Get the Most from Your Hair Color with These Tips from a Clairol Professional
We’ve all heard horror stories about hair color, even from those who’ve visited a salon for a professional treatment. Burnt scalps and hair breakage are just two of the disasters that can happen – to say nothing of bad color or highlights that start one inch from your roots. It’s key to master the art of getting what you want in the salon chair. Clairol Pro enlists premier colorist Nico of NYC’s Mizu Salon (whose color bar is frequented by A-list celebs) to teach you how to get the most out of your hair color.
Q: What’s the best way for clients to communicate their hair color vision?
Nico: I find it most helpful when clients bring photos or celebrity references with them to the salon. As an experienced colorist, it’s my job to keep on top of celebrities’ ever-changing haircolors, and this includes starlets from both the past and present. I love when clients email me a photo prior to their appointment so that I can do some research ahead of time. Once I see a picture, it opens up the dialogue about whether or not it’s the right direction for that client.
Q: What’s your go-to hair color product?
Nico: I’ve long been a fan of Clairol Professional and they recently integrated major product innovations into their line-up that keep me coming back for more. They’ve incorporated their new SOY4PLEX technology into their demi-permanent and permanent color lines, which really works to add even greater deep conditioning, reflective shine and long-lasting results.
Clairol Pro’s new liquid Gray Busters line (which also includes SOY4PLEX technology) is my favorite tool for covering grays with multi-dimensional color. It bestows ultra long-lasting gray coverage, is easy to use and adds warm undertones to create the most natural effect. It’s everything I need in just one product!
Q: Do you have any special application tricks or techniques?
Nico: Not only has hair color technology changed over the past couple of years, but the way we color hair at Mizu has changed too. We’re constantly using new strategies to obtain the most natural results. Lately we’ve been incorporating gentle demi-permanent shades and subtle highlights to strategic areas both during and after the single process application. It’s all about strategy, strategy, strategy, and we strive to constantly evolve our strategies to stay at the forefront of the industry.
Q: What do you recommend clients do to maintain their color once they leave the salon?
Nico: Shampoo less. When you do shampoo, be sure to purchase haircare products from a salon or beauty supply store since often times, shampoos and conditioners found at drugstores have pH levels that are too high and can cause color to dull. Use products with a pH of 4.5 to 5.5 and also, stay away from color-enhancing products. I’ve seen how these can transform my $300 highlights into what looks like a shoddy at-home dye job!
About Nico
Nico is a twenty year color veteran. His initial education and apprenticeship was at New York’s Vidal Sassoon Salon where he was sought after for his color work by the many musicians and designers that were in and out of the Sassoon salon in those days, including Cyndi Lauper, The Talking Heads, Pat Field and Betsy Johnson. His editorial credits include Glamour, Mademoiselle and Self magazines, as well as a plethora of album cover credits for pop/rock musicians and other recording artists. Today, Nico is also called upon to work with advertising and modeling agencies to achieve the exact colors needed for influential campaigns.
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