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5 Signs of a Great Hair Colorist

by Marissa Gold (Subscribe to Marissa Gold's posts)
Posted Mar 15th 2010 at 5:30PM  
31 Comments
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Trust is key at the hair salon. Photo: Getty Images

Midway through my first visit to Reyad Fritas at Frederic Fekkai, I peered into the mirror to admire my head full of Saran-wrapped highlights. When we both remarked that we'd probably just discovered Lady Gaga's next look, I knew Fritas would be a down to earth guy I could trust with my hair. Plus, the fact that he'd been recommended to me by multiple industry insiders didn't hurt.

We segued naturally into critiquing Hollywood hair we liked and disliked -- a big part of both of our jobs. I learned that Reyad was jetting to L.A. after my appointment to "touch up Heidi's hair," (that's Klum, to you) and regularly attends star-packed parties with famous pals like Graydon Carter. I was definitely relaxed to know that major celebs trust their locks to Fritas, but it wasn't until I saw the end results of his handiwork that I truly knew I was in good hands.

Now, I haven't always been in such good hands. In fact, I've had my hair broken off by bleach, burned off by a blow-dryer, and many more mishaps than I care to remember. How is it, I asked, that stars like Gwen Stefani and Lady Gaga can change their hair so often, bleach it within an inch of its life, and still have strands left to work with? Fritas responded by giving me some great advice (and a fabulous new hair color) and I officially formed a checklist in my head of signs of a great colorist. If you don't have access to some of NYC's best experts like Fritas, here's how to tell if you've found a keeper:

5 signs of a great colorist:

1. He/she lets your hair's health inform all color decisions.
I had spent a year growing out my bleached-out, burnt-out hair, and thought I was ready to go back to blonde. Fritas nixed the idea, examining my hair closely and noticing that I still had some areas with breakage that wouldn't tolerate the bleach. Your colorist should never agree to anything without assessing your hair's current state, and factoring in how it will appear post-treatment.

2. He/she actually uses the products he recommends.
A salon will always recommend its own product line, but asking the stylists which products they use on their own hair is a great way to suss out the true winners. Stylist Lindsay Block loves the Fekkai Ageless All Day Hair Plump, which plumps up damaged cuticles with moisture, leading to thicker, healthier hair over time. The shampoo girls love the Fekkai Ageless Crème Luxe Hair Treatment, which improves the condition of weak, damaged strands. And Fritas likes the Fekkai Technician Color Care Mask to reactivate your shade and keep it fresh between appointments.

3. He/she gives you low-maintenance highlights.
If you don't want to come in for frequent touch-ups, your colorist should create a look that fits your lifestyle. Luckily for me, Fritas is an expert at Balayage, a technique of hand-painting individual highlights instead of wrapping multiple pieces at a time in foil. The results are more woven-in and natural-looking, which means less obvious roots and more time between touch-ups. If you can find someone with a natural knack for the technique (this is half the battle) ask your stylist to focus the brightest color on the ends of your hair, gradually darkening toward the roots. The effect is very Gisele-like, and is a great way to brighten up your hair without worrying about roots.

4. He/she provides tips for color care.
The shampoo girls confirmed what I've been suspecting for years: Don't wash your hair for at least 2-3 days after a color appointment to let the dye really grab onto the hair. Since color fades slighting every time you wet your hair, this gives your color a fighting chance to lock on.

5. He/she doesn't give you a carbon copy of a celebrity's hair.
Aside from the fact that a celebrity's color or style may not look the same on you, there's another big reason not to request a carbon copy: Celebrities wear wigs. Chances are, when you see a star with long, flowy waves or a crazy, artistically sculpted style, a wig (or at least a hair piece) is at work.
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Filed under: Hair, Celebrity, Celebrity Hair
Tags: balayage, frederic fekkei, FredericFekkei, hair basics, hair color, hair cut, HairBasics, HairColor, HairCut, highlights, reyad fritas, ReyadFritas
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READER COMMENTS

(31)Add A Comment

marldad, 3-16-2010, 4:01PM

Half a star vote downvote upReport
marldad

Working as an esthetician I always have women asking what they can do about their wrinkles. I always tell them about ResDermatrol ( Http://tr.im/AntiAgingSerum ) which is America's number one anti-aging cream. It erases wrinkles and lip lines, reduces under eye circles, and boosts collagen production. It's much better, safer, and less expensive than Botox. They always come back to tell me how great it is and how much younger they look. It’s a great product and I back it up 100%.

