The Right Shades for AirTouch Ah, sweet reader, the Right Shades for AirTouch, there came a day when our mighty hair ruled us, and we fell short of taming it. But lo and behold, a savior stepped in – AirTouch – a sorcery skill as alluring as the name. Born in the distant land of Russia, this knight in shining foil armed with a blow dryer came for one reason and one reason only: to impart the sun-kissed, naturally highlighted look that we have to have! Stay with me, dear reader. But what is the story behind this glorious technique, you ask? Well, a brilliant mind pondered – ‘Why not use air to separate the hair?’. And Voila, AirTouch was born. A step into the future where hair strands trembled at the wave of a blow-dryer, willingly giving up their place for a perfect highlight. Born out of necessity or pure genius, this technique turned traditional highlighting methods into fashion’s primitive ancestors. And that, my hair enthusiast friend, is AirTouch. It is a worthy ally in the seemingly never-ending process of hair coloring. It makes you want to rip out your old dye boxes, doesn’t it? Well, hold your horses—we’re just getting started! Gearing up: Tools needed for AirTouch Okay, so you’ve decided to be an AirTouch Hipster, huh? Well, get ready to stock your arsenal with some snazzy tools. My favorite is the Balayage board. Like a magic wand, it keeps everything in place, shielding your precious layers from the savage gusts of the air blow. Fun fact, “Balayage” is a fancy French term that translates to “sweeping.” Very poetic, right? It even sounds swanky when you say it. Now, not to be a Debbie downer, but beware of chunky slices. If you grab a Hulk-sized section, your blow-dryer might morph into a Hulk itself, and wouldn’t that be a hair-raising situation? Remember! It’s called AirTouch, not AirSmack. Since we are brand-dropping, I must shout out to my ever-dependable, the pin curl clips. Lightweight and loyal, these beauties keep the previous foil from flap-flap-flapping around. And here’s an insider tip for you: use a tremendous gush of air, not hot, and for God’s sake, keep the volume down near the hairline. Now, talking about brands, “Foilmance” *chuckles* makes some pretty cool foils. Or you can opt for the elegant edition from “Silver Luxe.” And if you’ve got an abundant mane or are an aspiring Rapunzel, ensure your foils are long enough, or you’ll end up with noodle hair. Watch these steps, folks; don’t say we didn’t warn you! Understanding Hair Science: Part and parcel of AirTouch Ah, hair science is synonymous with walking barefoot on a Lego. When you thought only rocket science was puzzling, ta-da, we have a newcomer: hair science. But worry not, my dear readers, for I promise not to let the jargon and terminologies blindside you. First, let’s discuss our hair’s anatomy: We’ve got the medulla, the cortex, and the cuticle. No, we are not describing an onion, but these layers play host to a tiny thing called Melanin thrones. Your hair color? Yep, these melanin guys call the shots. Now we play some magic! To biologically vandalize your God-given hair color, we introduce bleach. This corrosive fellow swims into the hair shaft holds melanin by its collar, and, poof, it’s colorless. It’s like spilling bleach on your favorite black t-shirt, but you’re doing it on purpose this time. Fear not; the bleach is as innocent as a lamb in small quantities. But let’s not be too friendly. Overly bleached hair can resemble uncooked ramen noodles. It’s hilarious on a plate but not on your head. The rule of the game is that the darker the hair is, the more elbow-greasing it is and potentially more bleach. Remember, we are just politically incorrect hair chemists trying to turn your noggin into a masterpiece. Step-by-step guide to selecting the right shade Welcome to the swirling world of hair coloring! You might think that with a magical tool (a hair dryer, who’d have thought!) and some wizard-rich-mostly-white potion (the bleach!), you could wave your wand and ‘poof’! Your hair would transform into a golden magic carpet ride. However, there’s a bit more ‘abracadabra’ involved in this. Choosing the right shade for AirTouch, ladies and gentlemen, isn’t as simple as saying “eeny, meeny, miny, moe.” Our first task in this daunting yet delightful ordeal is dividing the task according to hair zones. Treat your hair like the land it is. It needs zoning! Each zone requires its unique care and color choreography. Wouldn’t you color the fertile valleys of Zone One the same way as the desert plateaus of Zone Three? Once that’s sorted out, it’s time to comprehend the mysterious melodies of tonal variances. Look, we’ve all been there, adrift in the hairdresser’s chair, looking like a deer in headlights when queried, “What tone would you like your hair to be, Madam?” Honey-blonde? Ash-blonde? Golden? Silver? Friction-purple-helium-unicorn, some off-menu choice? Panic over, folks! Mastering tonal variances is as easy as banging a gong if you focus on their subtle differences. Remember, matching the tone with your skin type and desired style is how you become the Picasso of your tress-tapestry.’ Getting the color lift right is as vital as the wings of an eagle. If you lift too little, it will look like you rolled face-first into some half-cooked bread crumbs. Too much lift can make you resemble an atomic popcorn or, even worse, a boiled carrot. Soaring to the proper levels of lift is instrumental for acquiring that elite, eye-catching look while keeping your hair as healthy as a horse. Pulling off the perfect AirTouch is not just about showing up and hoping for the best. It’s about arming yourself with knowledge, honing your skills, and trusting your stylist to launch your locks into sunny shades of gloriousness! So gear up with your gloves, ready your wands, and let the magic flow! Wishing you a...