David Stanko on Summer Blondes

bg-haircolorWhen it comes to the beach-baby blondes of summer, some are icy cool and some are molten-gold hot, but all had better be sexy, healthy and spun through with spectacular shimmer. That’s a tall-drink-of-water kind of order when you’ve got the shade-depleting sun, salt water and chlorine to combat—not to mention, those lazy days of summer bad hair habits.

To get summer-ready, all any woman needs is a few balayage pieces—arctic cool ones are best for natural blondes and golden-sunset or hot-headed shades are right for brunettes or redheads. Placement depends on cut and style. Here’s where you can get creative for the woman who you know will be wearing that ubiquitous pony for the next month or so.

My favorite new toy for blonde-vivant color play is from Redken’s Blonde Glam Collection: new Blonde Icing Power Lift. Perfect for dipping into this summer, it’s a cream bleach, so it’s inherently gentler on hair. Add new blonde selections in Shades EQ (08V, 07V) and Color Fusion (7Av, 9Av, 12Av), and you have all the range you need.

Of course, anytime blonde comes into play, Redken Chemistry treatments help sustain vivid shades that rise and shine. When suggested as an add-on, they keep hair strong, sexy and glossy looking in the long run; you can deliver them before or after coloring, depending on the situation. At home, two new summer-smart conditioners, Redken’s Blonde Glam Perfect Platinum and Blonde Glam Rich Vanilla, support blonde brilliance.

With the help of all these tools, anyone with a blonde ambition can have her own rendition that shines on through fall. ds-headshot

A haircolor consultant for Redken 5th Avenue and a working salon colorist, David Stanko has been featured in the pages of top fashion publications, including Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, InStyle, Latina and Elle. After inventing new ways to use color technology to transform individuals and teaching that art to other salon professionals, he was twice honored by HaircolorUSA: In both 1999 and 2000, he was named “Best Educator†and “Most Inspirational Educator.â€