No matter what your client’s goal is, achieving beautiful color results always starts with the foundation: a good lightener applied with the right technique. While the lightener impacts the brightness and vibrancy of hues, the application is key to creating the desired hair color effect.
From creating trending styles like ombré and chunky highlights to mastering methods like foilyage, using the right lightening technique will enhance your color results. While the options may seem overwhelming, knowing when to use foils and when to opt for open air processing is much simpler than you think. To help breakdown these popular techniques, we chatted with Redken Brand Ambassadors Cassandra McGlaughlin and Cassondra Kaedingabout about the power of foil.
THE BENEFITS OF USING FOILS
Though foiling is most often associated with traditional highlights, there are a multitude of trending styles that benefit from foiling techniques. To highlight the power and variety of foils, we’ve rounded up tips and tricks for a few of our favorite trending styles and techniques.
OMBRÉ
Using foils to process your client’s ombré will allow you to fully saturate hair before blending, allowing even your darkest haired clients to achieve the ombré of their dreams. And while some artists prefer to use open air balayage to create their ombré, this style can really benefit from foiling.
PRO TIP:
"Make a game plan so you don’t over-foil. It’s easy to get stuck in a rut with our foiling applications, but game planning helps us to have predictable and intentional results.”—Cassandra McGlaughlin
PRODUCT RECOMMENDATION:
Redken Flash Lift Bonder Inside lets you achieve eight levels of lift while protecting the hair’s bonds with pre-dosed Bonder Inside.
CHUNKY HIGHLIGHTS
No matter how you feel about the iconic ‘90s chunky highlights, it’s safe to say they’ve made a return. The Y2K inspired highlights have been seen on celebrities like Dua Lipa and Kylie Jenner, further boosting its popularity. To better understand the trend, we spoke with Redken Ambassador and celebrity stylist Cassondra Kaeding—the woman behind Kylie Jenner’s chunky blonde highlights.
Though reminiscent of the ‘90s look, the 2022 version of chunky highlights is slightly different. As Cassondra explains, “the 2022 version allows the client to help create the look. Placement is key and clients are given the opportunity to let their colorist know where they want to see the highlights pop!” Whether your client is looking for a bold face framing piece or a head full of chunky highlights, there is no wrong placement with modern chunky highlights. Because of this, Cassondra urges colorists to have fun and be creative with the application.
While placement is up to you and your client, processing time is key. To pull of the highlights and eventual blending, the hair needs to be well saturated. Because chunky highlights require weaving in bigger chunks of hair than you may be used to, even saturation is needed for proper lift. After application, be sure to lock the foils in place to avoid bleeding.
PRO TIP:
“To soften the line of demarcation, add a big root melt or root shadow. Make sure the root shadow or melt is dark enough to help blend properly.”—Cassondra Kaeding
PRODUCT RECONMMENDATION:
Redken Flash Lift is a maximum power lighting powder.
FOILYAGE
As balayage’s popularity continues to rise, you may have clients who need an extra bit of power to achieve the look—that’s where foilyage comes in. Foilyage is a technique used to mimic the same hand painted balayage look when open air balayage will not achieve the desired lightness. It is exactly what it sounds like. As Cassandra explains, foilyage allows you get the incubation and control of a foil, while getting the blend and natural effect of a balayage placement. This is the perfect solution for your dark-haired clients who need the power and lift foils provide.
With this application, you use larger and thicker sections that traditional foils, but smaller sections than an open aired balayage. Cassandra suggests keeping your sections to ½-inch thick or less. While thinner sections may provide greater lift, if you go too thin, results may mirror traditional foiling whereas sections too thick will mimic a balayage. To ensure proper blending is achieved, she notes that teasing is key. No matter how much you need to tease, be sure to vary the heights of these sections across hair. Finally, combine teased sections with a woven section directly on top to create those ribbons of color balayage is known for.
PRO TIP:
“A lightener with thicker consistency will help with the paint-like application. In this case, a cream lightener may be your best bet.”—Cassandra McGlaughlin
PRODUCT RECONMMENDATION:
Redken Blonde Icing is a conditioning cream lightener that offers smooth application with up to seven levels of lift.
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