During the first week of April, beauty care professionals
from around the world gathered in São Paulo, Brazil for
the tenth annual Hair Brasil, the largest event of its kind
in Latin America. Color experts Daniel Fortunato and
Alexandra Matiz joined me for 3 days of presenting
customized techniques and sharing professional advice
with over 8 thousand professionals. Our primary goal
was to promote the kind of beautiful, healthy-looking hair
color that we strive for at our salon, instead of the typical
shock-and-awe results usually seen at hair shows. Our
message was simple—For a look that never goes out
fashion, the hair color should always flatter the individual
client. And it takes a true skilled artist to achieve these
kind of natural, personalized results.

As a team, Daniel, Alexandra and I had a great time playing off of each other’s strengths and we were grateful for
the enthusiastic response to our program. Though it was a challenge sometimes presenting in 3 different
languages—English, Spanish and Portuguese—all at the same time! The audience found Daniel extremely
inspirational as a young native Brazilian who is achieving great success in NYC. Alexandra shared her expertise
in color formulation and global trends, while I related my experience as a salon business owner, celebrity colorist
and artist to show how all these elements together are needed to be successful.

Our team received overwhelming feedback from everyone, not only for our presentation, but also for our ideas and
techniques that they planned to take back and implement at their own salons and businesses. And even better,
the experience was every bit as educational for our own team. As I told our audiences, when you are finished
learning new things in this business, it is time to retire. By the end of the inspiring week, we were all ready to get
back to work.

Look for videos and photos soon to be posted on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

With so many quality home hair coloring kits now available at the local drugstore, colorist Rick Wellman is often asked what the difference is between these box formulas and the professional brands he and his colleagues use in the salon. The answer to that question has as much to do with the color as it does the colorist who’s using it. “I have created and seen beautiful hair colors delivered from a box and the salon,” says Rick, “but by their very nature, box formulas are always only as good as the person who’s applying them.”

For one thing, working with box color can be limiting. Because the FDA only approves a certain amount of pigments for over-the-counter use, box color simply cannot offer the same number of dye stock options found in professional color. And at-home coloring not only offers fewer tinting options but also is limited in how it can be adjusted for strength of use. By contrast, the hair color spectrum in a salon permits a professional to custom-blend and create an endless possibility of unique matte or translucent shades in semi, demi or permanent form.

In addition to more shades and blends, salon color is also going to be more technologically advanced than any DIY kit—which is the very reason why a professional colorist has to be licensed to practice his or her craft. “A professional colorist has to know their stuff,” says Rick. “A working knowledge of the chemicals and ingredients found in any hair color is just not something you’re going to learn from reading the directions on the side of a box.” For truly beautiful, healthy looking hair, there is one key ingredient a professional color offers that a box formula doesn’t: the professional.

It happens. In the middle of juggling a busy schedule, you can’t find time to get
to a salon, so you opt for a hair coloring you can do yourself at home. And
something goes very wrong.

Well, don’t worry. From a professional’s perspective, a botched hair coloring is
only a true disaster if the hair breaks off. Color can be fixed. Ideally, you should
leave the tricky corrective process to a trained professional, but if you can’t get to
a salon, here are 2 problem-solving tips to help you right your coloring wrongs.

Color is too dark
You need to reverse the oxidation of the hair-coloring product that did this to you.
Thankfully, there’s a hair color remover called Color Oops that you can find at your
local drugstore. It’s easy to apply and works without aggressive bleaching to give
you slightly lighter results in just 20 minutes.

Color is too brassy
Or even orange, a common end result of a home color mishap. You can tone things down with a non-peroxide
color such as Clairol® Natural Instincts, using a shade from their cool palette. Start the application at the root
area and save the ends for last as they may have a tendency to grab color faster and can easily turn too drab.
Keep in mind that if your hair has been lightened with peroxide color, it may respond rapidly to the toning down
process, so be sure to proceed with care.

Keep in mind, a corrective coloring is always more expensive than an initial color treatment. So when it comes
to beautiful hair color, a visit to the salon might cost you a little time up front, but it will usually end up saving you
money—and stress—in the long run.

Have a hair color disaster story you’re brave enough to share? Post it along with any questions you have for our
color team on our Facebook page.

Occupation:
Colorist at Patrick Melville Salon & Spa

Current beauty product obsession:
Glazing! Also, hair conditioners, conditioning treatments and makeup.

Your greatest inspiration:
All around me—Looking at fashion, nature, architecture, and listening
to music gives me so much inspiration for haircolor ideas and designs.
Everything is inspiring.

Your passion:
Hair! It’s what makes my world go round.

Your personal motto:
If you want to do something, do it all the way and the best you can at all times. It’s all or nothing.

Define your concept of beauty:
There is no such thing as an ugly person, simply someone who is made up in the wrong way.
I enhance the natural beauty of clients. You should wear what complements you.

What you do for R&R:
I love to ride horses, be with my family and listen to music.

Your personal can’t-live-without hair care product (and why, please!):
Any color saver shampoo and conditioner and shine drops.

How others most often describe you:
Determined, passionate, professional, great educator, patient and a listener.

One personal trait you wish you had:
Learn to say no

These days, you just can’t get enough:
Personal time

One hair color tip every woman would benefit from knowing:
Get a hair color that complements your skin tone and you’ll look radiant and glowing. Also, if you
don’t use the prescribed care products for your hair, you’re not protecting your investment.