Formulas > Hair Color > Transformation: From Long & Lived-In To Icy Lob
Last updated: September 24, 2019

Transformation: From Long & Lived-In To Icy Lob

lob haircut and blonde hair color transformation by @saramay_level10
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  • Formula A

    Aveda Enlightener + 10-volume developer + Olaplex No.1

  • Formula B

    Aveda Enlightener + 20-volume developer + Olaplex No.1

  • Formula C

    80g Aveda Universal 0N + 8g Pastel V + 80g Aveda Color Treatment Liquid Activator

The best appointments start with great consultations, especially when your client is requesting a dramatic transformation. So, when one of Sara Pestella’s (@saramay_level10) regulars wanted to chop her long and lived-in balayage, here’s how she approached the color and cutting processes. Read Sara’s consultation below, then check out the formulas and steps she used to achieve this icy lob makeover!

 

“First thing’s first—we had a thorough consultation,” Sara said. “Candace is a longtime client and I adore her, so when she said she wanted to cut her hair short, I really wanted to make sure she wasn’t just going through something in her personal life. Turns out she always had long hair and wanted to experience a big chop. She loves blonde and we have been experimenting different placements of lived-in blonde and balayage and playing with different tones, but never ICY, so I knew this was my chance. I told her we have to go big or go home! She chose to not go home, and we began the process.”

 

After the consultation, Sara and Candace decided to a partial foil for two reasons. One, her haircut would have a slight undercut and it’s at a length that would keep any dark hair from creeping out from underneath. And two, Candace is on a budget. Knowing all of this, Sara determined the most appropriate process and got to work!

 

Time: 3 hours

Price: $350 for a partial foil, shadow tone, Olaplex, cut and an extra bowl of color.

 

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Who Did It

Colorist: Sara Pestella
Manufacturer: Aveda, @aveda; Olaplex, @olaplex; R Session Pro Tools

Products Used

COLOR FORMULAS

  • Formula A

    Aveda Enlightener + 10-volume developer + Olaplex No.1

  • Formula B

    Aveda Enlightener + 20-volume developer + Olaplex No.1

  • Formula C

    80g Aveda Universal 0N + 8g Pastel V + 80g Aveda Color Treatment Liquid Activator

FORMULA STEPS

1. Sara began by pre-cutting Candace’s hair. “I obviously didn’t want to cut what I worked so hard to get (blonde), so I pre-cut her hair and left a good inch so I could finalize the cut after the color.”

 

2. For Sara, placement is key and depends on how the hair organically moves. “Light is only as light as the dark it sits next to,” she said. “Sometimes blonde gets lost if you don’t leave depth or don’t give more light in certain areas.” Sara decided to begin foiling on the sides with Formula A, placing four foils back-to-back, then taking the hair between foils, teasing it and putting the ends only in foil, followed by four to six more foils without teasing the ends.

 

3. Repeat on the other side, working your way up to Formula B as needed.

 

4. On the top Mohawk section, Sara did four to six back-to-back foils, then teased the ends and put them in a foil. “I never do the same amount of back-to-back foils on everyone because some clients need more and those with fine hair need less, or she’ll look like 2000s Christina Aguilera ‘Stripped’ CD cover.” (LOL.) Sara added, “The closer the foils, the more solid the blonde appears. Leave a tiny bit of space and you will have a tiny bit of diffusion.

 

5. After processing, rinse and tone with Formula C.

 

6. To finish the service, Sara cut Candace’s hair. “Honestly, I do not specialize in cutting. I keep up on my advanced education so I’m in the know about the trends and how to achieve them, but if I didn’t have to pick up a pair of shears, except for doing transformations like this, I wouldn’t.” We love your honesty, Sara! She undercut sections one and two, taking weight out of those sections by twisting the hair and slide-cutting. “I cut the rest one length and did most of the refining dry so I could really see its shape.”

 

7. To style, Sarah used a 1-inch R Session Pro Tools flat iron to slightly bend the hair on the top section. “With this cut, it isn’t about perfection—it’s a free-flowing haircut and the less you do, the better it looks in my opinion.” Sara finished with Aveda air control™ Light Hold Hairspray for light hold and texture, then added Aveda shampure™ Dry Shampoo to the ends for some added grit.

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