4 Root Shadow Tricks & Formulas For Blondes

Root Shadows: Tips & Color Formulas For Soft Blondes
Shadow roots, root drops, root melts, whatever you call them—here are some tips! Whether you’re dealing with regrowth on routine bleach-and-tone clients, trying to prevent bands on bright blondes or looking to achieve a super soft balayage—a root shadow is probably your best option. That’s why we’re sharing how to formulate, where to place shadow roots on platinum hair, @josievilay’s faux drop root technique AND MORE. 

Products Used

Hair Color

tbh – true beautiful honest Permanent Hair Color

Schwarzkopf Professional

Demi-Permanent Color

tbh – true beautiful honest Tone Softener

Schwarzkopf Professional

1. Prevent Bands On Platinum Blondes
Here’s @hairbychrissydanielle’s formulation trick for shadow roots on platinum retouches. Goal = maintain brightness, create softness and prevent harsh outgrowth. 

• Think of this shadow root as more of a ‘baby root tap’ (see placement.)
• Only tone the roots down to a Level 8-9 to prevent banding as it grows out.
• Glaze the ends with your typical (Level 10) toner, and blend the melt together with a brush.

Check Out This Platinum Root Shadow Road Map!

Trust The Process: “The root will tend to look dark, [but] I promise you when you rinse it, it won’t be,” shares Chrissy. “We’re applying to wet hair and it’s diluting that formula, therefore, you will never have a true Level 8, just a soft beautiful blend.”

2. Formulating Shadow Roots: Go Darker 👏
If you want to create a shadow effect, you need to formulate darker. “Since you are applying on damp hair, you will need to go down a level at the roots to get the look you are trying to achieve,” shares @samanthasbeautyconfessions. Peep the color formulas below for a bright blonde melt—using all Schwarzkopf Professional tbh – true beautiful honest permanent color formulas for soft dimension.

Pro Tip: Samantha added tbh – true beautiful honest Tone Softener to her gloss formula to dilute the permanent color into a demi for shimmering nuances without harsh outgrowth, blending it seamlessly with the root melt.

Peep The Color Formulas Below!

Developer Tip: Samantha used two different developers for her color application—IGORA VIBRANCE® Activator Lotion for the shadow root because the creamy consistency allows a more precise application, and IGORA VIBRANCE® Activator Gel to gloss for a quicker application at the shampoo bowl. 

3. Faux Drop Root Trick
When your client comes in and doesn’t want her regular bleach and tone, @josievilay uses this faux drop root technique to soften and blend the regrowth. This is also perfect for clients who want a color refresh but need a break from the bleach in between bigger color services.

Watch @josievilay’s Technique Below!

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by behindthechair.com (@behindthechair_com) on Nov 27, 2019 at 11:17am PST

4. Root Shadow & Gloss At The Same Time
What’s the easiest way to cut down color appointment times? We’ve got you. Here’s how and why Samantha melts and tones at the same time:

• Micro Tap The Money Piece: Do the face-framing section last with less of a drop root to create high-impact brightness and avoid unwanted lines.

• Same Color Line, Different Techniques: Samantha uses Schwarzkopf Professional tbh – true beautiful honest permanent color to root tap and gloss on blondes who want dimension to illuminate their natural highs and lows.

• Solid Blondes? Do This: Even if a client wants to be solid blonde, Samantha still root taps to help blend everything together and give the color longevity.