Reply »

Chris, 3-16-2010, 4:12PM

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Chris

One day last summer I took my two adult daughters to the movies. When they told me how much the tickets cost it seemed to be on the low side to me. I paid what they asked for and forgot about it. The next morning when I was cleaning out my purse I found the receipt from the night before. I was horrified to see that they charged me for two adults and one senior citizen. I was only 55! I looked in the mirror and sure enough, I looked older than my age. I decided at that moment that I was going to have some cosmetic surgery. I reached out to an acquaintance who obviously had some work done. She told me that the reason she looked so much younger was not because of surgery but because of some amazing cream she found called LifeCell ( Http://tr.im/FlawlessSkin ) I really thought she was covering up for her surgery so I started asking around about LifeCell and I found out that many dermatologists are hailing it as the most potent needle-free skin care treatment available to science. Studies have shown it prevents "cell damage linked to facial aging and wrinkles" I have to tell you that 7 months later I look like a new woman. I have been getting compliments like I never got in my life before.

Reply »

Belle, 3-26-2010, 9:24PM

2.5 stars vote downvote upReport
Belle

This is the same post (verbatim) I read in another story a couple of weeks ago. Would you spammers PLEASE stop touting your products on these sites? Not only is it tacky and in poor taste, but it's also extremely annoying to keep seeing all of these "freebie ads" in the comment sections. Keep your comments relevant to the story, not as an ad for what ever you are trying to sell. Geez, enough already!

»

Carol, 3-16-2010, 5:39PM

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Carol

The only stylist I go to is located in my small hometown. She doesn't have a fancy shop and I doubt she has ever touched a celebs hair, but she is the only person I trust with my hair. I've been going to her for about 15 years. She follows the advice mentioned in this article. She sticks to tried and true advice and will not let you get some crazy celeb haircut, especially if it doesn't match your face shape. I think the best thing about her since she is privately owned is you can know her and she can know you on a personal basis. I avoid salon chains because you don't always get the same people each time.

Reply »

Frederick, 3-21-2010, 2:27PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Frederick

I only use Khiel's since 1851;they have a great sunflower oil shampoo and conditioner for color-treated hair. I have used it on my color (which is shades EQ by Redken,another L'Oreal product) and it keeps my brunette color longer than using a different type of shampoo. I use Khiel's since 1996,and I look a least 20 yrs younger than most people my age. I say use products that work,but not to use products that are expensive. Khiel's has been reasonably priced for years;you can find them at Bergdorf's,Barney's,Neiman's,Nordstrom and Saks as well as their website. I also stay with blond highlights; accidently went auburn one time years ago,and I looked AWFUL!! Your skin tone determines whether or not certain colors are attractive and that you can use. I look GREAT not only as a highlighted blonde,but also as a deep brunette because of my skintone, which has a red undertone. Darker skintones can go deeper red or auburn shades and make them work for themselves. A good colorist knows this;it is good for someone who goes to the trade shows to update their skills in the latest trends and color treatments. The woman who does my hair does this;I trust her with my life!! After all,I have been going to her for over 10 years!!

»

Andre Nizetich, 3-22-2010, 9:45AM

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Andre Nizetich

I am president of the American Board of Certified Haircolorists. To be part of this organization you have to pass a very strigent examination. If you want to find a great haircolorist go to HAIRCOLORIST.COM and look one up. I'm not saying we are the best in the world, but you can't pass this examination unless you know haircolor. I am not the least bit impressed with celebrity haircolorists. There are some great ones like the haircolorist who does Jennifer Anniston and Goldie Hawn, so many of them really over color nad their haircolors do not look natural. I think coloring hair for a movie is tough, you really have to know your colors. The scene can be minutes apart in the movie but to shoot it took months. Keeping the colors look uniform is tough. Check out Cameron Diaz in "What Happens in Vegas", a perfect example of keeping the color uniform for the entire shoot. I can tell you this, there are some really talented, caring, educated haircolorists out there. Do not chase a celebrity haircolorist.

»

SailorKnightWing, 3-16-2010, 5:46PM

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SailorKnightWing

Does anyone elsee find it odd that all three of the stylists listed use Fekkai products? Don't get me wrong, my mom and I use Fekkai and love it to death, but it just seems kind of unlikely that all three of the stylists asked use the same brand.

Reply »

Nancy, 3-16-2010, 5:56PM

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Nancy

Read the article, They work in Fekkai's salon.

»

H!s G!rl Fr!day, 3-21-2010, 7:58PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
H!s G!rl Fr!day

The writer of this, was AT Fekkai's, so yeah actually, it IS likely.

»

Hey Kris!!, 3-16-2010, 11:52PM

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Hey Kris!!

Ok so most of this article is true, its common sense. I'm a hairstylist myself and the only thing that bothered me about this article is the don't wash for 2 to 3 days to let the color molecules bond haha thats some bs and its def. called color not dye. This is pretty much it, the color will work for up to the time is states on the package, yes ours even comes in a package, usually 35 minutes. After that it is done changing, when they are rinsing the color out, if they rinse it out all the way before shampooing (the water will be clear). Then you wash twice and condition. The rinsing is the most important part, it closes the cuticle Once the cuticle is closed you can wash every day if you'd like. Think of it like this the cuticle is the shingles on a roof, if they are down your roof/ ceilings stay dry if not they get damaged. The other thing that got me sorry people, but yes we do fib and tell you we use the brand our shop sells so you will buy from us we do get commission off that also.

