Lived-In Blonde with Johnny Ramirez
- Starting Formula
9, golden blonde with 3 inches of Level 8 regrowth
- Formula A
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 5N + ½ 7.13 + 6-volume developer
- Formula B (lightener)
L’Oreal Professionnel Blond Studio Multi-Techniques Powder 8+ + 20-volume developer + 4 mL Smartbond
- Formula C
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 7.13 + ½ 6N + 6-volume developer
- Formula D
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ tube 10.13 + 6-volume developer
Before
- Starting Formula
9, golden blonde with 3 inches of Level 8 regrowth
- Formula A
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 5N + ½ 7.13 + 6-volume developer
- Formula B (lightener)
L’Oreal Professionnel Blond Studio Multi-Techniques Powder 8+ + 20-volume developer + 4 mL Smartbond
- Formula C
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 7.13 + ½ 6N + 6-volume developer
- Formula D
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ tube 10.13 + 6-volume developer
Start by toning the midlengths with Formula A (this is what gives Johnny’s colors so much depth). Use a double-pronged detangling comb to comb through and blend. Rinse, and blow-dry.
- Starting Formula
9, golden blonde with 3 inches of Level 8 regrowth
- Formula A
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 5N + ½ 7.13 + 6-volume developer
- Formula B (lightener)
L’Oreal Professionnel Blond Studio Multi-Techniques Powder 8+ + 20-volume developer + 4 mL Smartbond
- Formula C
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 7.13 + ½ 6N + 6-volume developer
- Formula D
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ tube 10.13 + 6-volume developer
Ask your client to part their hair naturally. This is where you’ll create the money piece. Working in diagonal back sections around the face, backcomb and apply Formula B to create “pops” of color.
- Starting Formula
9, golden blonde with 3 inches of Level 8 regrowth
- Formula A
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 5N + ½ 7.13 + 6-volume developer
- Formula B (lightener)
L’Oreal Professionnel Blond Studio Multi-Techniques Powder 8+ + 20-volume developer + 4 mL Smartbond
- Formula C
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 7.13 + ½ 6N + 6-volume developer
- Formula D
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ tube 10.13 + 6-volume developer
Continue backcombing around the head, creating pops of color in diagonal back sections. Foil pieces where you want to see more brightness, or on sections that have color buildup. Mirror both sides, finishing in the back.
- Starting Formula
9, golden blonde with 3 inches of Level 8 regrowth
- Formula A
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 5N + ½ 7.13 + 6-volume developer
- Formula B (lightener)
L’Oreal Professionnel Blond Studio Multi-Techniques Powder 8+ + 20-volume developer + 4 mL Smartbond
- Formula C
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 7.13 + ½ 6N + 6-volume developer
- Formula D
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ tube 10.13 + 6-volume developer
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Starting in the back (the last section), use a diffuser to add heat. Using a diffuser will give you more control and allow the color to process evenly. After a few minutes, check the foils, leave out any ends that have already reached your desired lift, spray the ends with water and re-apply heat where necessary. For this process, Johnny was aiming for “baby banana” yellow—not quite yellow and not quite white.
- Starting Formula
9, golden blonde with 3 inches of Level 8 regrowth
- Formula A
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 5N + ½ 7.13 + 6-volume developer
- Formula B (lightener)
L’Oreal Professionnel Blond Studio Multi-Techniques Powder 8+ + 20-volume developer + 4 mL Smartbond
- Formula C
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 7.13 + ½ 6N + 6-volume developer
- Formula D
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ tube 10.13 + 6-volume developer
At the bowl, remove the foils. Lightly rinse, making sure NOT to remove any backcombing or knots yet and smudge the bleach until the line is diffused. Rinse, starting in the back and working your way to the front. Shampoo using L’Oreal Professionnel Serie Expert Absolut Repair Lipidium Shampoo, then apply Serie Expert Absolut Repair Masque. Massage in with your fingertips. Do not rinse.
