September 26, 2017
September 19, 2017 1 Comment
marissa has this awesome silver colored hair and today we’re going to cut, bleach, & tone her to PERFECT WHITE HAIR.
for the CUT:
first, we’ll cut the sides and the back. marissa is always tucking hair behind her ear, so we’re going to make sure that we give her a nice clean cut around the ear (as well as the rest of the head).
this helps to make our job easier when we’re lightening, as we will be cutting off excess hair that does not need to be lightened. also, we will be able to just paint right on the new growth without worrying about the already lightened ends (since they are cut off).
now that we’ve cut her hair, we’re ready to bleach her hair. though we haven’t touched the top yet, we will clean it up after we’ve lightened the rest of her head.
now we’re ready to BLEACH the hair. we’re going to use schwarzkopf blondeme with 20 vol. we generally never do a bleach and tone with more than a 20 vol. it is a more steady, even lightening process that eats out more of the yellow pigment. the 30 & 40 will blow the cuticle open and lighten quickly, but it tends to leave more yellow in the hair. also, it can damage the hair more.
we want to make sure that we DO NOT lighten over the portions that they already been bleached or the hair will be severely damaged.
we’re going to start at the BACK of marissa’s head and work our way forward. luckily, with her short hair in the back we just need to make sure we apply an even layer of lightener and saturate the hair before moving to the top of the head.
the TOP of the head is where things get a bit more complicated. we are going to break the 1 inch roots up into two parts - ½ inch closest to the scalp and ½ inch of roots closest to lightened ends. we are going to apply to the ½ inch closest to the lightened ends first. once this is complete, we will apply to the ½ inch closest to the scalp. we do this so the roots lighten evenly. the hair closest to the scalp lightens faster due to the heat from the scalp and because the hair has not fully keratinized yet. basically meaning, the hair protein hasn't fully hardened yet.
with the lightener all applied, we’re noticing that she still has some yellow pigments we need to get rid of if marissa wants to have WHITE HAIR. so we’re going to wash it out and put a SECOND layer of bleach on her hair.
with the first round of lightener out, you can really see how much yellow pigment was left behind. to keep her hair even and natural, we’re going to start this lightening process at the FRONT and work our way to the BACK with blondeme and 20 vol.
with the 2nd process complete, we can see that her hair is almost WHITE so we’re ready to WASH & TONE.
today we’re testing out a NEW toner: the j beverly hills silver toner. we’re going to apply it even throughout the hair and allow it to process for a full 20 minutes before taking her to the sink to wash out.
the result is this beautiful WHITE HAIR:
September 13, 2017
looking for VOLUME? a good BACKCOMBING of your hair can provide that full-bodied look we’re all going for. however, backcombing can destroy your hair if not done PROPERLY. which brings us to the subject of this week’s video and blog: how to properly BACKCOMB your hair without causing damage and keeping your style in tact ALL DAY.
start at the TOP of your head and take sections that are about 1 inch or 1 ½ inch wide and hold is straight up above your head. spray ‘fix’ on the piece of hair. on the bottom side of the section, put the comb in your hair about 4 inches from the root and gently pull down.
do NOT rip or pull aggressively. softly and slowly. do not go up and down, you will tear the hair. REPEAT the process 5-6 times, taking note to move a bit higher on the hair each time before moving on to the next section.
this motion create a tight and compact section that’s spongy and VOLUMINOUS. (we’ll show you how to take the beast after we’re done backcombing)
you will repeat this process down a few sections down the head, as well fill out the sides of your style with BACKCOMBING.
as you section, remember that BIGGER IS BETTER. it’s easier to add more volume to big section of hair than to go back and try to add more BACKCOMBING after a section has already been done.
when it comes to the FRONT of your head, the amount you backcomb is up to personal preference. in veronica’s case, she doesn’t like a whole lot of volume in the front so she’s going to take much smaller sections in her hand (as well as leave the very front pieces out entirely).
with all the BACKCOMBING finished, you should be looking like a picture-perfect image of the 80s.
now it’s time to tame the beast and flatten some of this volume.
take the comb in your hand and VERY LIGHTLY comb the hair to smooth it down a bit.
you want to make sure that you are ONLY combing down the veil of the head and not pulling out all your hard-earned volume. while you’re doing this, you can use your fingers to physically pull apart the hair and even some of the compact hair so that the hair is sitting evenly. this helps make sure that you don’t hair areas of hair that are more compact than the other.
with you style in place, remember to LEAVE IT ALONE. the more you touch your hair, the more likely you are to dampen your style and undo the BACKCOMBING.
