Anyone who has ever gotten their hair colored has been there: That moment where you know it’s not going well, but don’t know how to tell your stylist that this shade was definitely NOT what you wanted. Matrix StyleLink celebrity stylist, George Papanikolas, shares his go-to tips for making sure you don’t ever get there.
A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Good Hair Days
Still not bringing photos that you like to your day at the salon? Start now. “Pictures are the best way to communicate, especially with color,” Papanikolas says. “My caramel can be your orange. Pictures clarify expectations.”
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Be Super Clear on What Certain Shades Mean to You
Everyone can be a variation of blond, but not every blond works for everyone. “I would, again, encourage people to bring in photos! They are the best way to communicate color to your stylist,” Papanikolas adds. “It also helps to do a bit of research on blonds, as there are so many variations. You would earn brownie points with your stylist if you knew that you were looking for ashy blond and not golden, etc.”
Reality Is Key
Like most beauty treatments, setting realistic expectations is key, and hair color is no exception. “I show blonds colors in their hair-color family, and brunettes who have gone lighter already, shades in their hair-color family. If you bring me a picture of Gigi Hadid but you have naturally black hair, then that is not a realistic expectation, as dark hair will be warm when you lighten in. For someone like that, J. Lo. is a more realistic option,” Papanikolas says.
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