- Starting Formula
9, golden blonde with 3 inches of Level 8 regrowth
- Formula A
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 5N + ½ 7.13 + 6-volume developer
- Formula B (lightener)
L’Oreal Professionnel Blond Studio Multi-Techniques Powder 8+ + 20-volume developer + 4 mL Smartbond
- Formula C
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 7.13 + ½ 6N + 6-volume developer
- Formula D
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ tube 10.13 + 6-volume developer
Using a Tangle Teezer, comb out the backcombed pieces, working from the bottom to the top. Rinse, towel-dry, then comb smooth. Apply L’Oréal Professionnel Mythic Oil, and blow-dry.
- Starting Formula
9, golden blonde with 3 inches of Level 8 regrowth
- Formula A
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 5N + ½ 7.13 + 6-volume developer
- Formula B (lightener)
L’Oreal Professionnel Blond Studio Multi-Techniques Powder 8+ + 20-volume developer + 4 mL Smartbond
- Formula C
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 7.13 + ½ 6N + 6-volume developer
- Formula D
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ tube 10.13 + 6-volume developer
Advertisement
Apply global highlights using Formula B, lifting to “baby banana” yellow once more. Rinse.
- Starting Formula
9, golden blonde with 3 inches of Level 8 regrowth
- Formula A
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 5N + ½ 7.13 + 6-volume developer
- Formula B (lightener)
L’Oreal Professionnel Blond Studio Multi-Techniques Powder 8+ + 20-volume developer + 4 mL Smartbond
- Formula C
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 7.13 + ½ 6N + 6-volume developer
- Formula D
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ tube 10.13 + 6-volume developer
Gloss using Formula C at the roots, then Formula D all over. Rinse, then mix 1 cap of L’Oreal Professionnel Serie Expert Powermix Force with 1 cap of Powermix Base. Apply from midlengths to ends, and process for five minutes. Rinse, blow-dry and style!
- Starting Formula
9, golden blonde with 3 inches of Level 8 regrowth
- Formula A
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 5N + ½ 7.13 + 6-volume developer
- Formula B (lightener)
L’Oreal Professionnel Blond Studio Multi-Techniques Powder 8+ + 20-volume developer + 4 mL Smartbond
- Formula C
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 7.13 + ½ 6N + 6-volume developer
- Formula D
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ tube 10.13 + 6-volume developer
Finished look.
- Starting Formula
9, golden blonde with 3 inches of Level 8 regrowth
- Formula A
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 5N + ½ 7.13 + 6-volume developer
- Formula B (lightener)
L’Oreal Professionnel Blond Studio Multi-Techniques Powder 8+ + 20-volume developer + 4 mL Smartbond
- Formula C
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 7.13 + ½ 6N + 6-volume developer
- Formula D
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ tube 10.13 + 6-volume developer
Finished look.
- Starting Formula
9, golden blonde with 3 inches of Level 8 regrowth
- Formula A
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 5N + ½ 7.13 + 6-volume developer
- Formula B (lightener)
L’Oreal Professionnel Blond Studio Multi-Techniques Powder 8+ + 20-volume developer + 4 mL Smartbond
- Formula C
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 7.13 + ½ 6N + 6-volume developer
- Formula D
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ tube 10.13 + 6-volume developer
Advertisement
Finished look.
- Starting Formula
9, golden blonde with 3 inches of Level 8 regrowth
- Formula A
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 5N + ½ 7.13 + 6-volume developer
- Formula B (lightener)
L’Oreal Professionnel Blond Studio Multi-Techniques Powder 8+ + 20-volume developer + 4 mL Smartbond
- Formula C
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 7.13 + ½ 6N + 6-volume developer
- Formula D
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ tube 10.13 + 6-volume developer
Lived-In Blonde with Johnny Ramirez
It’s not every day you get invited to the famous Ramirez | Tran Salon in Beverly Hills to get your hair colored by Johnny Ramirez (@johnnyramirez1). And when Johnny agrees to demo his process AND give away some of his haircolor secrets—you have to share the wealth with the BTC Community!
Here, Johnny and his assistant Maggie Garcia (@maggiegarciacolor) share how they transformed BTC editor Haley from an uneven, faded golden blonde to a bright, lived-in, California blonde—with a gorgeous pop of color around her face.