as a final precaution, SEAL YOUR STYLE with a mist of ‘fix’. not only will this keep your style in place and add a natural shine, it doesn’t make your hair stiff or crunchy.
there you have it <3 this #hairhack takes about 2 minutes in the morning for volume all day long. tell us what you think in the comments or leave any questions you may have :)
September 04, 2017
this week veronica is performing a BLONDE COLOR CORRECTION on rachelle, who was previously a very dark brown. rachelle came to our salon halfway through her journey from box-dye brown to blonde. she initially tried to go blonde herself twice at home (it didn’t go well), and then she had another salon do some work on it, thus she had a TON of different colors in her hair.
on her first visit to the salon, we did an ombre foil and we picked out as much of the dark blondes as we could. now that she’s at a shade we can work from- we’re ready to make her hair a GORGEOUS BLONDE and continue on with the COLOR CORRECTION.
FIRST, we’re going to pull up her roots and create the slightest OMBRE foil to create a shadow. SECOND, our target shade is the midshaft of her hair, so we will be removing any remaining dark tones in her ends. LAST but not least, we’ll tone and style <3 the result will be one even tone of GORGEOUS GOLDEN BLONDE.
PRODUCTS
-nvenn’s ‘protect’: a nutrient-rich, NATURAL HEAT PROTECTANT FOR HAIR is also a STYLING PRIMER that speeds up your blowdry time.
-nvenn’s ‘replenish’ a transformative, INVISIBLE hair oil that works for all types of dry / damaged hair.
-nvenn’s ‘volume’ a WEIGHTLESS heat activated volumizer
as always, we start by SECTIONING the hair into 4 even quadrants. on rachelle’s first visit, we started from the back of the head and moved towards the front. this time around we’ll be starting from the front and work towards the back to ensure that we have EVEN PROCESSING TIME for the lightening pattern across her entire head.
we’re going to be moving SECTION by SECTION. alternate between these 4 foils / sections.
we’re going to start at the bottom of the FRONT section.
1) because we’re pulling her BLONDE closer to the root, we’re going to use a WEAVE pattern to create a blended shadow at the root that naturally blends with the blonde. before we pick up the paintbrush, we’re going to CAREFULLY BACKCOMB the hair to the root. you do not want to rip or pull the hair. now we’re ready to lighten the hair. remember to keep your brush VERTICAL and FEATHER the lightener on, taking note to address any pieces of hair that still have darker tones.
we want the ends to get lightened slightly as well without fully applying lightener to the strand. so to ensure that her ends get a boost as well, we’re going to fold them upwards into the foil and that’s going to be enough to boost the color and pull out a bit of the excess pigment.
2) next, we’re going to abandon backcombing and apply all the way to the root. Since we are creating such a close shadowed root, you can have foils go very close to the scalp.
3) leave a section out. we are incorporated the amount of dark she already has in there. Staggering the amount of dark root in the hair allows for a very NATURAL SHADOW in her roots.
4) directly after the section we’re leaving unlightened, we’re going to a BABYLIGHT. this acts as a veil to break up the dark in the section we left out.
we continue this pattern all the way up the head to create a very DIFFUSED LINE in our foiling pattern and once all the foils are in… we’ve got her roots covered (literally).
**NOTE: as expected- there are still a few DARK TONES on rachelle’s ends that we want to take care of. we’re going to pick the pieces of hair out in her ends that need some extra attention from the lightener and FOIL it.
starting at the very top of the SECTIONS, we’re going to go through and incorporate only BABYLIGHTS without backcombing. because there is not very much roots to begin with, this is going to push the BLONDE up to the root, while allowing it to be a softer shadow.
we’ll repeat this process for ALL of the remaining hair. with her FOILS ALL DONE, we’re going to keep a close eye on her foils to make sure we don’t over process the hair.
once we check her foils, we’re able to see that the lightener has done its job and we’re ready to WASH the lightener out and TONE THE HAIR.
step 3: TONING the HAIR
with the hair freshly washed, it’s already easy to see her GOLDEN BLONDE shining through.
now we’re ready to put the TONER in. we also sprayed in the j beverly hills protein spray to even out porosity of the hair and make sure it takes to the toner well.
on the ends we’ll be using a ½ 8p and ½ 10a with a 5 vol developer. on the roots, we’re going to use a 9n with 5 vol because it’s not quite as brassy as the bottoms of her hair.
