Get the perfect women’s haircut with Mallory Cook, hair stylist at MMC Style in Madison, WI. Women’s haircuts done by a Pulp Riot & Redken Color Specialist, will also help you get to the hair goals you have for your lifestyle.
Customize your blonde: lowlights, toners, shadow roots
Your blonde hair has options with color and style
Contrary to what most people think, the biggest thing that differentiates one blonde from the next is not always the amount of highlights put into the hair, but the amount of blank space left in between, lowlights added in, toners, and shadow roots. Blondes have become a lot more fun for me to do after understanding and using more of these techniques.
Hair Color – Lowlights
Lowlights are typically a color that will be foiled or painted in to add some depth into hair. A color picked for lowlights depends on the overall desired end result. Some people will pick a color that is just slightly darker than the all over color they have going on, some like it drastically darker, or even more fun, we can add in some pops of blue, or green, or whatever fun color a guest may fancy! Strategically placed lowlights can be very soft and subtle, or more dramatic for a noticeable amount of contrast.
Blonde Hair Color & Style – Mallory Cook #mmcstyle 💇
Hair Color – Toners
If you’re someone who gets highlights, or bleaches your hair, you have probably heard your stylist mention they need to tone your hair, sometimes this can be done at the shampoo bowl in damp hair, some stylists will bring you back to their chair and dry you really well with a towel, or even blow dry before applying. Tone refers to the color you want to see in your hair, and how much depth you want that color to have. You may want a “cool” blonde, which refers to something with a violet, blue, or even silvery tone to it, but just a touch of that “tone” so it isn’t visibly blue per say to the eye. So essentially what we’re doing with toners is neutralizing, which would be correcting unwanted tones in the hair color, or using a toner to add a desired certain amount of color to the hair.
Hair Color – Why Toners?
Blonde Hair Toners – Mallory Cook #mmcstyle 💇
When we use lightener on hair it doesn’t lift right to a natural looking, pretty color right away. It leaves the hair with raw tones that look yellowy to orange, and lack shine. Using a color to tone those raw highlights either right after a lightening service, or in between lightening service appointments to correct any off colors caused by hard mineral deposits in our water, or from heat styling too much, gives you a prettier, desired color. It has shine, the proper color, and overall looks so much healthier and dare I say natural looking as well, even those fun rose gold tones, or silvery/violety tones people are wearing a bit bolder lately!
Blonde Hair Toners – Mallory Cook #mmcstyle 💇
A toner will not brighten your hair, so if your hair needs to be lighter your stylist will first have to apply a lightener in some kind of form if your hair is not light enough to pull of the tone you are looking to do. This may have to be done in more than one step, or even appointment if you’re looking for a nice bright, icy platinum blonde end result. If there is too much depth left in the hair you can only tone to that same level of lightness or darker. So you may be OK with being more of a medium blonde, and in that case a toner usually to neutralize some orangey-yellow is necessary.
Hair Color – Shadow Root
Blonde Hair Shadow Roots – Mallory Cook #mmcstyle 💇
A shadow root is another way to add depth to any hair color for many different reasons. I like a very soft shadow root on my blondes to blend the line of highlights at the top, whether they be highlights right up to the scalp, or highlights that my guest likes a bit more “worn in.” So as you can imagine some shadow roots will be very minimal, so these I don’t like to have much darker than my final color. Some shadow roots can be more extended or dramatic, for this I may pick a color that is a couple of shades darker than our end color for a noticeable result.
A lot of pictures of bright blondes that have been circulating Pinterest and Instagram lately believe it or not feature a shadow root. That bit of subtle darkness really helps the platinum blonde pop and look dimensional.
Blonde Hair Shadow Roots – Mallory Cook #mmcstyle 💇
You can schedule a consultation, or chat with your hair stylist before your next highlight or color appointment to see how any of these methods can be used to elevate your overall hair color! Or you can book online right here with Mallory Cook – MMC Sytle.
- Published in Hair Color, Hair Salon, Trending Hair Styles, Women's Haircuts, Women's Hairstyles
Balayage, ombré, foilyage, babylights…what’s the diff?
Madison Hair Stylist Mallory Cook Explains Balayage & More
We’ve been seeing a lot of these fancy sounding words used to describe hair color for a while now. If you’ve ever gone to handy dandy Pinterest to try to figure out the difference, you’ve probably seen a lot of the same pictures pop up for balayage, ombré, foilyage, babylights and more than one, if not all of these terms.
The truth is, you don’t go into the salon to “get a balayage” or to just get “babylighted.” These are all terms stylists use for an application method of color or lightener to create a specific look in your hair. More than one technique may be used to create a particular look depending on what is already on your hair, and what you are looking to have as your finished result. So what that means: the technique used in your hair should be decided AFTER looking at pictures and talking about how you would like your hair color to look with your stylist!
