonde
Colorist Kayla Stewart has been named the grand prize winner of Keune's Blonde's Best Friend Competition. It was difficult whittling down thousands of entries, but thanks to you, we found the best!
August 2, 2017
Kayla Stewart's winning look in Keune's Blonde's Best Friend Competition.
Kayla Stewart
2 min to read
The votes are in for Keune’s Blonde’s Best Friend Competition! We asked for your best blonde creations and we asked YOU to choose the grand prize winner.
And the winner is…Kayla Stewart!
Stewart was initially selected by MODERN SALON editors as one of 10 finalists from thousands of entries. From there, we asked our audience to choose their favorite blonde look. As the grand prize winner, Stewart won a trip to New York City to participate in MODERN SALON’s exclusive photoshoot workshop, Artist Session.
As part of Keune’s Blondes Best Friend competition, contestants were required to use Keune’s Bond Fusion in their look. Bond Fusion is a three-phase bond-building system that restores, builds and protects bonds, as it continuously treats and conditions chemically damaged hair to keep it strong, shiny and healthy.
“While never using an additive before, I noticed an amazing difference when using Bond Fusion! Not only was my model’s hair silky smooth, but the integrity of her hair felt even better than it did before the lightening process,” says Stewart.
Stewart says she was inspired by her model’s crystal blue eyes, so she wanted to give her an easy, lived-in look that would bring them out.
To achieve the look, Stewart painted the hair using Wella Freelights with 30 volume. She took diagonal sections going up from the nape in the back, leaving some of her model’s natural blonde in-between to maintain a natural look around her face and sides. “I also took diagonal sections blending with my favorite tool ever, a wood chip brush! By using the paint brush, I achieved a soft, blended effect all the way up to her root.”
Stewart recommends when bringing your clients lighter always judge their skin and eye color. “Determine where should you add a little ‘pop’ or lightness to define certain features. Which tones will enhance their eyes? Which will wash them out?”
Stewart concludes, “We are all artists and it’s all about enhancing our client's beautiful features!”
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
More Color
ColorFest 2026: The Hair Color Formulas and Creative Techniques Everyone Will Be Talking About
Trending, fool-proof, and fantastic formulas.
4 Express Salon Add-On Services That Boost Revenue and Keep Clients Coming Back
Schwarzkopf Professional Ambassadors Carly Zanoni and Brendnetta Ashley share the express color and treatment services helping stylists deliver great results in under 30 minutes while creating new opportunities for client retention and revenue growth.
by Anne Moratto
PRAVANA Expands HydraGloss Line with Two Red-Violet Shades Inspired by the “Cherry Cola” Trend
As rich red-violet tones continue trending, the brand introduces two new demi shades designed for depth, shine, and dimensional color.
by Staff
Something Special: Amelia Fugitt's Stunning Transformations
In an industry with so many options and opportunities, we asked artists what made them niche down and select a specialty. Amelia Fugitt (@ameliahairmakeup) says choosing to focus on transformations has transformed her career.
The Rise of “Naturals”: How Foundational Shades Are Driving Salon Growth
From gray blending to glossing services, stylists are redefining low-maintenance hair color and building more consistent, profitable salon business.
by Anne Moratto
Shampoo, Rinse, Repeat: Salon Clients Face a Water Cycle Crisis of Mineral Buildup on Hair
Neutralizing the damaging effects of water benefits the hair from texture to shine to color longevity, and it’s the science behind Malibu C products.
Sponsored by Malibu Wellness
Dazzle With Shiny Haircolor
Craft with confidence, challenge your creativity, work from inspiration. Prepare your chair for every canvas with Moroccanoil's expanded color lines and advanced technology.
Sponsored by Moroccanoil
Step-by-Step: How to Create the Modern Ombre
Create a look of quiet luxury with this modern take on ombré, featuring beautiful dimension and depth with strategic pops of blonde around the face and ends. The initial effect is bright and beautiful, with purposefully placed depth creating longevity as the hair grows out.
From Consultation to Correction: Managing Expectations and Getting Color Right
A master colorist on why great hair color is never “simple.”
by Anne Moratto
Meet Wella's New BlondorPlex 9 with Built-In Metal Purifier
Meet the next generation of lightening with cleaner lift, less breakage, and built-in Metal Purifier Technology.
Sponsored by Wella
Oligo Professionnel Redefines At-Home Blonde Hair Care with New Blacklight Blonde Science Product Line
Oligo Professionnel, the Montreal-based hair color powerhouse, expands beyond the salon with a new routine-driven system designed specifically for blondes and those with highlighted hair.
Magical Creatures: Why These Stylists Love Creating Fantasy Hair Color
These stylists practice hairdresser magic, transforming clients into unicorns, mermaids, rainbows and living works of art.
by Anne Moratto
Alysa Liu’s ‘Halo Hair’ Takes Gold on the Ice by Kelsey Miller Using Schwarzkopf Professional
Ahead of the Winter Olympics, Alysa partnered with St. Louis–based color specialist Kelsey Miller to elevate her DIY bleach work into clean, high-contrast halo placements.
Pink Is for Everyone: PRAVANA Launches Sugarcoated VIVIDS Shades
PRAVANA Sugarcoated expands the ChromaSilk VIVIDS line with two new pink shades, Juicy and Crush.
The American Blonde: The Look That Traveled the World
Blonde hair is as All-American as baseball, apple pie, and Stars and Stripes forever. And as America approaches her 250th birthday next year, we celebrate the birth of the Global Blonde.
Follow the Formula: Garnet Flame and Cherry Red
Two reds that get raves, these looks were designed using Alfaparf Milano. Get all the steps, processing, and expert tips to add these recipes to your rotation.
by Anne Moratto