STARTING WITH THE ENDS, we’re going to apply our formula. it’s important to do whichever section of hair needs the most pigment toned out. the roots need less pigment toned out, so it will not take as long. the darker pigment will need more time to tone out. this will this make sure your entire head tones evenly with the same processing time.
after the ends are covered, we’re going to move to our 2nd formula and apply it to the ROOTS (about 5 inches) of the hair.
remember to take your time and make sure that the hair is SATURATED WITH TONER. otherwise, you may find some pesky brass tones peaking through.
with the toner on the entire head, it’s time to allow it to process for 20 minutes before taking her to the sink and washing out.
with the hair WASHED OUT, it’s time to BLOWDRY & STYLE.
we’re going to start with nvenn’s protect. this HEAT PROTECTANT should be applied before every layer of heat to keep your hair soft, shiny, and protected from heat damage. apply it evenly throughout the hair before and after your blowdry. it was also help you dry the hair quicker which cuts down blow dry time.
second, we’re going to use nvenn’s replenish. this shine restoration oil is a BLONDE’S BEST FRIEND. not only does it moisturize the hair and restore essentials oils, it helps BLONDE HAIR shine and sparkle <3
last, we’re going to use nvenn’s volume. this HEAT ACTIVATED MOISTURIZER will give the hair a ton of body as we dry it.
after a quick blowdry, the COLOR CORRECTION is complete. rachelle has GORGEOUS GOLDEN BLONDE HAIR.
August 29, 2017
we get tons of requests for tips & tricks on how to put on FAKE EYELASHES. we’ve heard your requests and we’ve made a video to satisfy them! in this week’s video, veronica shows how to measure, trim, and complete the look with FAKE EYELASHES.
the lashes featured in this video are from our sister company, Dollar Eyelash Club <3 these cruelty-free keratin lashes are identical human hair and start at ONLY $1. the best part? we deliver them to your door :)
as always, the first rule for anytime you touch your face- WASH YOUR HANDS. you’re going to have your fingers close to your eyes and on the lashes, so you don’t want to risk getting dirt of bacteria in your eyes.
use a pair of tweezers to remove the lashes from the package. gently grab the outside of the lash and peel it from the packaging. at this point, it’s up to you as to whether or not you use the tweezers or your fingers to measure- but if you’re new at this you’ll probably want to use your fingers. (don’t poke yourself in the eye with tweezers!)
now you’re ready to MEASURE the lashes and see if there is any part of it you need to trim. hold the lash up to your eye and line it up. make a note of the excess lash that you don’t need. more often than not- you’re going to need to trim your lashes.
it’s important to trim your lashes. not only to get the most natural look, but to ensure that your lashes stay on properly. the rule of thumb for lashes is that FAKE EYELASHES stick to hair. so if you don’t have hair there, you need to trim your lashes to fit.
when it comes to what side to trim, it’s about personal preference. in veronica’s case, she wants less of the taper and thus will choose to trim from the inside of the lash rather than the outside.
with your lashes trimmed and ready to go, it’s time to APPLY the glue and get to work on those lovely lashes. grab your mirror and get ready to apply the glue.
start with whichever side you feel most comfortable with. it truly doesn’t matter, just personal preference.
use a very THIN layer of glue and allow it to sit and become tackier before applying it to your lashes. make sure that the glue is evenly across, without spreading residue to the individual lashes. count to 30 in your head before even attempting to put the lashes on.
the wetter the glue is, the more difficult it will be to get the lashes to stick to your eye. with a bit of time to air dry- the lashes will stick FLAWLESSLY and EFFORTLESSLY.
with the glue tacky at this point, pick up your mirror and begin applying the strip to your lashes starting from the outside corner. try to get them as close to the root as possible. gently pat them down with your fingers to help secure the lash strip to your eye.
with the lashes in place, let them dry! don’t make the mistake of touching your eyes too much and give the lashes a few minutes to finish drying.
in the meantime, you can get to work on the other eye.
when you’re done, you’ll have a complete look that puts the finishing touches on ANY look:
remember, practice makes PERFECT! if it’s your first time putting on false eyelashes, you’re going to struggle. but over time with more practice, you’ll be able to put your lashes on in a matter of seconds :)
are you going to try false eyelashes? already sport them on the daily? share your tips for easy lash application in the comments.
August 21, 2017
jessica has been doing andrea’s hair for close to two years now. when she started, her hair was very blonde and now she’s sitting at this pinkish blonde color. now we’re going to use the color andrea already has in her hair to create a DARK BROWN BALAYAGE.
want to snag the formulas for yourself? click here to snag our cheat sheet :)
due to the fact that her hair is so pre-lightened, we’re going to need to fill her hair before we color her hair to the DARK BALAYAGE. like most of our styles, the process starts with SECTIONING the hair into 4 even quadrants.
we didn’t add any copper pigment into the brown fill formula because there's still some reddish- pink pigment remaining in her hair from before. we will add BLONDE BABYLIGHTS to add dimension to her hair. try to visualize how much BLONDE you'll want in the finished look. go through section by section to decide the placement you want and remember: you want to MIRROR what you do on the right side with the left side.
once we’re above the WIDEST part of the head, we’re going to add a BABYLIGHT to the top of each section to break up the line so that the DARK BALAYAGE will look natural. feather the color down, and be careful to not overlap.
