21 Dec Salon Zephyrs A-Z of Hair Techniques

(Please note this is updated regularly with new hair trends and techniques so you stay in the Hair know!)

Asymmetric cut is a haircut in which the hair is cut in such a way that the hair does not have left-right symmetry and one side is cut or appears to be longer than the other. It is a versatile hairstyle with many sub-variations.

Balayage – a technique for highlighting hair in which the dye is painted on in such a way as to create a graduated, natural-looking effect.

Babylight – This is a highlighted look that creates tiny subtle highlights that resemble the sun-kissed highlights you’d get around your hairline in the summertime.  They get their delicate appearance due to the very small amounts of lightened hair that are placed in each foil.

Caesar Cut  – Named after the Roman Emperor Caesar Tiberius, this is a hairstyle with short, horizontally straight cut bangs. The hair is layered to around 2–5 cm all over.

Chunking   – This is a highlighting technique that lightens or darkens large chunks of hair to create a strong contrast.  Think 90’s Cindy Crawford and you’ll get the picture!

Disconnection – This type of cut features dramatic length changes in the hair. Cuts such as the “Mullet” (with its short top and sides and long nape area) and even the “Mohawk” would be considered examples of a disconnected haircut.

Ecaille is French for tortoiseshell and is a multi-dimensional hair colour that combines Sombre and Balayage techniques and uses a colour palette of caramels, golden blondes, chestnuts and chocolates. Similar to an Ombre technique, the root area is coloured slightly darker than the natural colour, while hair at the ends is lighter. Then a hair painting technique is used to create different tones in the hair.

Frosting is another highlighting technique that often creates a slat and pepper effect.  It looks to blend with natural hair colour, so if you are after low maintenance this technique is for you.

Hair highlighting/low lighting is changing a person’s hair colour, using lightener or hair colour to colour hair strands. There are four basic types of highlights: foil highlights, hair painting, frosting, and chunking. Highlights can be done in natural or unnatural colours.

Graduation is a haircutting technique where weight is built up within the shape or the external line.  So if you have naturally thin hair and want to make it appear full – go the graduation. Graduation can be performed at any length, however, at longer lengths, the results can be more diffused.

Gloss Colour is a gentle, ammonia-free semi-permanent alternative to a permanent colour.  If you already have coloured hair, applying a gloss can help maintain your hair colour, correct brassiness and deepen or tone down colour. It is a great in-betweener colour service if you have an event mid-appointment cycle and just want some extra shine or tone.

Lowlights use the same application technique as a highlight, but uses darker tones rather tan lighter tones.

LOB is an abbreviation of a Long Bob. The lob is cut just above the shoulders or just below.

Peroxide is the bleach we use to lighten hair – full name is ‘hydrogen peroxide’, hence the phrase ‘peroxide blonde’.  The process of bleaching penetrates the hair shaft and removes the natural pigment of the hair.  Depending on the porosity, density and existing colour pigment in your hair, bleaching can be quite quick or take some time.  Repeat bleaching can take its toll on the condition of your hair.  Your Stylists will advise you the process and ensure your expectations are managed.  Oh, and OLAPLEX! (Scroll down to ‘O’)

Splashlights are a bold colour technique that involves the painting of bleach streaks across your hair and dyes the sections above and below it in a colour similar to your natural shade. The result is a head-turning halo of colour that works with any length.

Shag is the opposite to a blunt/precision cut, with no harsh lines and no defining layer.

Toners can change your life.  They can neutralise yellow and orange tones on blonde hair and create personalisation through magical combinations created by your colourist.  If you think blonde doesn’t suit you, you may have never had the right tonal variant.  If you think all coppers are ginger, you haven’t experienced a Zephyr blush tone.

Olaplex is a repairing hair treatment that is applied in salon and then give to you to take home to carry on the good work! It is the original “bond building” treatment that can fix damaged hair, particularly from excessive bleach.  There is a whole tonne of science behind hair bonds but take our word for it.  GAME. CHANGE

Ombré is the gradual blending of one color hue to another, usually moving tints and shades from light to dark.

RONZE is a new take on the redhead.  As the name would suggest, it is a blend of coppery red and bronze, making it a particularly striking, vibrant hue. It is a really wearable colour for multiple skin tones because of the blend of warm (coppery red) and cool (bronze) colors.

Sombre is Ombrés softer little sister. An even more subtle blend of one colour into another.