I often receive emails about how I colour my hair, which is extremely flattering, so thank you very much! My natural hair is a mousey brown (I think… it’s been a while since I’ve seen it!) and I love being blonde so I only get my hair professionally coloured.
Last time I was in the chair of my fabulous colourist, Stevie Corthine of Stevie English Hair, I found out what he really does to my hair.
Here are some shots of fresh colour in my hair over the last few months.
I first met Stevie on Twitter last year, and went to him after hearing about his great colour skills. I liked that his salon uses Original & Mineral ammonia free colour. I told him I wanted to stay light so, poor guy, he didn’t have a lot of scope to play.
Speaking of play, ‘Team English’ as the salon team is known, is so much fun. They are a young, forward thinking salon and have a great energy. I love going in to the salon and you can tell the staff do too. There is a relaxed vibe, but the team works hard and there’s a stong focus on education. But back to the hair…
Stevie says getting the colour right “really is a fine balance” and too much bleach will puff out my wavy/curly hair and make it go frizzy. He’s thoughtful too, he knows I want to be blonde, but I’m busy and don’t have time for lots of salon visits, so he hasn’t taken my colour too light to minimise obvious regrowth.
My hair is coloured with foil highlights, alternating two blondes – a creamy blonde and a golden blonde – then a colour close to my natural colour. Stevie says: “where you weave the colour makes a difference, and getting as close to the root as possible is important to achieve longevity of colour.”
I wear my hair up a lot, with my Twist & Pin hairstyles, so Stevie alternately applies a full head then a ¾ head of foils. Normally you would only need to do a half head and a full head on every third visit, depending on your colour. Stevie always includes a natural tone when he adds highlights “so you get that light and shade that hair naturally has. Hair looks more natural, and even when you don’t want it to look natural, it adds more dimension.”
Stevie says “I can do anything to hair if the quality is there.” Take that as a challenge and give him a real test at Stevie English Hair in Glebe, and coming soon to Bondi Junction.
Sarah says
Hi love your colour work from Stevie but what’s about your cut? Desperate in Sydney for a curly cut! Thanks heaps.
Hair Romance says
Hi Sarah, go see Alex at Stevie English, he specialises in curly cuts 🙂
Sara says
I would like to ask you some advise on my hair, my Base is a 5, and has highlights at shade 7 and 8. If wanted to put some low lights do you think 6.0 or 6 Base would work well over coloured hair Base 7.
Hair Romance says
Hi Sara, I’m not really qualified to comment as it depends on so many factors such as the brand of colour and how your hair has been coloured before. You could always do a test patch to see if you’re happy with the result x
Kylie says
Your colour is gorgeous, but your salon is a bit far for us Melbournites to try out! Have you ever posted any articles about going brunette to blonde? My natural colour is a dark, mousy blonde/light brown and I’ve been having it coloured a chocolate colour for a while now. Would love to lighten up a little, but am a little apprehensive about it. Do you have any tips?
Hair Romance says
That’s such a great idea for a post Kylie! It’s best to go blonde over a few salon visits. Start with highlights or balayage and work up to full blonde. You can do it in one go but it takes a toll on your hair. I’ll put a full post together with tips x
Samantha says
I would love to know how often one should get colour done. Do you have any posts on that? I know with foiling it might possibly be different than a full permanent colour (which is what I have in my hair). I just went way darker and I am in love with it! I don’t know that I’ll ever go back, so I want to make sure I get it coloured often enough to be fresh and beautiful. Thanks for your post! Your hair colour is gorgeous.
Hair Romance says
Thanks Samantha, good question – normally I colour about every six weeks but I’ll post about it too
Fiona :: Acumen Creative says
Stevie does a great job on your hair, the colour is stunning 🙂
Hair Romance says
Thanks Fiona x
Jenny Leigh says
OK- this is a first for me. You met your hairdresser on Twitter??!!!
That is too funny. I love the thought of it and it sounds like he has a great
reputation. So cool. And he does do good work – gorgeous color! Is he an educator?
Thanks
http://www.jennyleighsblog.blogspot.com
Hair Romance says
Haha yes, I never thought about how funny that sounds! Stevie is always on Twitter and has a great reputation. He travels and does a lot of education for the O&M, as well as weekly education for his staff.
nina says
Hi
May I ask if you can ask your hairdresser exactly what colours he is applying, I m very nosey,lol
And when he does a 3/4 of hair do you mean he does all around the hairlines and then a T bar or?
Hair Romance says
No problem Nina, I’ll update the post once I have some details from him. I’ll clarify with him but I think 3/4 head means he does everywhere except the small section at the back of my head below my ears. He still adds a few foils at my lower hairline so I can wear my hair up.
Hair Romance says
Hi Nina – so Stevie says PI6% 12/11 12% 60 wc 916 9% – that makes no sense to me but do you understand what he means? You can always tweet him @StevieEnglish if you need more details
loulou says
Hi Christina
a gorgeous post with such clear photos and definition of your hair.
I want to jump through the screen and touch your hair (it’s ok – I’ll stay here don’t worry 🙂
have a wonderful day
x Loulou
Hair Romance says
haha thanks Loulou!