REPEAT this pattern around the head. when you’re done, it should look like this:
now we’re going to let the color finish PROCESSING and wash it out. from there, we’re going to repeat this exact foil pattern with the final color on her head. but before we jump into the last of the coloring, here’s what andrea’s hair looks like after the FILL.
now that her hair is filled, it’s time to expand! we’re going to mix 7N to put over any of the “fill color” we just applied, and for the lighter blonde or pinkish we’re going to put on 9.1 on to tone it. once we do this color, it’s going to be perfect!
on the midshaft, we're using the darker color. use the fill color to guide where you color the dark. make sure to feather the color in. as you use your comb, make sure not to pull through the ends to ensure the color doesn’t bleed into the blonde.
once you get to the section with the BABYLIGHTS, you’re going to need to pick out all the blonde and refoil it with the 9.1. paint the remainder of the blonde ends with the 9.1 as well to make sure that everything gets TONED OUT.
follow this pattern all the way around the head. from there, all you need to do is WASH & STYLE.
and oila! the final product:
let us know what you think in the comments <3
August 14, 2017
today we’re going to share how to get rid of COWLICKS. to do so, we’re borrowing a helping hand from our new stylist madison who just so happens to suffer from annoying cowlicks.
in madison’s case, the cowlick is right in the front of her bangs. which is especially annoying considering that madison LOVES wearing straight-cross bangs. luckily, we’ve got a few styling tactics up our sleeve that will ELIMINATE her COWLICK and get her out the door.
here’s what you’ll need:
first, we’re going to MIST in some of nvenn’s ‘protect’ HEAT PROTECTANT to dampen the hair a bit. simply mist the product through the area you’re trying to remove the cowlick from. not only will this provide the damp environment we need to pull out the cowlick, it will also PROTECT from the heat damage of the blow dryer.
there’s something MAGICAL about this denman brush. the way the brussels meet with the rubber creates just enough electricity to PULL that cowlick right out.
brush the hair from LEFT to RIGHT vigorously while blow drying the hair out. (just a warning: this can hurt just a little bit, but remember- just a little bit of pain for PERFECT hair)
do this for about a minute or two . in madison’s case, we’re going to finish by combing the hair towards the front with a FINE TOOTH COMB and styling her bands in the straight-across style she loves.
it really is that simple! so pocket this #hairhack from your favorite and stylists and use it on your own cowlicks.
if you’re looking for a DENMAN we’ve even got an ADORABLE travel size denman brush, on the website!
August 08, 2017
after her video on tattooing her own lips, we realized how many of our followers have a lot of interest in PERMANENT MAKEUP. which is why today, jessica is touching up her EYELINER TATTOOS and giving a few tips and tricks along the way.
at nvenn, we LOVE PERMANENT MAKEUP. not only is it the only way to WAKE UP with your MAKEUP, it lasts for anywhere from a year to 2 years. so if you’re anything like us and looking for a way to reduce the amount of time you spend getting ready in the morning, PERMANENT EYELINER may be for you :)
before we jump into the tattooing process, let’s take a moment to cover a few basics:
this FORMULA is a perfect combination. the orange neutralizes out the blues in the black dye, where the olive counteracts the red tones in the brown. as always, you should always go with a classic look first. you can darken it in the future, but we’ve found this combination is just right.
with our ink mixed, it’s time to put on a little FREEZE and prepare the machine. for PERMANENT EYELINER, we’ve chosen a 3 round needle.
p.s. if you’re working on someone other than yourself, WEAR GLOVES. being sanitary is the most important thing.
we’ve set the need at a medium speed, with the needle sticking out about a millimeter. we start by inserting the needle into the ink and making sure it’s saturated the needle.
then we’re ready to start tattooing. we hold the eye tightly, stretching away from the eyeball. with our needle at a 90 degree angle, we’ll start in the middle and work our way outwards. after each stroke, make sure to wipe away the excess ink so that you can always CLEARLY see what you’re doing.
towards the inner corner, we’re going to allow it to fade. after all, we don’t want the inside corner as dark as the outside.
while we give the bottoms a second to settle, we’re going to put a layer of FREEZE on the top. after 10 minutes of letting the freeze sit, we’re ready to dive in.
