School may be back in session, but at Lumen Salon in The Heart of Georgetown Washington, D.C., we think hair education deserves a little spot on the syllabus too.
Because the more you understand your hair, the easier it is to know what to ask for, choose services that actually fit your lifestyle, and keep your color looking good long after you leave the salon.
FOILAYAGE VS. HIGHLIGHTS
Wait… aren’t they basically the same thing?
Not exactly.
Traditional highlights are typically used when you want more brightness, especially closer to the root.
Foilayage is all about creating that softer, more lived-in look. The placement and blending create brightness through the hair while keeping the grow-out softer and less obvious.
So the real question isn’t, “Which one is better?”
It’s: Which technique is going to get you closer to the hair you keep showing us in your inspo photos?
And sometimes, the answer is a little bit of both.
WHY DOES MY BLONDE TURN YELLOW?
Hard water. Hot tools. Sunshine. Your shower. Even your shampoo.
When you leave the salon, your toner helps give your blonde that beautiful finished tone. But toner isn’t permanent.
As it slowly fades between appointments, some of the natural underlying warmth in your hair starts to peek back through.
Heat styling, sun exposure, mineral buildup from water, and your at-home haircare routine can all affect how quickly that happens.
And yes, purple shampoo can help, but over use will make your hair dull, flat, and a mushroom color. Best to use only once a month.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU COLOR YOUR HAIR?
Trick question. 🙂
There isn’t one perfect schedule that works for everyone.
Your ideal maintenance depends on your natural color, how light or dark you want to be, how much grow-out you’re comfortable with, the health of your hair—and, realistically, how often you actually want to be in the salon.
That last part matters.
At Lumen, we don’t just think about how your hair looks when you walk out the door.
We’re thinking about how it’s going to look 6, 8, even 12 weeks later.
Because great color shouldn’t only look good on appointment day. It should still make sense as it grows.
Well… that’s the bell. 🔔
Class dismissed.
And don’t forget your homework: check out our videos on the home care tab on our website. 🤎
The Heart Of Georgetown DC