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HOW-TO: Fix Stripey Highlights for a Brunette
Los Angeles colorist Sema Conde shares how to fix a common color-gone-wrong scenario: stripey highlights.
Lauren Quick・Contributor
1/3
2 min to read
Los Angeles colorist Sema Marie took a house call (yes, she takes house calls!) for a client suffering from stripey highlights. She makes color amends in the best way and shares her formula with MODERN.
GET THE COLOR:
*Note: This is a very ashy color, so it would only be good for someone with lots of red in her hair and very gold highlights. Don't use on a pretty blonde; she will turn green!
STEP 1: For lowlight, use two different formulas.
(A) For roots to mid-section: 1/2 CHI Ionic 7AA + 1/4 6AA + 10vol
(B) For mid-section to ends: 1/2 CHI Ionic 7AA + 1/4 8AA + 10vol
Closer to the face, do the lighter of the lowlight colors, but don't do any lowlights in the hairline.
Process for 20 minutes.
STEP 2: During the last 5 minutes, apply CHI Ionic 1/2 6AA + 1/4 7AA + 10vol about 3-4 inches out, but don't do any base around the face. You want to mute out the highlights but not completely cover them.
STEP 3: Lift all the ends so the color doesn't muddy up the blonde. Rinse, shampoo, condition and dry.
STEP 4: Balayage ends with 40vol.
Tip: If you're slow with balayage, do 20vol and increase it for each section, then use a dryer with a diffuser to heat up the sections that need to catch up. Do NOT use a hooded dryer. You can't control where the heat goes on a hooded dryer.
STEP 5: Rinse. Tone the root of the balayage with Redken Shades EQ 9N + 9NB for 5 minutes.
(The root of the balayage doesn't always mean the root closest to the scalp; it means where the actual highlight starts.)
STEP 6: Rinse, and while at the bowl, re-gloss all over with Redken Shades EQ 9NB + 9G for 4 minutes.
STEP 7: Rinse, shampoo, condition, dry and style. You're done!
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