again you’re going to start in center and move outwards. you’ll want to make sure you OVERLAP your lines to make sure you have no gaps.
you’ll want to use a back and forth motion on the eye and towards the wing, we’re going to use CIRCULAR MOTIONS. the top is the hard part, so STAY VIGILANT! if you feel like your hand is shaking, take a break.
after you have both eyes done, review your work to make sure that you don’t need to fill in any spots you may have left lighter than the others.
after you’re finished, apply bacitracin ANTIBIOTIC ointment
typically, permanent eyeliner will be healed in 7 days. during the healing process, you should avoid any eye makeup.
here’s a quick breakdown of those 7 days:
DAY 1
today the swelling is actually worse than yesterday. however, the swelling has gone down a ton since this morning. she did apply a layer of bacitracin ANTIBIOTIC ointment this morning, but you don’t want to continue that after the initial tattoo and day 1. it can affect the way the tattoo heals.
DAY 2
as you can see, they’re healing nicely! the swelling is almost 100% gone. better yet, they don’t feel tender anymore and they’re starting to reflect what the finished result will look like. to keep them moist, jess put a little bit of coconut oil on them but other than that- it’s been smooth sailing!
DAY 3
on day 3, not much has changed. no scabbing yet. and if we’re lucky- there won’t be much scabbing at all.
DAY 5
we skipped yesterday for the fact that it was exactly like day 3. today jessica’s eyes are almost fully healed. there’s a bit of scabbing around the corners, but it will fall off tonight or tomorrow and she’ll be ready to start wearing lashes again.
DAY 6
now the liner is FINALLY HEALED. if you feel them from front to back, they’re completely smooth and ready to be rocked! all she had to do this morning was put on lashes (dollareyelashclub.com) and lip gloss :)
though your new liner may be looking good and ready to go, it’s important to keep in mind that just like any other tattoo- it is not completely healed until 6-8 weeks have passed by. in the meantime, follow these tips:
remember, jessica is a professional. if you are not trained to do permanent makeup, DO NOT do it. only registered technicians should try this. if you want permanent EYELINER, take this cheat sheet to your technician or make an appointment with us at our edmonton or calgary location. if you’re currently in school... take this cheat sheet to your teacher and ask for their help. you do not want to risk infection or damage to your eyes for the sake of ‘trying it yourself’.
July 31, 2017
despite doing hair and beauty for a living, there are plenty of times when we don’t have the time or energy to wash & style our hair before heading out the door. this is especially true when gym days overlap with salon days. which is exactly what inspired this week’s blog & video: everybody needs a few HAIR HACKS to get them through the work week!
watch the video, reach the blog, and learn this week’s HAIR HACK: how to have PERFECT HAIR even after the gym.
PSSSST... want the products in this video? head over here to snag them.
life happens fast, but you should never have to sacrifice PERFECT HAIR. to illustrate that point, we’re going to show you how veronica keeps her hair FLAWLESS after a visit to the gym, even when it hasn’t been washed for 3 or 4 days. in fact- she even let it get dirtier than normal!
from this point- she’s headin’ to the gym. afterward, she’s going to show you how to REFRESH your STYLE and get PERFECT HAIR after the gym WITHOUT WASHING your hair.
first things first- you need to PROTECT the styling you’ve already done to your hair. which means you need a TRACELESS HAIR TIE. these hair ties are going to be your BEST FRIEND. not only do they hold your hair in place, they don’t leave the damage a normal hair tie can do to your hair.
snag your invisitie on our website.
then you need to WASH YOUR FACE. you’re skin needs to be able to breathe, especially when you’re working out. ALWAYS wash your face before heading to the gym.
before we dive any further, it’s worth noting that the products you use in your hair have a lot of power over your wash times and how often you need to wash your hair. look for SULFATE FREE products and turn to natural solutions at every corner. we only use nvenn products. even after a few days of not washing our hair, we don’t have any grit or build up on the hair. if you’re using products that leave a buildup or residue on your hair, you’re going to experience a lot of grease and dirt in the hair.
after 45 minutes of hard cardio at the gym, it’s time to refresh her HAIR and MAKEUP.
after taking her hair down, veronica’s hair is a more relaxed version of the curls she started with.
first things first, we need to make sure that all of the hair is dry. you have 2 options:
in veronica’s case, she’s letting her hair dry on its own. DO NOT start putting products into damp hair.
once the hair is all dry- you’re ready to start the REFRESH.
after a heavy workout, veronica’s hair is very greasy. to fix that problem, we’re using nvenn’s ‘clean’. this DRY SHAMPOO will get rid of the grease and wet-look while DEODORIZING and ABSORBING excess oil in the hair.
simply sprinkle this powder throughout the hair. keep in mind that LESS IS MORE, and you don’t need a ton of it to absorb the oil out of your hair. massage it throughout the hair and the product will be completely INVISIBLE. if you still see any powder in your hair, you need to continue to rub the hair until it is completely absorbed.
