We’ve all been in that situation – we want to change our style, but we don’t know how to explain what we want to our hairdresser. Or on the flip side, your hairdresser might start talking in what seems like a foreign language, leaving it to you to decipher what the words they’re throwing around really mean. Here, I’m going to deconstruct hairstylist jargon so that the next time you visit the salon, you’ll know exactly what to say to get the look you want.
Single Process
When you’re told your hair wish can be done in one visit, this is called a single process.
Double Process
This is when it’s going to take more than one visit to achieve your dream look. Make sure to follow your hairdresser’s advice when they say this term as, sometimes, it’s good to space out visits for the health of your hair.
Tone
All colours have cool or warm tones. Cool tones are like winter colours and can include blues, purples, and greens. Warm tones, on the other hand, are more autumn-like colours and include yellows, reds, burnt orange, caramel, and chocolate brown. Looking at a salon’s hair shade chart will help you clearly see the difference and pick a hair tone.
Hair Tip: Cool shades are a great option for clients looking to cool down their complexion by cancelling out redness from their skin.
Highlights
Highlights are lighter than your natural hair colour and can be applied in many different ways, such as freehand, foil, or cling wrap.
Hair Tip: The amount of highlights you add and where they are placed can have a huge impact on the final look.
Full Highlights
This is when there will be colour in sections that are highlighted throughout the entire head.
Hair Tip: If you happen to have lots of highlights, it doesn’t mean you should go for full-head colour as it’s a completely different look.
Partial Highlights
Partial highlights are highlights around the hairline. It’s also referred to as ‘face framing lights’ or lights just scattered around the top.
Hair Tip: Partial highlights are great to refresh your lights in between big appointments.
Babylights (or Paper Thin Lights)
This refers to the size of the weave that’s used and are finer lights.
Hair Tip: These are great for around the face frame, especially when they’re done in between a bigger appointment or for the parting when your highlights grow out.
Balayage
Balayage was created by the French and is a natural-looking, hand-painting technique that grows out easier.
Hair Tip: This technique has allowed hairdressers to be a lot more creative. In just one hair colour, you can use many techniques such as highlights, lowlights, and balayage for a unique look.
Lowlights
Lowlights darken strands to add depth and dimension to hair and are very en vogue now.
Hair Tip: Sometimes, blonds feel like they need to be blonder when actually, they just need to add in some lowlights to give their hair dimension, which will make them look blonder.
Root Tapping
Root tapping softens the look of the highlights at the root area.
Hair Tip: This treatment is well known for allowing the colour to seamlessly grow out better and appear more natural looking.
Hair Glossing
This is a colour that gives instant shine. There can either be colour in it or it can just be a clear colour that adds a fabulous gloss to your existing colour.
Hair Tip: The brand Redken comes with a wide range of hair gloss products – including stunning cool colours – that can be found at mariadowling Salon.
Root Smudging
This technique is used to soften or remove the line of old highlights by applying a colour that’s closer to the base colour on the root. It can be smudged one to three inches (or more) into the hair, depending on the length of the hair.
Hair Tip: This technique will add dimension in the colour by adding depth and is very on trend right now.
Bump Up the Roots
This is a technique used at mariadowling salon after you have highlights, and for a speedy refresher in between appointments to the root area around the hairline.
Hair Tip: The whole appointment is quick and clients don’t have to come as often as they usually do to have their hair done – while still leaving your hair looking really good.
