With summer in full
swing, many of our clients are asking how to get a fun, sun kissed look to
lighten up their locks. We asked our resident color specialist, Courtney, for
her take on a great summer look that allows for optimal versatility and can be
adapted to meet every guest’s personal uniqueness. She has provided us with a
little history on one of her favorite looks, Ombre, and details on what to
expect when opting for this service.
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| Courtney, Color Specialist at Parlor |
Ombre by Courtney Sutherland
Ombre is a hair color technique made extremely popular in the last 5
years. The term Ombre is from the french word meaning “shaded” or “shading”. In
general, the term Ombre is synonymous with the image of dark new growth fading
into lighter ends. In most cases, this description adequately describes what
most guests visualize when originally consulting with them. However, as Ombre
has evolved through the years of its popularity, so have the options for the colors
used in the technique. Anything from bright blonde, vibrant red, and pretty
pastel hues have been used.
The actual technique can vary from stylist to stylist. Back combing is
the most widely used, along with balayage painting and free form highlights. Because
there are so many "looks" with Ombre, it is essential to have a
lengthy consultation with your stylist, and to bring in many pictures of the
exact look that you're going for. Many guests entertain the
idea of Ombre because of its low maintenance upkeep. Since the technique calls
for the lightening of ones ends, the dreaded roots aren't much of a concern. In
general, guests that I perform the Ombre technique on only have to come in
every 4-6 months for brightening, or reapplication if they've received a
haircut. Most of the true maintenance is up to the guest with at home care. The
biggest issue with Ombre is that you are lightening the ends of the hair, which
are the most fragile and most prone to damage or dryness. It's crucial that Ombre
guests take home a leave in conditioner and dry or damage repair shampoo. My
favorites are Aveda Dry Remedy or Aveda Damage Remedy. 
When booking your appointment for you new Ombre look, expect to be at the
salon for around the duration of a full foil (2 hours). Depending on your natural color,
or current color canvas, it may also be more than one step to get you right
where you want to be!
This beautiful technique has shown its staying power, and the effortless
look of lightly sun kissed locks is the perfect summer color!
I invite you to schedule a complimentary consultation with me and we can talk about the best option for you! ...Sincerely Courtney Sutherland