STEP 2: we use nvenn’s protect. this is actually a heat shield product, BUT we have a LOT of people who love to use this as a HAIR PERFUME- ourselves included. spray it throughout your hair to CUT ANY SMELL from your hair. all our products are scented with ESSENTIAL OILS, rather than using any harmful chemicals to fragrance the hair. keep it natural, friends!
veronica’s hair is still a bit poofier than she’d like it to be. to help TAME HER STYLE and SMOOTH her wave, we’re using nvenn’s ‘smooth’. this SPLIT END MENDER and FRIZZ TAMER helps cement the style.
put a small portion on your hands and MASSAGE it gently throughout the hair. it’s INVISIBLE and LIGHTWEIGHT while helping to smooth the style and ADD SHINE.
now we’re ready for the LAST STEP!
last but not least- we’re using nvenn’s ‘fix’. this FLEXIBLE HOLDING HAIRSPRAY is a lightweight spray that is AWESOME side kick when you’re changing the texture of your hair. spray it throughout your hair to add a little TEXTURE and FINISH your style.
now she just has to touch up her makeup and she’s ready to walk out the door.
this SIMPLE ROUTINE is the perfect way to extend your style and delay wash day.
if you’re wearing makeup, you’ll also want to make sure that you wash your face after the gym. do not put on makeup without washing your face. veronica’s doing a quick and simple face:
if you want your hair a little more RELAXED, turn your head over and shake!
if you want any of the products in this video, head over to our SHOP. you can even snag the TRACELESS HAIR TIE featured in this video.
use these HAIR HACKS to extend your style and let us know what you think in the comments <3
July 24, 2017
when it comes to BLONDE, the possibilities are endless. you don’t always have to stick to a full head of blonde hair and more importantly- there are hundreds of ways to highlight your hair.
we’re going to use a few different BLONDE TECHNIQUES to create a dimensional look for veronica and teach our readers something new :)
watch the video, read the blog, & snag our CHEAT SHEET if you want the FORMULAS :)
ready to dive in? let’s go!
as you can see, veronica’s hair is grown out and in need of a retouch.
we’re going to add a lot more BLONDE to the perimeter of her hair as well as the hair around her face. around her face, we’re going to use an ombre foil technique. in the back, we’re going to be mixing weave and slice patterns (like balayage techniques)- all while making sure we leave the dark veronica wants to keep. the result will be a BEAUTIFUL combination of dark brown and blonde BALAYAGE and OMBRE techniques.
before we section the hair into 4 quadrants, we’re going to separate about an 1 and a half inch around her face. this is the portion of her hair we want predominately blonde. once we have that sectioned, we separate the remaining hair into 4 sections and start from the front.
in the FRONT portion of the hair, we’re going to use OMBRE techniques.
with each section you’re going to BACKCOMB the section before you begin painting, and FEATHER the color vertically with your brush. though we won’t stagger as much as you would for a full head of hair, we’re still going to stagger within an inch of difference. alter your section to help the color appear NATURAL.
continue this process to the top of the head. once you approach the very top of the section, we want to extend it from about 2 ½ inches all the way to 3 inches. this will create a natural line that moves the color down as we approach the rest of the head.
keep in mind that if your client already has blonde in their hair, you DO NOT want to paint over the blonde again. you will damage the hair.
after the front section is handled, you’re able to move on to the rest of the head. but BEFORE you do that- take the section from the ear to the front of the face and clip it aside. this dark contrast will drape over the blonde when her hair is complete.
we want to make sure we’re staggering the BLONDE. and not by a little- by a lot! we’re going to alternate TECHNIQUES by section of hair. for the first and bottom section, we’re going to lightening the ends and the ends only. for the second section, we’re going to use a WEAVE and paint it accordingly.
you want to remember which TECHNIQUE you started with. in order for the color to MIRROR on each side, you need to repeat the exact same pattern on the other side of the head for a truly complete color job. try to visualize the dark you’re leaving as you move up and across the head.
continue this process until you reach the widest point of the head.
