Metallic Balayage Melt

Before—front view. Jeffrey prelightened and toned his model with Formulas A and B.

Before—back view. Jeffrey prelightened and toned his model with Formulas A and B.

Spray the hair with a water bottle to dampen the hair. “Her hair is very porous, so I like to work on damp hair because the color will look less matte,” Jeffrey says. 

Section the hair into quadrants.

Apply Formula C as a root touch-up, bringing the color down about 3 inches from the base.

Once the root shade is applied, begin applying Formula D, starting at the ends and feathering up into Formula A. Process for 20 minutes.

Make sure to apply Formula D starting on the ends and working up to Formula C so the tone stays true at the ends.

At the bowl, rinse the hair and apply Schwarzkopf Professional FIBREPLEX No2 Bond Sealer. Rinse, then blow-dry the hair.

Metallic base—front view.

Metallic base—side view.

Take a zigzag section around the natural part and clip away. This will maintain a veil of hair that will sit over the ColorWorx INTENSE shades. Then create a 1 ½-inch zigzag parting below the first parting, and clip (or braid!) the hair below this.

Take the first point of the zigzag as a subsection. Apply Formula E in a balayage application, working about halfway down the subsection.

Then, apply Formula F, beginning at the bottom and working up to where Formula E stopped. 

Melt the two shades together, using your fingers to ensure saturation.

Repeat the same technique for each point of the zigzags, alternating the colors used in each balayaged color melt. Jeffrey melted Formula G into Formula H, then Formula F into Formula G, then Formula E into Formula H. Repeat the same technique on the other side.

Process for at least 15 minutes, then rinse in very cold water. Do not shampoo—only condition with Schwarzkopf Professional FIBREPLEX No2 Bond Sealer. Towel-dry the hair, then apply Schwarzkopf Professional OSiS+ Tame Wild. Style as desired.

Finished look—front view.

Finished look—back view.