As the weather begins to cool, we can’t help but reflect on all the fun we had outside in the sun while it tanned (or burnt) our skin and lightened our hair. For some people, summer is the season of the blonde, of highlights, of simply letting the sun fade our color without a care in the world. But there comes a time when those fall tones creep in and with them comes a very haunting question:
Should I go darker?
This might look like a shift to warmer tones to embrace the changing colors of leaves or darkening your whole head to a chocolatey brunette or even simply adding lowlights to break up the blonde. The temptation is definitely apparent come fall but what does that process look like and what happens if the platinum card starts calling your name come spring?
What the process looks like:
The process changes drastically depending on the desired outcome however there are a few key aspects. The first of which is color filling. If you’re a bright blonde looking for a rich dark chocolate tone, we need to fill your hair with the missing pigments. This means adding yellow, orange, or red pigments back into the hair to make sure your brown doesn't turn muddy or hollow. After applying and rinsing out that filling color, we go back in and apply the desired tone to the hair and let that fully process. In very specific scenarios, this double process color may not be necessary, however for dramatic color shifts it is essential for getting a color that feels complex and beautiful while also having an equally beautiful fading process.
Benefits of going darker:
Excluding the obviously personal choice that comes with big hair changes, there are a lot of benefits that may come with embracing the darker side of the color spectrum.
◉ Lower maintenance:
When you have darker hair, usually the outgrowth (visible roots) is not as noticeable as they may tend to be with full highlights. This does depend greatly on your natural hair color and how close your desired tone is in comparison. For example, if you have very light hair naturally and want to go black, the outgrowth might be pretty distinguishable in comparison to someone with naturally dark brown hair that wants to go black.
◉ Range of colors:
There are a TON of hair colors to choose from outside of the blonde world. From copper or auburn, to mushroom brown or dark chocolate, if you made the jump into the darker tones, the variety of options at your disposal is limitless in comparison. You also have an amazing canvas to dabble in fantasy colors!
◉ Healthier looking hair:
I want to be very clear- putting darker pigment on prelightened hair does not heal the hair or repair damage. However, darker tones tend to appear shinier as they reflect light more than blondes, masking any visible damage from the sun or pool water. Maintaining darker hair colors also means you might not need to lighten your hair at all, saving your new growth from the damage that happens during the lightening process.
Potential drawbacks:
Covering that bright blonde is a huge change and can be daunting. There are a few things to remember before plunging into deep brown tones.
◉ Harder to lighten:
Putting a filler and color over your bright blonde pieces will give an amazing result, but it is not easy to come back from if you change your mind or want to be bright blonde in the spring. We have options for a middle ground but talk to your stylist about long term expectations of color so we know which colors and placements to recommend!
◉ Maintenance:
For a majority of people, the outgrowth with darker hair will not be as noticeable as it would if they were blonde. This does not mean that there is no maintenance with darker hair colors though- especially with hair that was previously lightened, the dark pigments will fade out of the hair with each wash. It is important to remember that 6-8 week gloss to keep the color rich and dimensional.
◉ Drastic change:
If you’ve been blonde for a while, suddenly going dark might feel jarring or too bold. It can also make facial features appear sharper and wash out your complexion or enhance features you’d rather hide. Very warm tones could emphasize acne or rosacea and very dark cooler tones could dull your natural features and wash you out. This is why it is extremely important to go to a professional when making big color changes as they will guide you in the right direction for your skin tone and lifestyle.
It’s a big decision to head over to the dark side and while it can be daunting to decide exactly how you want to change your hair, we are here to help find the best new style for you. Whether it’s a baby step or a full blonde to black transformation, let us help make your vision come to life!