Reply »

Angeleyes, 3-21-2010, 2:51PM

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Angeleyes

I'm 61 and I can say for a fact that not washing your hair for AT LEAST 24 hours works great and gives you a much brighter color. The color actually gets more blond in the next few days after coloring, it's no bs! Also, not washing everyday helps the hair stay moist and healthy. Washing out your natural oils everyday is very damaging in the long run. Unless of course, you use all kinds of products in your hair everyday that need to be washed out. If you do, you really ought to take a break from them often and let your hair rest. I still have long, thick, shiny hair. I just recently cut it and always get compliments. A lot of women my age are losing their hair.

»

Stephanie, 3-21-2010, 6:14PM

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Stephanie

Sorry Kris. Ok, so waiting a few days to wash isn't always necessary, but the cuticle of the hair IS like shingles.. but those shingles close down completely less and less the more times your hair has been colored, hence the wonderful uneven fading on ends of most hair that has changed it's color too many times. The cuticle is shot. And yes, rinsing DOES help close it down, but conditioners and natural hair oils do it even better, it's all about the pH balance. Last, Angel is right, unless you use a ton of product every day that needs to be washed out, it's NOT a good idea to wash your hair every day, you DO need those oils, and the surfactants in the shampoo are really harsh. Just saying.

»

Judi Bennett, 3-21-2010, 2:36PM

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Judi Bennett

I have run the gambit from coloring my own hair---ask my cat about that one--dont pet your cat when coloring your hair! I'm just saying! Anyway--I used to go to Frederic Fakkai in B. Hills for color and cut. Back in the old days when we all had nice cushy great paying jobs. So the first time I went there they asked if I had a preference who I would like to cut my hair. They told me if I would like Frederic himself it would be a trillon dollars.....sooo I said I would like the person that cuts Fredric's hair! Smart huh? Then much to my delight the absolute best colorist ever----she "knows" your hair and how it's going to react and what's best "truly" best (not what costs the most). Her name is Nancy Braun and she is now at Christophe in B. Hills. She is so great about really listening to what you want, telling you what won't work and how to get to the color you would like to have. She used to go back and forth from NYC to LA so maybe you can track her down. It's sooo worth it. My hair NEVER looked so great and healthy!

Reply »

Hannah, 3-21-2010, 3:43PM

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Hannah

I am so frustrated with my "stylist" and I want to try someone else. But she is a distant relative and if I stop going to her it may cause a family fight. She isn't BAD at it, but she doesn't pay attention to what she is doing. The last two visits to her, the color did not "take" on my roots. I asked her why and she said it must have been something I 'used on my hair.' BS...last time I washed my hair with a totally different shampoo and didn't use any product on it at ALL for three days before she colored it....the only common denominator was her haircolor.

I think she is either not mixing the color right or she just doesn't give a rip any more. My hair gets darker and darker, to the point she had to strip it about 6 months ago to even get it back to my natural color. Now it's a very dark again and it is red! I HATE IT. It's supposed to be dark blonde to very light brown!

I don't know what to do. New stylist? Family fight? Which shall it be?

Reply »

Li, 3-21-2010, 4:54PM

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Li

I would go to someone else and tell her you got a gift certificate to the place, then just continue going, say that it is very convenient to go due to location, or time or whatever and now you can enjoy your family time together, without bringing up hair conversations when you are together.

»

Color4Hair, 3-21-2010, 5:09PM

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Color4Hair

The problem is your "Stylist" is not listening to you. Her coloring skills it appears may not be very strong. The fact that she is a relative should not stop you from moving on to someone else. Even if it is at the same salon!... Maybe she should just be cutting and finishing your hair.... She should get over it. If she remains mad at you, then her professional skills are lacking as well.

»

Kate, 3-21-2010, 5:04PM

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Kate

Get a new stylist. Your hair getting darker and darker on the ends meas she's leaving the color on your whole head for the same lenghth of time instead of just doing the roots and coming it through for 10-15 minutes to even it up. Or your ends are severely damaged by coloring and that would be her fault too by not telling you it needs to be trimmed every so often whether you like it or not.It is also likely that's she's using the wrong color-does she consult you about what color you want? Crappy looking hair is WORTH a family fight if it comes to that- and shame on your family for not sticking up for you if family bs does erupt

»

Maddie, 3-21-2010, 5:25PM

2.5 stars vote downvote upReport
Maddie

Oh... just drop her. If you don't like her, don't pay for a shoddy job. It'll be okay.

»

Lo, 3-21-2010, 3:49PM

2.5 stars vote downvote upReport
Lo

and how much fuel and resources does it take to "jet-set" somewhere to do someone's hair? and yet it's always these famous types that preach to us about green they are, how wonderful and caring they are about the environment. what a bunch of nonsense.....

Reply »

marissa, 3-21-2010, 4:09PM

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marissa

wow thank u now i know but i never and i will not paint my hair

Reply »

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