Last updated: September 03, 2020

Video Tutorial: Larisa Love’s Shadow Root Cheat

Skip The Shadow Root With @larisadoll’s Teasylight Tips

When Larisa Love (@larisadoll) says she has a blonding technique that gives the effect of a teardrop shadow root WITHOUT the extra step of applying a root melt…we RUN to watch her teach the process! Watch the video above to get her step-by-step power melt process that includes genius teasylight tips, her can’t-skip prep step and of course, the formulas she used.

Learn A No-Foil Criss Cross Technique From Larisa: Click Here!

Larisa Never Skips This Prep Step (Plus a Bonus Add-On Service Idea)

Larisa starts every client in her chair with a full-head spray application of Joico Defy Damage ProSeries 1 Bond-Protecting Color Optimizer Spray. It’s a unique bond builder that isn’t mixed with color formulas, so there’s no formula or processing time adjustments needed. Spraying it in short bursts about 2 to 3 inches from each section results in 80 percent less breakage, better color application and retention and a more predictable end result.

Pro Tip: Use Defy Damage ProSeries 1 as an add-on service for non-haircolor clients. Use it as a standalone treatment paired with a haircut and charge a little extra. Bonus: It doesn’t require any processing time, so it’s a no-brainer addition for your client.

Teasylight Principles And The Shadow Root Cheat You Need

Whether you’re a teasylight pro or you’ve never tried this technique, here are some tips to keep in mind to design the outcome you want:

To achieve maximum dimension, combine any or all of the following tactics:
- Tease each section from the ends to the roots.
- Tease multiple times.
- Take a weave, THEN tease the weave.

To achieve maximum brightness, combine any or all of the following tactics:
- Start the tease a little higher up the section.
- Tease only once.
- Use slices—no weaves at all.

Using a mix of these principles gives you the power to customize the look your client wants. To achieve a shadow root/teardrop effect without separately applying haircolor, Larisa combined a few of these methods and—here’s the secret—increased the number of teases by one on every section as she worked up the head in a Mohawk section. Watch the video to hear and see her explanation and technique!

Combing Out The Teasylights While Treating The Hair

Don’t be afraid of combing out those teasylights! Here’s how Larisa handles it:

Remove foils at the bowl.
Apply Joico Defy Damage ProSeries 2: Bond-Strengthening Color Treatment, especially on the teased areas. This in-salon treatment is the second bond-building step after Defy Damage ProSeries 1, and only needs to sit for 5 minutes.
Carefully work through the teased areas with a Wet Brush or your favorite detangling brush.

Follow these steps and the hair will feel “buttery,” according to Larisa. Another bonus tip: Build the price of the Defy Damage take-home series—Protective Shampoo, Protective Conditioner, Protective Masque and Protective Shield—into your color services charge to make sure your client keeps her hair in its healthiest shape until she sits in your chair again.