If your blonde is starting to feel a little too bright and brassy, you’re not alone—and luckily, there’s an easy way to add depth without a full-on hair makeover.
In this Kenra Color tutorial, pro stylist Mirella Manelli shows how to transition sun-kissed strands into a richer, cozier autumn look using lowlights and subtle face-framing highlights.
Whether you’re a stylist looking for seasonal inspo or someone just wanting to tone things down for the cooler months, this technique is all about soft dimension, minimal maintenance, and seriously pretty results.
SECTIONING & STRATEGY
Goal: Maintain subtle face-framing brightness while toning down the rest.
Sectioning tips:
- Use the natural part to guide placement.
- Isolate the face-frame area based on the eyebrow arch.
- Divide the section for better control using a wide-tooth highlighting comb.
Technique focus: Soft blending and minimal maintenance with natural dimension.
FACE-FRAMING HIGHLIGHTS
Product used:
- Kenra Blue Powder Lightener
- 1:2 mix ratio with 20 volume developer.
Reasoning:
- The 20 vol gives a controlled lift to match the darker base while syncing well with the demi-permanent color used later.
Application tips:
- Focus the lightener on darker areas and leave the ends out for a natural transition.
- Use a flat-wrap technique with foils for better reapplication, visibility, and control.
- Use teasing to blend the midshaft into ends subtly.
LOWLIGHTING WITH COLOR MELT
Custom color mix:
- 5B (Brunette) near the roots.
- 7B (Light Brown/Beige) towards the mid to ends.
- The blend creates a 6B tone in between, softening transitions and maintaining lighter ends.
Technique:
- Horizontal foil placements with back-teasing for a blended line.
- Comb technique pulls in small highlights from surrounding hair, maximizing dimension.
ZIGZAG PART & BLENDING
- Zigzag parting at the apex separates the crown and diffuses any harsh lines between front and back.
- Foil stacking tip: Long hair sections can be wrapped in layered foils using existing product to stick—helps keep things neat and efficient.
- Custom application: Skips 5B on some lighter areas and uses only 7B to avoid over-darkening.
FINAL TOUCHES & VEIL TECHNIQUE
- Leaves a thin top layer (veil) untouched to drape over the colored sections, hiding foil lines and blending the look seamlessly.
- This subtle veil creates a natural finish that prevents a chunky or striped appearance.
PRO TIPS & LEVEL MATCHING
Pro Hack:
- Use your phone’s black-and-white camera mode to determine lift level without being distracted by tone.
- Helps confirm when a section has reached the target level 8.
TONING & FINISHING
Toner used: Kenra GV Rapid Toner (Gold-Violet), 1:2 ratio with 9 volume.
- Applied globally (root to end) after lightening.
- Processed for just 5 minutes for subtle toning.
Mask used: Kenra Platinum Luxe Shine Mask.
- Adds hydration and shine post-color.
FINAL RESULT
Look achieved:
- Soft, subtle fall tones.
- Balanced lightness around the face.
- Depth and richness through lowlights without harsh contrast.
Summary of products and techniques:
- Minimal foils for brightness.
- Lowlights color-melted using 5B and 7B.
- GV toner for the finishing glaze.
- Luxe Shine Mask for hydration.
