Root Melts: 3 Common Mistakes You’re Making!
Three Reasons Why Root Melts “Don’t Work” For You
Do you struggle to get the depth of rich tones you want during a root melt? Unsure why your melts end up looking like just a heavy root touch-up? If you’re feeling like root melts aren’t your thing—think again!
BTC Team Member Carly Zanoni (@the.blonde.chronicles) shares three common mistakes stylists make when doing a root melt that can help you rethink your process and adjust techniques to nail this service! Fill your books and provide clients with that lived-in look they love—keep reading for the dos and don’ts of root melting that will make your next one IG Explore Page-worthy.
Why Aren’t My Root Melts Working?
1. You’re Not Going Dark Enough
Freshly lightened hair will make any color swatch appear darker than it is—don’t let this sway your decision! Root melts need dark tones to create the seamless graduation of color.
“I root melt with the same level (or one level darker) as the natural base color. As far as tones, I like to combine a warm and a cool tone to make sure it stays rich,” says Carly. When in doubt, reference your client’s natural hair for a guide on root color selection.
RELATED: Root Melts With Rich Dimension—QUICKIE Tips You Need!
2. You’re Rinsing Too Soon
“I let my root melts sit for the entire 15-20 minute processing time to make sure they have time to erase a line of demarcation,” says Carly.
Watching those dark hues develop on your blonde client is scary—we know! Trust the process, (hold your breath if you need to) and let the color develop completely in order to create the lived-in fade. Rinsing too soon in fear that your client is processing too dark will run the risk of creating a muddy or dull root color that you will have to fix later.
3. You’re Not Painting Down Far Enough
Remember it’s a melt, not a root touch-up. You want the color to look like it is melting from your client’s roots and down their hair for a gradual blend. “I like to apply the color from the roots to about 1/2 an inch past where the light pieces start. Then, I use my comb to blend which drags it down a tiny bit further,” says Carly.
Pro Tip: Not painting down far enough can make a root melt look like your client has heavy re-growth instead of a natural color gradient. Paint away, sis!
Check out Carly’s video with a breakdown of tips + helpful how-to’s!
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