What is Balayage?
Balayage in French means, “to sweep.” This term applied to a hair color application technique would be used for someone who is painting color, typically highlights, in a very natural soft way creating a soft effect towards the top, and a heavier, brighter effect at the ends of the hair. Think of your hair, after sitting in the sun, typically the ends of the hair are lighter and brighter from more exposure over time, and closer to the root there is softer brightening effects, usually mostly around your face and right on top. Balayage is a great way to mimic this kind of effect, and you have the power to make it bolder, or more subtle to look like you spent a week at the beach.
What is Balayage? by Mallory Cook – Hair Stylist in Madison, WI
What is Foilyage?
Foilyage is something that fools (foils) a lot of us. I know a lot of stylists will disagree, but this IS a way of applying color to balayage, the difference? Foilage is applied in a foil, rather than free hand painted. Why? Many reasons! You will get a more defined result isolating the hair in a foil if desired, my main reason for going to foilage over balayage is how much more lightness I can achieve having the hair processed inside a foil. We can use a lower developer so we’re not just busting open the cuticle of our guests hair (with open air processing of highlights you usually want a higher developer so it can get the job done before it dries out), and it will lift higher. So if I’m working with a guest who has previously darker colored hair, or just naturally darker hair that doesn’t lift light easily, I will absolutely get the foils out and ready to go to achieve there desired result.
What is Foilyage? by Mallory Cook – Hair Stylist in Madison, WI
What are Teasy Lights?
Teasy lights means we backcomb the section of hair before painting, foiling, whatever application of highlighting we are using. This will create a super diffused line of demarkation, meaning the line where the highlight starts, for the maximum amount of blending in addition to our sweeping/painting method.
What are Teasy Lights? by Mallory Cook – Hair Stylist in Madison, WI
What are Babylights?
Babylights are done in very fine sections of hair, meant to mimic the multi dimensional color of a baby/toddler. These can be done very close together, or further apart depending on how much impact you want for the color. I love using baby lights to blend gray hairs for my clients that aren’t wanting to commit to an all over solid color. I’ll use two different formula, one a shade or two lighter than their natural, one a shade or two darker than their natural. It creates such natural dimension, it covers and blends those gray hairs right in. I’ll use closer sections in areas where there is more gray.
What are Babylights? by Mallory Cook – Hair Stylist in Madison, WI
What is an Ombré?
Ombré is another fancy word, it’s french for shade, or shadow. So creating a shadow, or richer color at the base of the hair, fading out into lighter ends. This technique can, and has been applied in so many fun, creative ways. We see anything from a subtle medium brown into medium honey blonde ends, from extreme nearly black roots into silvery blonde ends, or more fun, fashion color, applications can be done such as dark blue roots into bold yellow ends. Techniques such as babylighting, teasy lights, and balayage can all be used within an ombré to create a nice blended effect.
What is an Ombre? by Mallory Cook – Hair Stylist in Madison, WI
What are the benefits of these techniques?
The beautiful thing about any of these hair color methods is they are super customizable. Bigger sections will create more of a bold impact, especially around the face this can create a very dramatic sunkissed, vibrant look. or fine sections can be taken for the ultimate natural color results.
A few things to remember or notice.
In any highlight or lightened hair as equally import to those bright pieces is our dark hair/negative space in between so those light pieces pop. If you as a client notice your hair getting to all over bright there’s a few techniques that are life savers to help bring contract back into their hair. Ask your stylist how they can add contrast back in. This makes hair look healthier, shinier, and it just pops color more to have dimension vs a solid color of hair.
- Published in Hair Color, Hair Salon, Trending Hair Styles, Women's Haircuts, Women's Hairstyles
Trending Hair Styles in 2019 – The New Shag
The New Shag Style by Mallory Cook
This is not Kelso’s shag from the 70’s. This is a modern take of a cut that’s finally turning the table on the so sought after blunt cut lob we’ve been looking at the past few years. This new shag style is great for any hair density, thin to thick, this style adds volume, texture, move-ability, and even is a frizz reducing style for my curly girls and guys! For anyone looking to go from a short to long style, the new shag helps reduce extra fullness as your hair grow out.
Styling the new shag is fun and can be very versatile. For added texture created from a blow dry style, use Pureology Style & Protect Beach Waves Sugar Spray, try taking the air concentrator off of your blow dryer and use your fingers to dry to give a natural, soft finish. For curls, try the Pureology Curl Complete Uplifting Curl spray in pretty damp hair, twist curls, scrunch and air dry for a nice beachy feel, diffuse with your hair dryer for a style with extra volume. Finish any of these styles with Pureology Style & Protect Shine Bright Taming Serum to add some polished definition.
