Should You Consider a Strand Test?
So you’re thinking of going lighter but you’ve never lightened your hair before. In this instance, we highly recommend starting with a strand test. During a strand test, your stylist will take one small piece of hair around the nape of your neck where the hair is hidden and apply lightener as a test.
When lightening hair, a common misconception is that bleach will make your hair blonde. Actually, lightener only removes color pigment from the hair and each client will have a unique reaction to this process. For some clients, lightener services will result in a more yellow-orange hue. Clients who have previous color applications will likely see a more red result. Toners are used to perfect the color hue after the lightening service.
Here are our top reasons why you should ask for a strand test before committing to all-over lightener:
To ensure you do not have an allergic reaction to the chemical lightener
To monitor how the color reacts with your hair, which is of critical importance if you’ve used box dye in the past several years
To determine how many sessions will be required to achieve your desired look
To decide the appropriate processing time so that damage can be avoided and prevented
If you are thinking of going lighter, consider asking your stylist to start with a strand test so you know exactly what to expect from the lightening process!