COLOR FORMULAS
- Starting Formula
9, golden blonde with 3 inches of Level 8 regrowth
- Formula A
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 5N + ½ 7.13 + 6-volume developer
- Formula B (lightener)
L’Oreal Professionnel Blond Studio Multi-Techniques Powder 8+ + 20-volume developer + 4 mL Smartbond
- Formula C
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 7.13 + ½ 6N + 6-volume developer
- Formula D
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ tube 10.13 + 6-volume developer
Products Used
HOW-TO STEPS
-
- Starting Formula
9, golden blonde with 3 inches of Level 8 regrowth
- Formula A
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 5N + ½ 7.13 + 6-volume developer
- Formula B (lightener)
L’Oreal Professionnel Blond Studio Multi-Techniques Powder 8+ + 20-volume developer + 4 mL Smartbond
- Formula C
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 7.13 + ½ 6N + 6-volume developer
- Formula D
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ tube 10.13 + 6-volume developer
1Before
- Starting Formula
-
- Starting Formula
9, golden blonde with 3 inches of Level 8 regrowth
- Formula A
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 5N + ½ 7.13 + 6-volume developer
- Formula B (lightener)
L’Oreal Professionnel Blond Studio Multi-Techniques Powder 8+ + 20-volume developer + 4 mL Smartbond
- Formula C
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 7.13 + ½ 6N + 6-volume developer
- Formula D
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ tube 10.13 + 6-volume developer
2Start by toning the midlengths with Formula A (this is what gives Johnny’s colors so much depth). Use a double-pronged detangling comb to comb through and blend. Rinse, and blow-dry.
- Starting Formula
-
- Starting Formula
9, golden blonde with 3 inches of Level 8 regrowth
- Formula A
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 5N + ½ 7.13 + 6-volume developer
- Formula B (lightener)
L’Oreal Professionnel Blond Studio Multi-Techniques Powder 8+ + 20-volume developer + 4 mL Smartbond
- Formula C
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 7.13 + ½ 6N + 6-volume developer
- Formula D
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ tube 10.13 + 6-volume developer
3Ask your client to part their hair naturally. This is where you’ll create the money piece. Working in diagonal back sections around the face, backcomb and apply Formula B to create “pops” of color.
- Starting Formula
-
- Starting Formula
9, golden blonde with 3 inches of Level 8 regrowth
- Formula A
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 5N + ½ 7.13 + 6-volume developer
- Formula B (lightener)
L’Oreal Professionnel Blond Studio Multi-Techniques Powder 8+ + 20-volume developer + 4 mL Smartbond
- Formula C
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 7.13 + ½ 6N + 6-volume developer
- Formula D
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ tube 10.13 + 6-volume developer
4Continue backcombing around the head, creating pops of color in diagonal back sections. Foil pieces where you want to see more brightness, or on sections that have color buildup. Mirror both sides, finishing in the back.
- Starting Formula
-
- Starting Formula
9, golden blonde with 3 inches of Level 8 regrowth
- Formula A
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 5N + ½ 7.13 + 6-volume developer
- Formula B (lightener)
L’Oreal Professionnel Blond Studio Multi-Techniques Powder 8+ + 20-volume developer + 4 mL Smartbond
- Formula C
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 7.13 + ½ 6N + 6-volume developer
- Formula D
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ tube 10.13 + 6-volume developer
5Starting in the back (the last section), use a diffuser to add heat. Using a diffuser will give you more control and allow the color to process evenly. After a few minutes, check the foils, leave out any ends that have already reached your desired lift, spray the ends with water and re-apply heat where necessary. For this process, Johnny was aiming for “baby banana” yellow—not quite yellow and not quite white.
