If you’re looking to achieve a natural, sun-kissed brunette look with a soft, dimensional effect, you’re in the right place!
In this tutorial, Karina from Kenra Professional walks you through her signature dimensional foiling technique that lifts and tones dark hair without overdoing it.
The goal is to create a neutral, cool-toned brunette with subtle highlights that blend seamlessly, giving you a gorgeous, low-maintenance style.
Whether you’re a professional stylist or just a hair enthusiast, this step-by-step guide will show you how to create a stunning and natural-looking color transformation. Let’s dive in!
Introduction
Karina from Kenra Professional introduces the tutorial, where she will demonstrate how to create a neutral, sun-kissed brunette using dimensional foiling techniques. The goal is to slightly lift naturally dark hair to enhance its natural glow and undertones.
The product used includes the Ultra Ash Shades, specifically the 5 Ultra Ash and 7 Ultra Ash, to create the desired dimension.
Sectioning of the Hair
Karina explains her sectioning method:
- Five sections in total: two front sections and three in the back.
- She discusses how to strategically section the hair, using a different approach in the back to give control in areas like the nape, midsection, and top crown.
- The intention is to maintain control over the color placement and blending throughout.
Application Process
- She begins her application with the nape section, explaining how she avoids highlighting directly along the hairline to prevent emphasizing shorter or finer hairs that might look like breakage.
- The product mix for this section is Simply Blonde Ultra Ash Pearl and 7 Ultra Ash, which will provide natural lift while controlling warmth during the process.
Techniques for Low Maintenance Look
- Karina uses a moderate weave technique, feathering the application up toward the hairline to create a soft, diffused blend.
- The goal is to keep the hair looking natural with a cool, neutral dimension, avoiding too many back-to-back foils, and focusing on the inner parts of the hair rather than the perimeter.
Foil Placement and Saturation
- She emphasizes the importance of saturating the hair with product, using sweeping motions to ensure even application. The product is feathered upward towards the roots for a seamless blend.
- Karina opts for pancake-style foils to avoid creases and ensure even processing.
Avoiding ‘Money Piece’ and Focus on Classic Look
- Unlike popular “money piece” looks, Karina stays with a classic, natural look. The foils are placed horizontally to avoid accentuating any bright highlights at the hairline, ensuring the hair remains soft and balanced even when pulled back into a ponytail.
Moving to the Midsection
- For the midsection, she uses a diagonal brick-lay pattern. This method allows for dimension without overwhelming the natural depth of the hair.
- She emphasizes that maintaining depth is essential, so she doesn’t over-foil, preventing the hair from becoming too light or blonde.
Foil Application for Soft Dimension
- Karina continues the brick-lay pattern, explaining how leaving out certain sections allows for soft dimension that doesn’t radically change the hair’s base color. The goal is a natural lift that blends well.
- She also mentions using a board to support saturation and prevent foils from slipping.
Transition to the Top Section
- Once the back sections are complete, she moves to the top crown section, where she switches to horizontal foil placement. This allows for more visible highlights and a more striking effect at the top of the head.
- Horizontal placement is essential for creating sheet-like highlights at the crown, offering a more impactful visual result.
Backcombing for Low-Maintenance Blend
- She demonstrates backcombing at the root area to create a low-maintenance blend. By backcombing closer to the root, she softens the transition from the highlighted sections to the natural hair.
- Karina explains that she’s working with Simply Blonde Ultra Lift in Pearl and 7 Ultra Ash for a balanced lift and tone. The 7 Ultra Ash helps control any unwanted warmth during the lift.
Final Touches and Process
- Karina finishes by talking about the processing time and why she loves the Ultra Ash formula for a controlled and predictable result. The processing time is 40 minutes, after which the color stops processing, leaving behind controlled lift and toning.
- She mentions how using this method avoids the typical bleach-and-tone process, offering longer-lasting results without the risk of fading.
Conclusion and Final Application
- Karina wraps up the application process for the crown area, applying additional foils in the same pattern.
- The approach is designed for a soft, dimensional brunette look, ideal for clients who want a subtle lift without going too light.
