Kim Vo on the go

Warm hues were first spotted on the heads of Hollywood's most style-conscious beauties. Now the warming trend has caught fire on the catwalks, where designers' gardens of cool pastels were complemented by locks that were as warm as the sun and as rich as the finest chocolates. Not surprisingly, clients are already clamoring for the look.

Kim Vo
Kim Vo

What it all means is that blondes are sporting shades of gold, honey and strawberry, while brunettes are enhancing their color with luscious chestnuts, maples and caramels. Think Eva Mendes' brilliant caramel-on-chocolate haircolor or Poppy Montgomery's (Without a Trace) new, startlingly beautiful strawberry blonde shade and you've got the idea. The depth and dimension of both are positively dramatic, and the key to fabulous results is shine, shine, shine.

Tresses that refract light have always been our objective when we color a client's hair. But, as we all know, highlights strip the hair of color. The cuticle gets roughed up, and shine is often compromised in the process. And when covering gray, even vegetable-based and ammonia-free products aren't good enough at smoothing out those coarse and wiry strands.

That's why the time has come for colorists to embrace the newest technology that delivers positively radiant results after lightening hair or coloring gray: the thermal reconstructor. The treatment restores a silky texture to the hair, sealing the cuticle to maximize light refraction, and the results last for up to six months. It's not a straightener, so it's fine to use on your clients who want to keep their waves and curls. The process takes about two hours, and the treatment can be applied right after coloring because it's not terribly strong—about equal to the strength of semipermanent color.

The result? Enduring shine, easy maintenance and happy clients. It just doesn't get much better than that. —E-mail Kim Vo at [email protected].