Lighten Up! Summer Hair Color Secrets

Actress Jenn O'Dell in Marco Pelusi's chair getting her lighter summer color.

Leave it to me to go against the grain when it comes to seasonal hair color. While most people are going lighter, I have decided to deepen my brown into a richer brunette. I have always had something for tanned skin, green eyes and darker hair. However, just because I have deepened my color, I do believe that lightening up for summer is fun, flirty and if you can pull it off...go for it! As I sat in the chair with my color processing my colorist, Marco and I got to talking about summer hair color, and then joking about my departure from it.

When it comes to wearing summer color and caring for a lighter brighter do, here's what Marco has to say...

"It’s summertime, and most people like to wear lighter, brighter colors in their hair – even you guys out there may wish to go a bit lighter. Oftentimes a lighter coppery red or reddish tone is a great choice to add into your color during summertime. A color change such as adding red or lighter colors sometimes seems to fade more quickly than the regular blonde or brunette color that has already been done. As a general note, any kind of red color is the first to fade, because red contains the largest dye molecules.

Whether you’re a redhead, blonde or brunette, if you are going even a bit lighter/redder, you should always ask your stylist/colorist what he/she could do to prevent hair from premature color fade. This may include leaving the color on a bit longer or mixing up separate formulas for the base, mid-shaft and ends. Be sure to ask if he/she is doing a typical “pull through” or using a fresh color formula. Ask if the formula will be on the mid-shaft and ends and for how long.

Actress and Entrepreneur Lana Antanova brightened her blonde at the hands of Marco.

Along the same lines, when you go lighter and/or redder during summertime, you may opt for eyebrow tone or eyelash tone to be adjusted to match the new color. It is definitely possible to tint either or both, and this is a procedure I recommend to complete the total look. Eyebrow and eyelash tinting is very easy to do but I do recommend going to a salon rather than doing it yourself to ensure that your color is in sync and to ensure safety. For eyebrows, it’s about a 15-20 minute process. For eyelashes, again, it’s an easy procedure that takes approximately 20 minutes. The color lasts between three and four weeks and fades gradually on-tone.

During summer, should you choose to lighten your previously color treated hair, you need to prevent your hair from becoming dry, especially at the ends. As a general rule, you don’t need to shampoo as often which will help retain your haircolor for a longer period of time. The longer the hair is, the older the hair is, the more dimensions and levels of color and chemicals are on the hair. Longer hair doesn’t have the benefit of sebum or hair oils produced at the scalp that keep the hair shaft healthy and shiny.

It is important to not over shampoo the hair because it dries out the hair shaft. All you really need to do is shampoo your scalp and let the shampoo rinse down the ends. Always remember that shampoo is for the scalp and conditioning is for the ends. When you condition, you need to allow time with the conditioner on the ends of your hair. The concept is just like moisturizing your skin."

Marco has his own line of hair care that promises to protect and rejuvenate color treated hair. Marco™ Collagen Color Guard™ HairCare System is the first and only complete collagen system exclusively developed for color and chemically treated hair. The system is specifically formulated to prevent premature color fade and create the most positive, therapeutic environment for the hair and scalp. My favorite products are the marco anti-frizz leave in conditioner and the collagen foam available exclusively at Marco’s studio or at Marie Mason Apothecary in Santa Monica, CA.