- Starting Formula
-
- Starting Formula
9, golden blonde with 3 inches of Level 8 regrowth
- Formula A
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 5N + ½ 7.13 + 6-volume developer
- Formula B (lightener)
L’Oreal Professionnel Blond Studio Multi-Techniques Powder 8+ + 20-volume developer + 4 mL Smartbond
- Formula C
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 7.13 + ½ 6N + 6-volume developer
- Formula D
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ tube 10.13 + 6-volume developer
6At the bowl, remove the foils. Lightly rinse, making sure NOT to remove any backcombing or knots yet and smudge the bleach until the line is diffused. Rinse, starting in the back and working your way to the front. Shampoo using L’Oreal Professionnel Serie Expert Absolut Repair Lipidium Shampoo, then apply Serie Expert Absolut Repair Masque. Massage in with your fingertips. Do not rinse.
- Starting Formula
-
- Starting Formula
9, golden blonde with 3 inches of Level 8 regrowth
- Formula A
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 5N + ½ 7.13 + 6-volume developer
- Formula B (lightener)
L’Oreal Professionnel Blond Studio Multi-Techniques Powder 8+ + 20-volume developer + 4 mL Smartbond
- Formula C
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 7.13 + ½ 6N + 6-volume developer
- Formula D
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ tube 10.13 + 6-volume developer
7Using a Tangle Teezer, comb out the backcombed pieces, working from the bottom to the top. Rinse, towel-dry, then comb smooth. Apply L’Oréal Professionnel Mythic Oil, and blow-dry.
- Starting Formula
-
- Starting Formula
9, golden blonde with 3 inches of Level 8 regrowth
- Formula A
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 5N + ½ 7.13 + 6-volume developer
- Formula B (lightener)
L’Oreal Professionnel Blond Studio Multi-Techniques Powder 8+ + 20-volume developer + 4 mL Smartbond
- Formula C
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 7.13 + ½ 6N + 6-volume developer
- Formula D
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ tube 10.13 + 6-volume developer
8Apply global highlights using Formula B, lifting to “baby banana” yellow once more. Rinse.
- Starting Formula
-
- Starting Formula
9, golden blonde with 3 inches of Level 8 regrowth
- Formula A
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 5N + ½ 7.13 + 6-volume developer
- Formula B (lightener)
L’Oreal Professionnel Blond Studio Multi-Techniques Powder 8+ + 20-volume developer + 4 mL Smartbond
- Formula C
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 7.13 + ½ 6N + 6-volume developer
- Formula D
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ tube 10.13 + 6-volume developer
9Gloss using Formula C at the roots, then Formula D all over. Rinse, then mix 1 cap of L’Oreal Professionnel Serie Expert Powermix Force with 1 cap of Powermix Base. Apply from midlengths to ends, and process for five minutes. Rinse, blow-dry and style!
- Starting Formula
-
- Starting Formula
9, golden blonde with 3 inches of Level 8 regrowth
- Formula A
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 5N + ½ 7.13 + 6-volume developer
- Formula B (lightener)
L’Oreal Professionnel Blond Studio Multi-Techniques Powder 8+ + 20-volume developer + 4 mL Smartbond
- Formula C
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 7.13 + ½ 6N + 6-volume developer
- Formula D
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ tube 10.13 + 6-volume developer
10Finished look.
- Starting Formula
-
- Starting Formula
9, golden blonde with 3 inches of Level 8 regrowth
- Formula A
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 5N + ½ 7.13 + 6-volume developer
- Formula B (lightener)
L’Oreal Professionnel Blond Studio Multi-Techniques Powder 8+ + 20-volume developer + 4 mL Smartbond
- Formula C
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 7.13 + ½ 6N + 6-volume developer
- Formula D
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ tube 10.13 + 6-volume developer
11Finished look.
- Starting Formula
-
- Starting Formula
9, golden blonde with 3 inches of Level 8 regrowth
- Formula A
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 5N + ½ 7.13 + 6-volume developer
- Formula B (lightener)
L’Oreal Professionnel Blond Studio Multi-Techniques Powder 8+ + 20-volume developer + 4 mL Smartbond
- Formula C
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ 7.13 + ½ 6N + 6-volume developer
- Formula D
L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Light ½ tube 10.13 + 6-volume developer
12Finished look.
- Starting Formula
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