Ever wondered how I get the color just right on my hair? Or how it gets cut to look thicker (because my hair is super fine)? Well, today is your lucky day! I sent over a few questions to my stylist Kristin Schulte (who I’m obsessed with, eternally loyal to, and pray never stops styling hair). Here’s the scoop…

What did we do for color?

We haven’t colored Natalie’s hair in over a year, other than doing a toner here and there, so this time we wanted to brighten up her ends while keeping a natural look. I did balayage (hair painting) in foils so we would get maximum lift on her natural brunette locks. After processing we shampooed her hair and then towel dried it. I used two different toners to achieve the final look. I used Redken Up to 7 lightener with 20 volume for her highlights and then Redken Shades EQ for toning. The toner at Natalie’s roots was a little darker, melting her natural brunette color into the golden highlights. I used Redken Shades EQ 05n and 06nb. This time on Natalie’s ends I used an ashy toner cancelling out any unwanted warmth, leaving us with the perfect golden hue. I used Redken Shades EQ 09v 09b, for 3-5min.

What about toner? (Also, what exactly is a toner and what does it do for hair?)

A toner, also called a glaze or gloss, is a semi permanent hair color that can be used in many ways. My favorite is Redken Shades EQ because it is super shiny and leaves your hair feeling soft and healthy! It can be used to cancel out any unwanted tones such as yellow, orange or red. Stylists can use a toner after a highlight service to give you the perfect shade of blonde and it can also be used to give a “shadow root” for a more natural look. Toners are great for in between balayage services to keep your highlights looking fresh and can help the longevity of your color. Another favorite way is to use a gold toner on a brunette client for extra added shine!

And how about the cut?

For Natalie’s haircut I used scissors and we did a blunt cut using a point cutting technique. This gives the hair a blunt look without being too heavy on the ends. We took 1” off her length and then just trimmed her layers.

Lastly, any tips for people who (like me) have super dry hair that is easily damaged and needs a lot of love?

Yes! Schedule regular haircuts with your stylist, even if you do it every 3 months and only take the tiniest bit off. Cutting the split, dry ends prevents them from breaking off further and your hair will feel healthier and grow faster! Also a heat protectant is a MUST!! Even if you air dry your hair and then quickly run a flat iron through the ends or throw a couple curls in later, you have to have a barrier in between your hair and the hot tool. These are some of my favorites:

• If you have fine hair that can get weighed down easily with products, you’ll love R&Co’s One Prep Spray (this is what Natalie uses daily). Spray evenly on damp hair, comb through then style as usual.
• If you have those pieces of hair that feel like they never grow, Bumble and Bumble’s Save the Day is great to both protect and repair damage (Natalie also uses this daily). It’s super light weight and good for all hair types! Apply to clean, towel dried hair concentrating on those pieces that need the most love and then style as usual. This product can be layered underneath your usual styling products.
• If you are someone who loves a good blowout, try Bumble and Bumble’s Straight Blow Dry. This product adds shine, is a heat protectant and helps fight frizz. Apply to towel dried hair from mid to ends (you don’t need it on the roots) and then blow dry.

Thank you so much, Kristin! For answering the questions, and for always giving me the hair of my dreams. If you’re local to Southern California, you Kristin Schulte works out of Station Salon in Encinitas.

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