Going from decades of permanent black color to a softer gray-blended blonde is not a quick lift-and-tone service. For this 12-hour transformation, #ONESHOT Winner and Joico Artist Cameron Nichols (@cameronnichols_) used color removal, a full platinum card, reverse balayage and strategic lowlights to break up the line of demarcation, soften the grow-out and create a lower-maintenance gray blend that can stretch future root appointments from every four to six weeks to eight to 12 weeks.
1. Color Removal: Cameron begins with two rounds of RUSK Color Elimin8.
Pro Tip: Do not skip the full five-minute rinse. Cameron recommends massaging the hair while shampooing to help remove any artificial pigment.
2. Then, he lifts a test strand with Formula A before committing to lightening the entire head.
3. Once the test strand proves to be strong enough, Cameron uses Formula A to execute a full platinum card up to the line of demarcation.
4. Then, he uses Formula B to do a reverse balayage, adding lowlights throughout while blending the grays at the roots with Formula C.
Cameron’s Formula Note:
Although LUMI10 is typically used with accelerator developer for full coverage, Cameron uses 5- to 10-volume developer for gray blending and root melts on gray clients, depending on the client’s gray resistance and desired coverage. This allows the gray to appear softer and act more like natural highlights.
5. After the existing lightened hair lifted to a Level 9 that faded down to a raw Level 7 on the ends, Cameron re-lightened the ends with wet balayage while the melt processed using Formula A.
6. Process and rinse. Cameron shares, “Once I rinsed, I used Joico High-Lift Series [Formula D] to help lift and tone the stubborn ends.”
7. Process and rinse.
8. Apply Formula E as a gloss. “I used permanent to tone because the hair needed tone all the way back down to the cortex to neutralize and to 'fill '; Demi-permanent color would have been too sheer, resulting in hollowness," Cameron explains.
9. Wash and style as desired. Cameron’s Go-To Treatment: Joico K-PAK Professional Hair Repair System.
