Lets talk blonding with Brittany!
Let’s talk with the one and only owner & stylist of PRISM Hair in Richmond, Virginia, Brittany, about all things blonding! Whether you’re reading this as a stylist in Richmond, Virginia looking to learn or a guest who’s curious as to how it all works, we assure you she has a lot of great knowledge to highlight with you! She takes new guests on a limited basis as well, so if you want to see Brittany, give us a shout!
Q: What does “Blonding” mean to you?
A: Blonding to me means going lighter and brighter than what your natural is, whether it be an all over glow or bright, ribbon-y pops of dimension! My favorite thing about blonding and brightening in the warmer months is that we can use that in the fall by adjusting tones and adding lowlights for a deeper fall look. Blonding is just so customizable and that’s why I love it!
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about the differences between traditional foiling & balayage?
A: The biggest difference is how much lift you can get. Balayage or handpainting your highlights uses a different kind of lightener, and it will always have a warmer finish, which is so natural and beautiful - mimicking a sunkissed look. Traditional foils can usually get you a lot further for a much brighter, cooler blonde! But you can definitely get a balayage look with foils - called “foilyage”. Balayage and foiling are both techniques to achieve a look, your hair inspiration or goal is all that matters, and leave it up to us to decide what technique is best for you!
Q: Now, what would you say is your favorite between the two & why?
A: My favorite phrase in the hair industry is “It depends!” I love both foiling and balayage so much. They each hold a special place in my heart. Sometimes I even use both techniques on one head to really get a customized look! If I really had to decide, I’d say I love foiling the most, because you can always ensure you’ll get the lift you need and I just love love love bright blondes!
Q: What are a few tips you’ve learned throughout the years about blonding that a younger stylist might want to hear?
A: The best tip I learned is that your lift and what tone is remaining are the most important parts of blonding. If you want a bright blonde with a cooler tone, you have to be the palest blonde possible with the lift, palest yellow. You cannot use a toner or gloss to get more lift either. That’s why understanding your lift and what technique to use to achieve whatever blonde you’re going for is so important. If you think you’ve got the lift you want, wait another 2-5 minutes!
Q: Can you explain how & why toning is such a crucial part of the blonding process?
A: Toning or what we like to call it at PRISM, “glossing”, is so important because it completes the service. Lightening the hair always lifts the cuticle layer of the hair strand, revealing underlying pigments and protein. The toner or gloss helps to enhance or cancel out tones, replenish the hair with moisture and shine, and seal it all in by sealing the cuticle layer back down. If you don’t gloss or tone your hair after a blonding session, you’re more prone to dryness, brittleness, unwanted warmth or tones, and the service just isn’t fully complete. Even if I love how a guest of mine lifts, I still will use a clear gloss for that shine and sealing factor!
Q: What would you say is your favorite foiling technique?
A: I LOVE tipping out the ends in a blonding service. Tipping out means putting large panels of hair into a foil to brighten the ends. After learning this technique from several of my favorite artists, it has changed the game for me and it is a necessity when it comes to blonding, especially longer hair! Want those blonde pops through your ends? Then tipping out is what you need!
Q: Can you go over the basics of blonding maintenance?
A: My philosophy is a good shampoo and conditioner, followed by a leave-in treatment or conditioner, and then a heat protectant and any other styling products needed to achieve your desired look! I also recommend that my blondes refrain from using heat to style their hair regularly, because heat is what can cause that dreaded “yellow” blondes don’t like to see! My favorite for my blondes is our Davines Heart of Glass line. It is a blonde brightening and reparative shampoo, conditioner, treatment, and heat protectant that doesn’t overtone blondes and prevent it from going dull!
Q: Lastly, what is your favorite kind of blonde?
A: My favorite is a lived in blonde, whether that be bright and icy or warm and natural! I love my blondes to be low maintenance, going sometimes 4-5 months without any touch ups and not having “roots”, just a soft grow out that looks natural! I also love a bright blonde, blunt bob! If I could do blonde bobs all day I would be a happy camper, but I love everything that I do for my guests behind the chair here in Richmond, Virginia at PRISM Hair!
