How To Control Warmth Before You Tone

Are You Using Charcoal Lightener? How to Manage Warmth As You Lift

Creating a balanced, beautiful and even lift sets the foundation for any shade you’re aiming to achieve. Whether your goal is an icy blonde or a sun-kissed, golden hue, the secret to flawless results starts long before that final gloss.

Below, learn lightener tricks to set your blondes up for success:

• Why relying on toners alone isn’t enough to effectively manage warmth
• How to use your lightener to control warmth while you lift, setting the stage for a clean and even canvas
• Three everyday uses for charcoal lightener

Why You Shouldn’t Rely on Toners Alone To Bust Brass

If warmth isn’t managed during the lifting process, you’re setting yourself up for a tone-balancing battle at the basin. This is especially important when lifting darker Levels, where underlying red and orange pigments are naturally more intense.

Enter charcoal lightener—a solution that has been a game-changer for stylists like BTC Team Member Kelley Brandon (@kelleyscanvas). Kelley often works on clients with dark natural bases, and this is the secret she swears by: “Joico Blonde Life® SilverLight™ Charcoal Lightener is super helpful because it controls the warmth while lifting. Once you reach your desired level, toning should be a breeze. SilverLight is my No.1 lightener right now and I love it!”

See the cool-toned result Kelley created on her client’s shaved head, powered by SilverLight™ Charcoal Lightener + 20-volume Joico Blonde Life® Coconut Oil Developer:

Photo Credit: Instagram via @kelleyscanvas

Photo Credit: Instagram via @kelleyscanvas

3 Ways To Use Charcoal Lightener

1. Balanced, Reflective Gold Blondes

Warm undertones reflect light, making hair appear brighter and shinier. Instead of eliminating all the warmth as you lift, control just the excess warmth to work with your client’s natural undertone—not against it. This creates that expensive, high-end reflection our guests love.

Kelley’s client has fine hair and only touches up her color twice a year: “Using the correct lightener that gets her light enough but is also gentle enough is so important,” Kelley explains. “SilverLight™ Charcoal Lightener also primes the hair for unwanted warmth,” making it her go-to.

Photo Credit: Instagram via @kelleyscanvas

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2. Color Corrections Made Easy: How To Cancel Out Red Undertones 

Kelley’s client had old red permanent color which she knew would lift super warm—a key reason why addressing underlying warmth early will lead to a balanced result: “Color corrections take time and multiple sessions. It’s so important to not push the hair any further than it can go. Your product choice matters!” Kelley shares.

“SilverLight™ has a cooling effect that counteracts warmth while lifting. There were a lot of uneven areas throughout her hair so I knew we would still have some residual warmth but this lightener is seriously a game changer for color correcting!”

Press play to see the before and after below:

3. Protect Curls While Brightening Dark Natural Levels

BTC Team Member Stephanie Brown’s (@vividsandbalayage) goal for the client below was to lift to a bright, blended warm blonde without compromising her natural curly texture. Working off of a Level 6 base sprinkled with grays, here’s how she strategically formulated for maximum lift with minimal toning required.

Photo Credit: Instagram via @vividsandbalayage

• Work up the back of the head alternating horizontal weaves and slices, paired with a tease to create a soft blend.

• Keep your developer low: Stephanie shares, “I was working with a curly hair texture which is naturally more dry, so I kept my developer LOW! For the back of the head, I used 10-volume. I mixed one part SilverLight with two parts 10-volume Blonde Life® Coconut Oil Developer.”
• Use charcoal lightener to balance warmth before toning: “SilverLight™ has a cool-toned formula designed with charcoal to help counteract brassiness while lifting NINE Levels. I love how neutral this lightener lifts requiring minimal toning,” Stephanie adds.

Press play to get all of Stephanie’s tips!

BONUS: Save Steph’s Curly Care Routine Post-Lightening

• First, cleanse with Joico Defy Damage® Shampoo:
  • “It’s a gentle daily cleanser swiftly sloughs away dirt, impurities and buildup without roughing up the hair cuticle—perfect for after a lightening service,” Stephanie shares.
• After rinsing the shampoo, apply Joico Defy Damage® IN A FLASH™ 7-Second Bond Builder:
  • “This builds bonds and strengthens hair fibers for healthy-looking results you can see and feel. It also includes liquid keratin, an essential building block of healthy hair.”
• Finish with Joico KBOND20 Defy Damage® Power Masque:
  • “This is the the cherry on top—leaves hair feeling silky smooth just after five minutes. It’s a very luxurious conditioning mask.”

Neutralize excess warmth with charcoal lightener—click here to learn about Joico SilverLight™!

Products Used

Hair Color

Blonde Life® SilverLight™ Lightening Powder

Joico

Haircare

Defy Damage Protective Shampoo

Joico

Bond Building

Defy Damage® IN A FLASH™

Joico

Haircare

KBOND20 Defy Damage Power Masque

Joico

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