#protip: on the SLICES of hair, you want to make sure that your sections are thin enough that you’re not leaving too much dark- but you don’t need to necessarily saturate the hair all of the way through. with blended styles like this, it adds a nice shadow to the style.
we’re going to start with a baby fine WEAVE and alternate the sizes of that weave. we’re no longer doing any slices as we want the contrast of the colors to be strong. as with the other sections, we’re going to alternate how far we bring the BLONDE up the hair.
keep your other quadrants in mind when you’re doing the top of the head. you want everything to flow naturally. when you reach the very TOP, we want to create a VEIL with a fine weave. by now, your foils should look a little like this:
once we’ve completed the BLONDE, we retouched veronica’s ROOTS with 4.1 j beverly hills + 30 vol.
after all the process is COMPLETE, we’re going to let the hair process for 18 minutes. once we checked the hair, we knew the front section was done but the other’s still needed a few minutes. we washed the front section and allowed the rest of the head to process.
now we’re ready to TONE.
truthfully, we forgot to record the initial toning process. where we started we started was much brassier than the photo. to TONE the hair we used ⅓ 8.29 + ⅔ 9.5-22 schwarzkopf + 4 grams of steel blue. we let this process for a full 30 minutes.
after it’s sit from 30 minutes, we’re going to wash her hair and prep it for STYLING.
with the toner all washed out, we’re ready to style. we’re starting with nvenn’s replenish oil. this rejuvenating oil replenishes the hair with nutrients and makes the hair SOFT and SHINY. focus on the ends when using this.
now we’re ready for HEAT PROTECTANT. we’re using nvenn’s protect. we’re going to spray a layer of this between EVERY layer of heat- from the blowdryer to the curling iron.
to finish the style, we’re using smooth. this SPLIT END MENDER helps to tame flyaways and of course- mend split ends!
and now for the BIG REVEAL:
over the course of our careers, we’ve been asked thousands of questions about the BLONDE TECHNIQUES we use to create ombres, balayages, and tons of other styles. the answer is always different. no two heads of hair are the same! whether you’re trying the blonde techniques we used for veronica’s hair or trying a pattern all your own- make sure you take full advantage of the techniques we covered in this guide :)
July 23, 2017
the BUTTERFLY PROJECT helps troubled women and men, many leaving the sex trade, to change their life for the better. they provide the resources needed to EMPOWER and SUPPORT themselves during their transition into a better life. one major cause of women and men entering the sex trade is often sexual abuse and trauma at a young age. this spirals to a point that traps people in the lifestyle.
[NAME], the passion behind the BUTTERFLY PROJECT brings together the community - stylists, health care providers, and civil resources across alberta to connect women who have suffered abuse and sexual trauma to RESTORE their lives and BLOSSOM into their best self.
as a SURVIVOR herself, she intimately relates to each and every woman that walks through her door. when jenn kovachik reached out to us, we were thrilled to provide our services.
at nvenn, we are strong believers that hair and beauty is more than looking good, it’s FEELING GOOD. when you can truly capture on the outside what a person is on the inside, it creates a confidence that empowers them to be their best self. this creates a ripple effect that impacts their life and can change their world. it creates something that is unstoppable and that can spill over to affect many.
as our motto states - changing the world through hair and beauty is important for nvenn. we are ALWAYS looking for ways to use our skills and talents to impact the community. naturally, the butterfly project aligned exactly with what we believe in and was a cause that we wanted to fight for.
not only did we LOVE working with these ladies, we were humbled and thankful to be involved in a cause like the BUTTERFLY PROJECT.
our HOPE is that people will have more COMPASSION when looking at one another.
these issues are much more common than we’d like to think. when you consider what actually happens to young people in situations of abuse and sexual trauma-- and the effect that it has on their life, you begin to understand the problem and how this can occur.
after this degree of trauma, the most important building block on the road to recovery is FEELING GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF.
no matter what walk of life you have come from, there is an irreplaceable confidence that’s attained by having a style that allows you to express exactly who you are. the feeling of seeing these women turn around in the chair and see their hair is IRREPLACEABLE. their energy was completely transformed.
you are always the INVENTOR of YOUR WORLD.
if you’d like to DONATE to the BUTTERFLY PROJECT, please connect with jenn kovalchik through one of the following channels:
FACEBOOK: The Butterfly Project YEG
EMAIL:thebutterflyproject1113@gmail.com
WEBSITE: https://www.jennkovachik.com
as always, let us know what you think in the comments :)
July 10, 2017
nicole has been fire engine RED for a little over a year and now she’s ready to go BACK to BLONDE. we’ve decided on a lovely CHAMPAGNE BLONDE color <3
watch the video, read the blog, & snag our CHEAT SHEET to get the formulas ;)
considering the fact that she’s coming from a very vibrant red, we’re going to need to be very careful as to how much we lighten her hair. vibrant reds such as nicole’s leave the hair more susceptible to damage and at the end of the day, any dyed color is going to leave your hair weaker than virgin hair.
