The other day I walked into an upscale salon in Beverly Hills. I noticed a forty something lady talking to her stylist. I’m trying not to be catty here, but honestly, her hair looked like a white doormat that had been spent a decade drying out on someone’s porch in the Sudan. I thought to myself: well, at least she is in the right place to get remedied.
Suffice to say, I was shocked to see her on my way out. To the naked eye, she had only had a trim, and her dark roots were gone. It’s a classic hair faux pas that we took to SheSez’s resident hair guru, Enzo.
Q: Enzo, why do so many ladies over bleach their hair?
A: The way I see it, is they start with a little blonde, they like it, and maybe they get compliments. Then they keep going back for more. It’s addictive, it seems.
Q: From a beauty standpoint, why is it not flattering?
A: Over bleaching leaves your hair just a mass of white. That kind of color can look great on someone whose face is fully made up all the time, like Gwen Stefani or Christina Aguilera. But most women don’t have full make-up on all the time or the features to carry it off. As a result, they look completely washed out. It’s not complimentary and it is certainly not natural looking.
Q: How can women avoid this mistake?
A: Simply ask your colorist to weave in lowlights, a darker shade, that’ll blend with your highlights. Maybe the colorist does it each time, maybe every third time. Whatever works to give the hair some dimension and warmth … It makes women look younger rather than older.
Q: While we are on the subject of highlights, I’m always a bit confused about which kind is best. Colorists are now routinely using foil, a weaving technique that involves plastic wrap, and then there’s baliage. I’ve seen all three used at the most exclusive salons in LA, so it’s not like one is the low-rent way to go. Which technique is best, in your opinion?
