When Is It Time to Refresh Your Color?
A Guide to Choosing Between Custom and Traditional Color at Salon Freebird
As the seasons change or life brings new adventures, it’s natural to want your hair to keep up with your evolving style. Color refreshes are a perfect way to rejuvenate your look, but knowing when it’s time to refresh and how to choose the right color service—whether custom color or traditional color—can be key to maintaining healthy, vibrant hair. At Salon Freebird in Boulder, Colorado, we pride ourselves on offering color services tailored to your needs, lifestyle, and desired results.
Signs It's Time to Refresh Your Hair Color
Understanding when to refresh your color goes beyond simply looking in the mirror. Here are some common signs it’s time to schedule that appointment:
Visible Root Growth
If your natural color is peeking through, especially in high-contrast colors, it’s time to consider a root touch-up or full color refresh.Faded or Brassy Tones
Over time, color can lose its vibrancy or turn brassy. A refresh will restore depth, warmth, or cool tones to keep your color looking fresh.Dryness and Dullness
When hair color fades, it can often coincide with hair looking dull and feeling dry. A gloss or toner can bring back the shine and improve hair texture.Change in Season
Seasonal transitions, like moving from summer to fall, can be a great time to adjust your color. Adding richer tones in fall or brighter highlights in spring can keep your look current and stylish.New Life Changes
A big event or lifestyle change is an ideal time for a color refresh. Whether it’s a job change, a special event, or simply a personal milestone, updating your look can feel empowering.
Choosing Between Custom Color and Traditional Color
At Salon Freebird, we offer two main color service categories: Custom Color and Traditional Color. Understanding the difference can help you choose the best approach to achieve your desired look.
Traditional Color: Perfect for Classic, Consistent Results
Traditional color services include Balayage, Foil Highlights, Root Touch-ups, and All-Over Color. These techniques work well if you’re seeking a classic style, need gray coverage, or want consistent, even color from root to tip.
Root Touch-Ups
If you have visible root growth and want to maintain a seamless blend with your existing color, a root touch-up will match your base color without altering your current look.Balayage and Foil Highlights
Balayage offers soft, hand-painted highlights that blend naturally with your base color. It’s ideal for clients seeking subtle dimension without regular maintenance. Foil highlights, by contrast, offer more precision and intensity, making them great for clients wanting more defined lightness.All-Over Color
For clients who want uniform coverage, all-over color is a fantastic choice. It works well to refresh faded or dull color, add shine, and provide consistent coverage from root to ends.
Custom Color: Tailored for Unique, Lived-In Looks
Custom color offers a personalized approach with Lived-In Color, Root Shadowing, and Blending Techniques that enhance your natural beauty. If you want to create a look with depth, dimension, and effortless style, custom color is a wonderful option.
And here’s a bonus: every custom color service at Salon Freebird includes either a L'Oréal Professional Metal Detox or Absolute Repair Molecular treatment at no extra time or cost. These treatments work to protect and repair hair instantly, ensuring your hair stays healthy and vibrant. Metal Detox prevents color dullness and protects against impurities, while Absolute Repair targets damage, leaving hair stronger and smoother.
Lived-In Color
Lived-in color techniques are designed for those who prefer a low-maintenance look that grows out naturally. This approach uses softer blends of color and allows for a graceful, subtle transition from roots to ends, making it ideal for clients who visit less frequently.Root Shadowing
Root shadowing is a great option if you love highlights but want a natural-looking transition at the roots. By blending a darker shade at the roots, it provides a seamless look that allows you to go longer between touch-ups.Blending Techniques
Custom color blending can subtly enhance natural color, add brightness, and create dimension tailored to each individual’s hair texture and color history.
Which Color Service Is Right for You?
When choosing between traditional and custom color services at Salon Freebird, think about your lifestyle, personal style, and how much time you want to spend on upkeep. If you prefer structured, consistent color with regular appointments, traditional color services may be the best match. If you enjoy a more relaxed, low-maintenance look that grows out beautifully, custom color will give you the best results.
Your Color, Your Way at Salon Freebird
At Salon Freebird in Boulder, we offer consultations and haircolor history forms to help you decide on the ideal color refresh. Our skilled team of stylists and color experts can guide you through the process, answer questions, and make recommendations based on your goals. With a choice of eco-friendly, vegan color options from L'Oréal Professional, including ammonia-free options, we prioritize both hair health and environmental care.
When it’s time for a color refresh, choose a salon that listens to your vision and respects your unique style. Ready to bring new life to your hair? Book your appointment with us at Salon Freebird today and embrace a look that’s as unique as you are.