Color Contour: Bare & Blush

1. To prelighten the hair, weave a section out at the front of the head.

2. Apply Formula A to a tail comb.

3. Set the comb into the hair and push toward the head, then drag back down through the section.

4. Take a piece of cotton and lay the hair over the top, separating with balayage film (Leah likes Quality Touch balayage film) to maintain moisture content of the lightener formula. Repeat working forward on the head.

5. For money piece around the face, use the same comb technique, pushing the comb all the way to the retouch area for a feathery feel to the color and a strong, bold look. Hold the hair out from the scalp at a 90-degree angle as you work. Process without heat until you achieve the desired lift. Rinse, complete a L’ANZA Ultimate Treatment and apply Color Attach Step 1, then blow-dry.

Finished prelightened look.

6. Start on the right side. Take a small section above the ear. Place a strip of color paper on top of a balayage board. (Leah loves to use white paper when applying VIBES because you can see the shades as you work.) Apply Formula B with the L’ANZA Visper brush to create softness. Drag the brush down to create heavy saturation, then turn the brush vertically and drag up for softness. Eyeball the placement—Leah stays about 2 inches from the root and uses Formula B through the mids.

Pro Tip: The finer the section, the better the saturation, the better the longevity.

7. Apply Formula C below Formula B for shine and to blur Formula B.

Pro Tip: Leah mixes colors on the strand rather than in the bowl to create more dimension.

8. On the next section, apply Formula D, focusing toward the face. Next to it, apply Formula B (so they are side-by-side).

9. Continue up the head, focusing Formula D toward the face and Formula B in the mids and ends. Apply Formula C as needed to diffuse and add dimension. Process, rinse and style.