Biolage ColorBalm Conditioner: 4 Tips To Make Haircolor Last

How To Extend Color With Biolage’s New Color-Depositing Conditioner Collection

Picture this: You get to the shampoo bowl and want to give your client’s color an extra POP. Whether it’s cooling down prelightened hair or enhancing a red, Biolage just launched ColorBalm Conditioners to get the job done in less than 10 minutes. We spoke with celebrity colorist Sunnie Brook (@sunniebrook) to get all the deets below!

1. What Is ColorBalm Conditioner?

The Biolage ColorBalm line includes six color-depositing shades, plus a Clear shade that can be mixed with any color to customize. These conditioners allow clients to refresh, enhance and extend their color at home—and they can experiment with non-committal shades! Plus, their hair will be 10x more conditioned after the first use, says Sunnie.

The ColorBalm Line includes shades:

• Red Poppy
• Saffron Red
• Chai Tea
• Cinnamon
• Earl Grey
• Lavender
• Clear

2. Formulation Tips For Different Starting Levels

Here’s Sunnie’s fast go-to breakdown to customize formulas for different starting canvases: Light blonde, medium blonde and light brown.

Starting Canvas: Light Blonde

Super light blondes typically have a little extra warmth with from back-to-back chemical processes. Here are a few ways to keep the color cool!

• Chai Tea: Champagne undertones, provides natural iridescence for light blonde bases
• Earl Grey: Iridescent blue/silver undertones, provides light silver tone for light bases​
• Lavender: Gives highlighted ends a pop and provides violet tones for light bases

Check out how Sunnie uses Chai Tea to enhance her highlights!

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Hair|Beauty|Design (@sunniebrook)

Starting Canvas: Medium Blonde

For blonde clients who have recently gone darker, it’s common for the color to fade more quickly. Here are some of Sunnie’s go-to recs!

• Cinnamon: Enhances natural warm brunette tones
• Saffron Red: Will have more depth on darker tones

Starting Canvas: Light Brown

Sunnie loves to use the more pigmented colors on light brown starting levels for richer, more saturated color. Remember, porosity determines longevity, says Sunnie. Red is the largest molecule, so the hair will grab it more quickly and soak it up for longer-lasting color.

• Cinnamon: Enhances natural warm brunette tones
• Red Poppy: Adds cool red luster to medium to dark brown or red bases​

Pro Tip: Add Clear to customize a range of lighter tones and pastels.

Before & After Using Saffron Red!

3. For Clients: How To Apply ColorBalm At Home

1. Brush out the hair with a paddle brush.
2. Wash with Matrix ColorLast Shampoo.
3. Towel-dry the hair. This is KEY to getting out extra moisture that could dilute the color.
4. Do a strand test with the lightest piece of hair first.
5. Section the hair into two with clips.
6. Use gloves, especially with more pigmented colors like Red Poppy or Cinnamon.
7. Apply the colors to your palm and rub through the hair.
8. Process for 5 to 10 minutes.
9. Comb through the color.

Pro Tip To Replicate Color Formulas

Clients should use their hands like a palette. That way, they can replicate the color mixtures more easily. For example, explain like this: Apply three lines across of Clear and one dot of Lavender. 

4. Here’s A Retail Idea For Color Clients

Your clients are always asking for the products you use on their hair in the salon. Instead of creating custom color-depositing conditioner bottles, send them home with a ColorBalm Conditioner and instructions for upkeep, especially if they should mix Clear with their color.