To accentuate and modernize the new shag even further, try some balayage highlights, or a dimensional full look of some fun colors. The one unchanged inspiration from this 70s style may be that sapphire blue shag carpet you remember from your grandmas basement. With a deep root color, and this shiny blue sapphire through the lengths, you’ve got a stunning ‘do for 2019!
Trending Hair Styles 2019 – The New Shag – Mallory Cook
70’s Inspiration Blue Shag
Try out the best hair styling products in the industry from Pulp Riot, Pureology, Redken and More
I’d love to show you which products work best for you and your lifestyle. Schedule a haircut, color, product or bridal consultation with me today by contacting me by any of the methods below. I look forward to helping you find “The Right Style For Your Lifestyle!”
Mallory Cook | Hair Stylist | Pulp Riot & Redken Color Specialist | Madison, WI #mmcstyle
- Published in Hair Salon, Trending Hair Styles, Women's Haircuts, Women's Hairstyles
Trending Hair Styles in 2019 – Grown-Out Pixie
The Grown Out Pixie Cut Style by Mallory Cook
This version of a pixie cut is an attainable style for anyone who has always toyed with the idea of a pixie haircut, but still wants some length to help it fit their face shape. This pixie haircut is short on the sides and has different styles of a long, choppy textured top.
Different layering and texturizing techniques on the top make this pixie versatile so it may be styled for any face shape. For a rounder face shape we want to create length, so more volume on top is desired. Wearing the front down into a messy fringe style, helps break up a long face shape.
Recommended Pixie Cut Hair Styling Products
In order to pull off a pixie cut, it typically should be styled every day, even for a messy look. Turn to your products for help, Pureology Style & Protect On The Rise Root Mousse is a great one to add to wet hair and air or blow dry. While your dealing with second day hair, try Redken Powder Grip 03 Hair Powder to re-lift the root area & absorb excess natural oils, then spray in some Pulp Riot Zurich, Light-hold hairspray, to rework your style and hold it in place.
Add Color to Grown Out Pixie Cut Style
For Pixie Cut color, the look of the bleached out pixie cut is not going anywhere out of style. Ask your stylist what tone of blonde is right for your skin tone, from ashy-silvery blonde, rose gold, or bright vibrant blonde with a slight golden hue, these tones can work this what could be harsh style work on anyone. Use an at home care plan recommended by your stylist, Pulp Riot Barcelona Toning Shampoo, purple shampoo, is one that can help keep unwanted yellow tones in your blonde at bay. It’s also very cool when a bleach blonde pixie cut is grown out after about a month, rock the rooted look until the roots are too long, this is very cool and adds tons of depth and dimension to your short crop.
Trending Hair Styles 2019 – Grown Out Pixie Cut & Style
Try out the best hair styling products in the industry from Pulp Riot, Pureology, Redken and More
I’d love to show you which products work best for you and your lifestyle. Schedule a haircut, color, product or bridal consultation with me today by contacting me by any of the methods below. I look forward to helping you find “The Right Style For Your Lifestyle!”
Mallory Cook | Hair Stylist | Pulp Riot & Redken Color Specialist | Madison, WI #mmcstyle | Online Booking
- Published in Hair Salon, Trending Hair Styles, Women's Haircuts, Women's Hairstyles
Trending Hair Styles in 2019 – Curtain Bangs
The Curtain Bangs by Mallory Cook
Brigitte Bardot inspired Curtain Bangs have been a sought after retro trend recently, and it is sticking around for 2019. This is a style where if you’ve been considering bangs is a great place to start, not only are they totally modern, but extremely low maintenance & low commitment bangs compared to other styles.
A couple of perks to the curtain bang is it elongates a face shape, and you can style them in a cinch! It’s recommended to comb the bangs straight down to the front when your hair is freshly wet and clean out of the shower. Let them dry in this natural position, then part them in the middle when dry, and hit them with a quick couple of sprays of a light-medium hold spray to set them on the sides to help for the curtain bangs style.
Recommended Hair Styling Product for Curtain Bangs – Redken Fashion Work 12
Redken Fashion Work 12 Hairspray is an amazing hair style product for Curtain Bangs. Fashion Work 12 is a medium control hairspray that flawlessly shapes and finishes any hairstyle with control and long-lasting color protection. This professional formula features Vitamin C and E as a hair protectant.
What It Is
Medium control versatile working aerosol spray for all hair types featuring Spray-Strong Complex.
What It Does
- Versatile formula for working, shaping and finishing styles flawlessly.
- Fast-drying, fine-mist.
- 24-hour humidity resistance and 8-hour control.
- Vitamins C and E protect hair and help prevent color fade.
