click here to see my newest post about going platinum without damage (the full process + every product used).
I finally made the move! After months of thinking and hearing the various opinions of other people, I decided to made the jump from my natural brown to the California blonde that is notorious for the tan, beachy, green juice lifestyle. I have always been a brunette over blonde gal, but recently I began to get bored with my brown virgin hair, and maybe it’s just some weird phase I am in, but I did it and I am IN LOVE. I was so nervous, but the key is to remember that it is just hair and it grows back. Worst comes to worst you can dye it back or if you are really desperate, get a wig, because apparently they are cool now-thanks Kylie. I had people either tell me not to do it because I would look horrible, while others were really into it, but to be honest, at the end of the day it’s whether I like it or not, right? My best friend would say otherwise, but she can stick it. Going into it I was so worried because of the stories I had heard but I realized it is not a far fetched dream to go from dark brunette to platinum without ruining your hair. Here are a few tips and things to know about achieving the CA girl blonde without destroying your hair
1. bleach is NEVER the answer
My biggest concern was damaging my hair. I’ve heard horror story after horror story of people getting their hair totally jacked up. From orange hair, to broken hair, to hair loss, I’ve heard it all; all reasons for me to stay brunette the rest of my life. What I learned though, it’s all about the products. If you are wanting to go blonde and your hair dresser tells you they have to bleach it…RUN. Bleach is is most damaging chemical for your hair and there is never a circumstance where your hair should be subjected to bleach. Even if your hair is multiple colors and completely screwed up, there are products out there that are ammonia and toxic chemical free, and just because your hair dresser says there’s no other option than bleach, do not believe it. Most of the time either the person is uneducated about the correct products, or they do not carry them because they are expensive. It is way less expensive for salons to use bleach and products with ammonia because they can make more money off of the service since the products cost so little.
2. get educated about products
Like my go to TouchUpLaser experts say, bleach is never the answer…so what exactly should be used? My hairdresser swears by the CHI Permanent Shine Hair Color which is an ammonia and PPD (paraphenylenediamine) free permanent hair dye. This product replaces hazardous ammonia with a mild, yet highly effective alkaline called MEA (monoethanolamine). Basically when ammonia (which is in normal hair dye) is mixed with peroxide, it creates unstable gasses which lead to an unstable pH level, but when MEA is mixed with peroxide it it does not create any gases leaving pH levels the same. Always go for a product that is ammonia free, not only is it better for your hair but it also smells way better. The second product that is key is Olaplex. Olaplex is a 3 step product that allows you to “go blonder without compromising the integrity of your hair.” It is silicone and oil free and it links broken bonds in the hair during and after the service making them stronger than they were before-major key!!! The Olaplex made my hair so silky and soft I couldn’t even tell I had colored it.
3. toner is your friend
I don’t know about you, but I personally wasn’t going for yellow blonde, rather I was going for a cool toned, ashy, almost white blonde. To achieve this, a toner must be involved or else your platinum might look more like a brassy gold or even yellow.
4. don’t make plans the day of your hairdo
Major mistake on my part. Going platinum can be done in one appointment, but it is a process to achieve the right look. What I thought would be an easy 2-3 hour color session really ended up being around an 8 hour ordeal-ordering pizza was definitly involved.
5. leave your roots your natural color
Going platinum was my goal but so was low maintenance and minimal cost; I didn’t want to have to be getting touch ups every two weeks. So, I left my roots natural to allow for decent looking grow out, it’s like an intentional grow out look. It doesn’t look bad, and it will be much easier to maintain, time and money wise.
6. at home care
Everyone says you need to buy a million new products, specifically with a purple color to keep your new platinum hair healthy. The truth is, all you really need is a good rejuvenating, protein rich shampoo and conditioner. I use the Chi Argan Oil Plus Moringa Oil line which is a blend of argan oil, moringa oil, and CHI ceramic compound which adds strength and elasticity to hair and helps protect against damage from thermal styling and UV rays. The Argan oil is rich in vitamin E and contains omega fatty acids that provide nutrition and hydration, and the moringa oil is a deep penetrating oil that helps hair retain moisture. The ceramic compound uses ceramic and proteins to provide protection by releasing anions onto the cuticles helping interlink the proteins with the hair strands, imparting luster and strength for a vibrant appearance.
7. being blonde is a lifestyle
Disclaimer* Going platinum may cause a rise of sassiness, selfies, and kim k at fashion week vibes. It is a lifestyle, so rock it!
It’s surprising how much I learned from this whole experience and I cannot tell you how happy I am to know that my hair isn’t falling out, it isn’t 4 different shades of orange, and it actually feels like my real hair. Coloring my hair has also made it feel a lot thicker and way less greasy. I have very fine hair so I never had volume before, and now it doesn’t fall flat after 5 minutes and I can get away with washing it ever 3 or more days. So, if you are thinking about going Platinum, know you can do it without the fear of damaging your hair. If you don’t have a good hairstylist or if you don’t like the products your hairstylist is using, I can refer you to my gal, however, she isn’t taking many new clients at this time, perhaps only a couple if you are really interested. Also! All of the products I use for maintaining my new CA girl hair are linked below!
before
after
PRODUCTS FOR PLATINUM-APPROVED BY ME 😉