we’re going to start with a few layers of pravana COLOR REMOVER. in this case, it took us two rounds to remove as much as of the red pigment. if your client is coming from a bright artificial color, color remover is almost ALWAYS necessary. not only does it help break down the pigment, it helps you avoid extra lightening damage.
simply coat the hair you want to remove color from with the remover. in nicole’s case, we’re avoiding her roots. they are her natural hair color and the color remover will only remove artificial pigment so the natural color will not be affected.
once you have the hair fully covered, let the remover sit for 20 MINUTES under heat.
here’s where nicole’s hair was at after 20 minutes. as you can see, a lot of the red is gone but we still want to go back and REMOVE some more of the pigment. so what we’re going to do next is wash her with the clarifying shampoo for about 3-5 minutes before before applying the color remover again. after the SECOND application, we’re as far as we can go with the color remover so now it’s time to lighten.
now we’re going to rinse her hair and make sure we have any remaining remover out of her hair. when washing out remover, you want to make sure you wash for 3-5 minutes and rinse for 1 minute with the hottest water your client can tolerate. (don’t burn anybody!)
here’s the result from the second round dried. now we’re ready to move on to LIGHTENING.
as always, we’re starting by SECTIONING the hair into 4 even quadrants. we’re not going to lighten her hair further up the root, because we already like the degree of blending and darkness. we’re simply going to BLEND it evenly to make it appear more natural.
let’s start with the bottom. believe it or not, we’re not going to put the bottom into foils. we’re simply going to use where the hair is lightened already as a guide.
make sure that you’re FEATHERING with your brush and saturating the ends thoroughly. remember to backcomb to help DIFFUSE the line. once you approach the top of the head, it’s time to whip out the foils. you’re going to use a variety of techniques to OMBRE the hair and make it appear more NATURAL.
in the top portion of the head, we’re going to incorporate a few different techniques. first, we’re going to create a BABYLIGHT to help diffuse the line and create a veil. second, we’re going to just BACKCOMB a section and feather the lightener on. we’re going to REPEAT the process across the top of the head.
with the foils all in:
with each new bowl we mixed for moving up the head, we raised the developer a little higher. the back had 20 & 25 vol and the front simply had 30 vol. this helps us make sure that the hair is reaching the same point of lightness at the SAME TIME.
in the photo above, the front has only been processing for 18 minutes. you can see that it’s almost as light as other areas of the hair already. we’re going to keep a close eye on her hair, making sure to check the integrity of the hair to avoid damage.
once we wash that out, we need to TONE the lightened hair to take away a bit of the brassy. we do want to keep some of the pigment for the CHAMPAGNE BLONDE in the hair. to do so, we’re going to tone just enough to remove the yellows and oranges and KEEP the pink hues.
this will complete the CHAMPAGNE BLONDE color we’re working towards and add a bit of dimension to the color overall.
even when wet, you can see the lovely CHAMPAGNE BLONDE color.
though her hair is much softer than expected, we still want to go the extra mile to restore MOISTURE to the hair and protect it from the blowdrying and styling we’re about to do.
we’re starting with nvenn’s REPLENISH. this lightweight HAIR MOISTURIZER features a luxurious blend of oils, extracts, and vitamins that SOFTEN, TAME FLYAWAYS, and ADD SHINE to the hair—immediately and over time. after applying to damp hair, blow dry to get hair that looks and feels healthy, shiny, smooth, silky, and conditioned. this hair moisturizer for dry hair helps STRENGTHEN AGAINST BREAKAGE, detangles hair, and dramatically REDUCES FRIZZ. the best part? you can use it daily without feely greasy ;)
second, we’re going to use nvenn’s PROTECT. this nutrient-rich, NATURAL HEAT PROTECTANT FOR HAIR is also a STYLING PRIMER that speeds up your blowdry time. full of organic sea kelp extract and pure essential oils, this rich elixir quickly REFRESHES HAIR without weighing it down. it provides a PROTECTIVE BARRIER, or heat shield, for preventing heat damage and split ends. use it to PREPARE and PRIME your hair for the best style everyday.
last but not least, we’re going to add some of nvenn’s FIX flexible hairspray. this flexible hairspray holds even the toughest of styles—like sleek up'dos, curly sue's, and beach waves—without flaking. It leaves the hair SMOOTH, HEALTHY-LOOKING, and PERFECTLY IN PLACE with no stiffness
now we can BLOWDRY the hair. we’re going to use to add a little of nvenn's VOLUME to nicole’s hair while we blowdry to add BODY to her hair.
her CHAMPAGNE HAIR is complete! if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment and we’ll answer you asap :)