Redken’s Hairspray line was designed to offer hairstylists the full array of products for every client and every occasion, from fashion week to the red carpet. With varying levels of hold and an assortment of working and finishing sprays, this product line will give you the tools to perfect and lock in an amazing Curtain Bangs look.
Mallory Cook – Hair Style Trends 2019 – Curtain Bangs
Try out the best hair styling products in the industry from Pulp Riot, Pureology, Redken and More
I’d love to show you which products work best for you and your lifestyle. Schedule a haircut, color, product or bridal consultation with me today by contacting me by any of the methods below. I look forward to helping you find “The Right Style For Your Lifestyle!”
Mallory Cook | Hair Stylist | Pulp Riot & Redken Color Specialist | Madison, WI #mmcstyle
- Published in Hair Salon, Trending Hair Styles, Women's Haircuts, Women's Hairstyles
Trending Hair Styles in 2019 – Long, Wispy Layers
Long, Wispy Layers Hair Style by Mallory Cook
Ready to grow out or transition from that blunt, non-layered haircut from last year? This is the style change you need. Cutting in long layers is an easy way to soften your hair, and add some framing and shape around your face to switch it up. Cutting long layers in a haircut helps to create movement, without losing the desired length; therefore, really a great style for any hair types. For fine hair, keeping the layers to a minimum is key to keep the hair from looking too thin.
Ask your stylist which method of texturizing your layers is best for your hair type and how you like to style your hair.
Add a Color Service to your new Long Wispy Hair Style
Looking for a color change to go along with your added long layers? A mixture of babylight and balayage highlights around the face and sporadically through the ends will also help to define the layers, while adding dimension and interest to your hair.
Using different products, such as Pureology Style & Protect Wind Tossed Texture Spray to blow dried, or air dried hair, can help accentuate your added in layers. Add instant texture, movement and radiant shine to your hair with this lightweight, texture spray styling product for color-treated hair. You can either pick up this product at my location in Madison, WI before you book or at the time of your appointment, I can also ship directly to you!
Pureology Style & Protect Wind Tossed Texture Spray
Benefits
- Lightweight texture spray formula
- Sunflower Seed Extract adds shine without weighing hair down
- Protects from heat, pollution and UV rays
- 100% vegan
- AntiFade Complex® protects hair color
Mallory Cook – 2019 Trends – Long Wispy Hair Style
Try out the best hair styling products in the industry from Pulp Riot, Pureology, Redken and More
I’d love to show you which products work best for you and your lifestyle. Schedule a haircut, color, product or bridal consultation with me today by contacting me by any of the methods below. I look forward to helping you find “The Right Style For Your Lifestyle!”
Mallory Cook | Hair Stylist | Pulp Riot & Redken Color Specialist | Madison, WI #mmcstyle | Book Online
- Published in Hair Salon, Trending Hair Styles, Women's Haircuts, Women's Hairstyles
Trending Hair Styles in 2019 – Bob With Bangs
Bob With Bangs Style by Mallory Cook
Still loving your bob haircut, but desiring it to feel new again? Have your stylist cut you some bangs! Changing the framing around your face in a haircut elevates and modernizes your haircut instantly.
Keep in mind where you part your hair and if you have cowlicks around your hairline when picking a style of bangs. If you like to style your bob with bangs with a deep side part, some kind of asymmetrical fringe is highly recommended. If you part more centered, a full across bang, whether straight and blunt cut, curved, or a textured fringe style will work well for you.
Recommended Styling & Product For Bob With Bangs Hair Style
Styling bangs only adds a minute to two to your beautifying routing. From wet hair, blow dry your new bob with bangs hair style side to side using a paddle brush, especially in a straight across fringe this will help knock out any cowlicks around the hairline. If your working with second or third day hair, you can refresh the bangs by spritzing them with Redken Iron Shape, and go back over with your blow dryer and paddle brush, brushing the bangs side to side to reset them in the right position.
- Protects hair from heat up to 450 degrees
- Perfect with flat irons or curling irons
- Lightweight formula feels clean on hair
- No buildup on hot tools
- Adds shine and reduces frizz
Mist lightly as you take small sections of hair to flatiron or curl. This will give you the most precise results and high-shine.
Trending Hair Styles 2019 – Bob With Bangs – Mallory Cook
Try out the best hair styling products in the industry from Pulp Riot, Pureology, Redken and More
I’d love to show you which products work best for you and your lifestyle. Schedule a haircut, color, product or bridal consultation with me today by contacting me by any of the methods below. I look forward to helping you find “The Right Style For Your Lifestyle!”
Mallory Cook | Hair Stylist | Pulp Riot & Redken Color Specialist | Madison, WI #mmcstyle | Online Booking
- Published in Hair Salon, Trending Hair Styles, Women's Haircuts, Women's Hairstyles
