Before getting into the process, Howard insists on having a consultation and patch testing before an appointment. The consultation means the colorist can assess exactly what the desired outcome is and manage a client's expectations. Patch tests avoid any allergy disasters because that's the last thing you want to leave the salon with.
Howard explained that the condition of your hair and whether it's previously been colored will determine how many stages it will take to get you to copper. Virgin hair (hair that has never been colored) needs fewer stages and probably won't need the precolor stage. If you have darker dye all over, the buildup of color will need to be removed with prelightening, which is a slightly longer process.
As my hair had balayage prior to coloring, Howard needed a precolor phase to get my whole head the same color so the results look even. If you have prelightener (bleach) in your hair, this prefill work puts darker pigment back into the hair and is vital. This is the step that ensures the hair doesn't veer into a muddy color and prevents the new color from fading. After letting it process for 20 minutes, the hair is washed and roughly dried.
