Achieving Toned Highlights Without Lifting Natural Hair Color
Understanding the best approach to achieve toned highlights while preserving your natural hair color is crucial for every stylist and at-home colorist. Utilizing the right combination of volume developer and permanent hair color can help you attain subtle, beautiful highlights that blend seamlessly with your natural roots. In this article, we will discuss the process of using a 10 volume developer with 8N or 9N shades to achieve toned results without significantly altering your natural hair color.
Using a 10 Volume Developer for Gray Coverage and Toning
A 10 volume developer is specifically designed for depositing color, rather than lifting it. This makes it an excellent choice for covering gray regrowth and blending it with natural roots. When applied to gray hair, the developer will effectively cover the gray while ensuring a smooth transition with your natural hair color.
Toning Effect
The 8N (8 natural) or 9N (9 natural) shades offer a neutral tone that helps to reduce any brassiness and create a cohesive, softened look. These shades are particularly useful for those aiming for subtle highlights, as they do not significantly lift the natural roots. This method allows for a more natural appearance, minimizing any harsh transitions that might otherwise occur.
Results and Considerations
The outcome of using a 10 volume developer with 8N or 9N shades will vary depending on your hair's porosity and absorption capacity. You can expect a more subtle highlight effect rather than dramatic lightening. While this technique is effective for enhancing your natural color with soft highlights, it may not be suitable for those seeking a more contrasting or bright highlight effect.
It is important to note that if you desire more contrast or brightness in the highlights, you may need to consider a higher volume developer or explore alternative techniques such as balayage or foiling. These methods can provide more dimension and lift, resulting in more dramatic highlights.
Consultation and Professional Advice
Always perform a patch test before proceeding with any hair coloring treatment. Additionally, consulting with a professional stylist can help ensure that the results meet your expectations. Professional stylists have the expertise to guide you through the coloring process, providing personalized advice and ensuring a successful outcome.
Addressing Concerns with Natural Hair Roots and Length
It is common for many to have varying shades throughout their hair, from roots to ends. When applying color to hair with natural roots and length, you must be cautious to avoid lifting the natural hair color. Applying a 10 volume developer with 8 or 9 base tint to the roots where there is still natural base color can result in unwanted brassiness or orange tones, as the tint's formula will lift the natural color to a brassy, orange hue.
To avoid these issues, it is recommended to use a deposit-only color such as a gloss or toner. These products do not have the lifting properties of a higher volume developer and can help maintain your natural hair color while achieving the desired highlights.
When your length and ends have a different natural color than your roots, attempting a color change at home can be challenging and may require significant expertise. In such cases, professional color correction in a salon offers a safer and more reliable solution. A professional stylist can assess your hair's condition and provide the appropriate treatment, ensuring a smooth and natural-looking result.
Ultimately, understanding the best practices and techniques for achieving toned highlights without significantly altering your natural hair color is key to a successful and beautiful result. By choosing the right tools and consulting with professionals, you can enjoy a natural-looking highlight that enhances your hair color without disrupting its natural state.