What To Know Before Changing Your Hair This Summer

With summer at our doorstep, a visit to the hairdresser may be on your mind. I knew I wanted to go lighter for the warmer months, so before leaving for Europe, I paid a visit to Medulla & Co to give my hair a much-needed pick me up. Since having a traumatic hair incident in 2013, I’ve been very particular about the salons I trust with my hair. I learned the hard way that it’s better to get it done right the first time than scrambling to undo a hair disaster once it’s already happened. I knew I was in good hands with Medulla because they’ve been recommended to me time and time again, and have a reputation as one of the top salons in Toronto.

When I arrived, I was introduced to my colourist, Liz, who made me feel completely at ease. We had a consultation where we discussed my vision, and she walked me through what she was going to do. I was then introduced to my stylist, Kelly, who, by the way, also does hair for Tessa Virtue! Kelly’s energy is so amazing, and I knew from the get-go that she would give me a killer haircut.

I walked out of Medulla & Co with the kind of confidence that comes from great hair. You know, the kind where you momentarily believe that you’re a Victoria’s Secret model and the street is your runway. While I was there, I had a chance to chat with both Kelly and Liz who offered some valuable pearls of hair wisdom which I wanted to share with you guys. So if you’re thinking of changing your hair this summer, keep reading!

1. Go to the right colourist + stylist
It’s much harder to correct colour damage as opposed to doing it right in the first place. It may be tempting to go to a cheap chop shop to get your hair done, but these places are where hair horror stories often happen. Liz was telling me about one girl who came in to fix a botched colour job which was so bad that it took 10+ hours to fix!

You know what else sucks? Going to a hairdresser and telling them you want a trim, and ending up with a mullet. Let’s be real, this has been all of us at some point, and it’s awful. So instead of putting your hair (and wallet) through all of that, go to a reliable place to begin with. If you’re unsure of how to find the right salon, my biggest tip is social media! Stalk different hairdressers on Instagram and see if you like their work.

2. Come in with inspiration and talk it out
To make sure you and your stylist are on the same page, come in with pictures of what you have in mind. A consultation is a super important step when it comes to your hair – you need to trust the person who does your hair! Medulla offers a consultation before committing to something, which I think is amazing.

3. Make sure your colourist has experience with people of your ethnicity
Guys, I cannot stress this point enough. Make sure you do your research and find out if your colourist has experience with other women of your ethnicity. The reason I say this is because South Asian hair colour lifts differently from Caucasian hair which lifts differently from Asian hair. A good colourist will know how long to keep bleach on for, and the products to use to make sure your hair doesn’t look brassy.

4. Buy the right aftercare products
The team at Medulla introduced me to their in-house brand, TO112, which I’ve been using nonstop. It was created by the salon’s founder, Louis, who is a colourist, so it’s a really solid line. I have their entire range and use it for everything from shampoo to styling.

Another great trick I learned from my Liz is to use purple conditioner as opposed to purple shampoo. She said that she prefers this as purple shampoo can often dry out hair.

And finally, the trick to caring for colour treated hair is hair masks! TO112 has some really good ones.

5. Know what you’re committing to
Depending on how you cut and colour your hair, it can be a commitment. For example, if you’re going lighter, you can’t wash your hair as often and will have to use colour friendly products. Similarly, if you’re going for a particular hairstyle, you may need to style your hair more often. Make sure that the kind of hairstyle and colour you choose matches your lifestyle and is something you can maintain.

Photography by Rowben Lantion

 

 

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