Hair color dictionary: customer-hairdresser; hairdresser-customer

Hair colors and coloring techniques

You sit in the barber’s chair, surrounded by shiny scissors, fragrant hairspray, and the soothing sound of blow drying. The hairdresser smiles and asks, “How can I help you?” You think for a moment and say with a firm voice: “I’d like a Vollagé!”

Uh-huh? The hairdresser looks at you like he’s suddenly got spontaneous diarrhea. A full what? He raises an eyebrow and asks, “Excuse me, what do you want?”

“Well, a full Vollagé! So, soft streaks.” “…Do you mean balayage? Or was it foilyage?”

This is where the big misunderstanding begins. Suddenly you feel like a tourist in a foreign country whose words are not understood. Don’t worry, we’ll save your next haircut by breaking down the most important hair color techniques!

Balayage

– Freehand technique: Your hairdresser creates with brush and color cream.
– Soft transitions: The result? Natural-looking highlights that gently reflect the light.
– Naturalness: Perfect for those who want movement in their hair and a touch of sunshine.
– Maintenance required: Requires the right styling routine, otherwise it can quickly look “meh”.

Airtouch technik
Airtouch technik

AirTouch

– Color + Air (Hairdryer): Here, the color is distributed using air – really! Only the shortest hairs remain dark.
– Effect: Ultra soft and elegant.
– Investment: Yes, it takes time and therefore costs a bit more, but the result is worth every penny.

Foilyage

– Balayage + foil: The magic of the foil provides more brightening.
– Power and statement: More bang, less “I am the natural one here”.
– Perfect for anyone who wants to go lighter but doesn’t want classically highlighted hair.

Highlights (classic)

– Foil, structure, control: Here everything is meticulously planned and precisely implemented.
– Smooth & clear: Ideal for a perfect hairline or when the gray returns.
– Solid craftsmanship: No trendy fluff, but solid craftsmanship.

Not every technique suits every head of hair. And none of them will guarantee the perfect look if your idea is “all” there. Come with a concrete idea and tell your professional what you want: How light, how soft, how much effort are you willing to invest? The more you tell your hairdresser, the better the result.

and

Clay Blond… how not to do it.

Clay Blond

Social media loves effects. And right now, it loves one thing in particular:

People who tilt their heads back and pour bleach over their heads like thick cement. A little wipe, some back-and-forth smacking – the supposed wow look is done…At least in the video.

This technique may shine on the internet, but in real life, you’ll fail miserably

Sure, it all looks spectacular on the screen. The mass shines, the camera lens dances, and the algorithm cheers. Direct route to the cover!

But reality?

The regrowth looks like a zebra stripe, the lightening is uneven, and the result is hardly practical for everyday life. Not to mention the wasteful product consumption: half the bleach ends up in the towel, on the floor, or trickles slowly down towards the earlobe. Sustainable? Absolutely not.

And that is exactly the core of the problem:

It’s all about more: more show than technique, more consistency than concept, more hair coloring on the floor than in the hair. If you’re celebrating it optically: Congratulations, you have too much money and no idea. If you’re upset about the rough transitions and blotchy textures after four weeks: My condolences.

The clay-blonding trend is not new

Clay products (thick, blonding products based on clay) were originally developed to make freehand techniques like balayage more controlled. So for stylists who know how product volume, departmental technique, and temperature behavior harmonize.

What works differently in professional hands

A professional lightening treatment – whether classic, clay, or high-end technology – includes:

1. Analysis of the original hair: porosity, prior treatments, natural tone level, color history. Without analysis: casino.

2. Precise sections: To ensure even lightening and smooth transitions.

3. Control over product quantity & consistency: Professionals know where clay makes sense and where it doesn’t.

4. Exact exposure time & constant monitoring: Bleaching develops – and must be observed. A lounger and a phone trick won’t do that.

5. Gentle after-treatment & toning: So that the result is not only bright, but also beautiful. Professional lightening is based on technique, knowledge, and experience – not on spectacular camera angles and viral effects.

Professional blonde

SO: Don’t do it like in the video – do it right

If you’re serious about a beautiful, healthy, and sustainable blonde, you shouldn’t just blindly copy trends and slather bleach on your head, but rather find someone who knows what they’re doing.

Social media shows you effects. Professionals deliver results.