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to do highlights. Talk to your stylist about which option is best for you. In the images on top of page 6, this client came in with one solid brown/ red color. We did a full highlight the first time to break up the color and gradually lighten her all over. It is very important to make sure your stylist knows ahead of time that you want a significant change. If you are scheduled for a partial highlight and come in requesting a big change, your stylist will only be able to do what she has scheduled time for, prolonging the process of going blonde even longer. Second and Third Visits Over your next few visits, your stylist will strategically highlight the darker pieces out of your hair each time, as you can see from Images 2 and 3. Each time you should get lighter and lighter. Once your desired color is achieved, it's time to schedule highlight touchups for a while. You can still play with lowlights or different hues of blonde. Your you're a blonde. The day of your visit, come with clean, dry hair so your stylist can easily see your natural color. When hair is unwashed, it can make the natural color look darker than it really is because of oils and buildup. First Visit Depending on your hair history and how dark your hair is, your stylist will most likely start your first appointment by doing highlights all over. They will artistically choose what to lighten. You will still have some of your previous color left in the strands between what is being highlighted, but your stylist is able to downplay the contrast to keep the color looking beautiful and natural until your next lightening session. However, if you prefer a more chunky, high-contrast result, just clarify your goals with your stylist during the consultation before the service begins. If your hair is extremely dark or has years of box color on it, your stylist could "strip" the color by doing a color- removing process, and then proceed stylist may have been putting lightener (bleach) from scalp to ends with each visit prior (hence the concern of damage), and it's now time to give your hair a break and only focus on the outgrowth for a while. Sometimes I have clients who continue to go lighter and lighter to the point of no return. That's not good for your hair! Everyone's lightening process will be different depending on the history and texture of their hair. Someone with less coloring processes, and thinner, fine hair may be able to lighten their hair more quickly than someone with years of color and super-thick, resistant hair. ■ Ally Feezel is a senior stylist and the director of education at Blonde Faith in Austin, Texas, as well as creator of the blog BeautyandtheBlonde.com. After graduating from high school early, Feezel enrolled in beauty school and at just 18 years old, her career began with an intensive apprenticeship at one of the top salons in the Chicago area. During the past eight years in the industry, Feezel has trained at the Toni and Guy Academy in Dallas, Living Proof Headquarters in Boston, several color classes in Austin, and with the prestigious Nine Zero One salon in Beverly Hills. ivory beige pearl honey champagne platinum vanilla ash associatedhairprofessionals.com 7