What is a root smudge?

So you might be asking, “what's hair smudging?” It's exactly what it sounds like: a hair color technique that creates a 'root shadow' by dabbing a slightly lighter hair color to your roots, resulting in fully covered roots and a seamless blend from root to highlight.

What is the purpose of a root smudge?

A root smudge is a technique used specifically to blur lines of demarcation. It involves applying a color formula close to the client's roots, and then “smudging” it into the shaft of the hair. This creates a softer transition between the root and the lightened hair.

How long does a root smudge last?

With a root smudge, you can go two to three months before needing a retouch.

What's the difference between root smudge and Balayage?

A: Balayage uses the client's natural colour as a base. The technician then paints lighter tones through the ends making the root area appear darker. A natural evolution of the Balayage technique, Root Smudge involves the application of a darker tint at the roots, creating a 'smudged' effect.

What's the difference between root smudge and shadow root?

Root Smudge vs.

A root smudge is distinctively used to blur borderlines between the colors in your hair. It's best for a blended root after foiling or covering gray hairs, especially for blondes. On the other hand, the shadow root method is akin to color retouching.

How to Root Smudge: Salt Society Tips

Does a root smudge cover GREY?

At home you would 'root smudge' your roots to cover the grey hair using a permanent colour to cover the roots, but you must protect the highlights or balayage in the ends.

Does root smudge wash out?

Because the toner actually takes a few months to fade out, as your roots grow, there's no telltale highlight "line" to give them away. Your color looks like your younger self's hair a few months after a summer on the beach — still your shade, just better and brighter.

How much does it cost for a root smudge?

Charge 1/4 to 1/2 of whatever you charge for a full root retouch. For example, if your root retouch price is $100, charge $25-$50 for the root smudge. If you do 3 smudges a day, 5 days a week at $25 a pop, that's an additional $19,500 in gross revenue a year!

What is a root melt hair?

Root melting is the effect of smudging the root to create the transitional lived-in colour. Your hairstylist will blend colours to avoid harsh demarcation lines between colours.

Can I do a root smudge at home?

Part your hair as usual, and 'smudge' the hair color onto your roots along your natural part so that it covers 1” of your root hairs. Continue to apply the hair color to your roots in layers, about every ¼” along the hairline, to thoroughly cover all root hairs. Create the root shadow.

Do you need a root smudge with balayage?

It already goes without saying that if you have balayage or highlights, then a root smudge is a must for you. This hair dyeing technique makes your hair color look natural and soft. So, if this is what you are looking for, then do not hesitate to book an appointment with your hair colorist.

What is the difference between balayage and root stretch?

The main difference is in the technique in which balayage highlights are created using strokes of colours carefully placed in the right places in your hair from end to root, while root drag works its way downwards from your root to ends.

Can you shadow root with toner?

When toning, always apply the root color first, says Cassandra. This helps with timing and allows the root to process the longest—giving it the max depth and deposit necessary. Pro Tip: Cassandra says she always tones on damp hair, and when working on blondes, she rarely goes darker than a Level 6.

What is root tapping?

Root "tapping" is when a tiny amount of your natural color is applied just on a small amount of hair at the root. In the same manner, root smudge is done but less. Root Taps is for clients who want to look and feel as blonde as possible.

Does root touch up damage hair?

Root touch-up sprays are tinted temporary hair sprays that are applied to your roots and can last up until the next time you wash your hair. They dry in mere seconds or minutes after spraying and seamlessly melt into your roots without damaging your hair.

How often do you have to get your roots touched up?

These highlights go all the way to the root, and the dyes used to do touch ups are actually affected by the body heat coming from your scalp. That means, if you have more than an inch of hair to touch up, the colour may look inconsistent. For this reason, you should plan to have your roots touched up every 4-6 weeks.

What are Babylights vs highlights?

Babylights are more delicate than highlights. The main difference between the two is that during babylights, your Stylist will highlight more sections of your hair. The sections are finer than normal highlights which creates a more natural blend of colours.

What happens if you put silver dye on brown hair?

When you use silver hair dyes, it can last up to 3-4 weeks, depending upon how often you wash your tresses. Using this silver dye, people with light brown, dark blonde hair or dark brown hair can quickly achieve grey shade hair and be able to dye hair dark grey.

What is a shadow root balayage?

Balayage and shadow root may appear similar, especially on shoulder-length hair. However, these two techniques are diametrically opposed. To put it simply, balayage lightens the lower part of your hair, or some of its parts (think face-framing highlights), while shadow root makes the roots darker.

Do I want highlights or balayage?

"Highlights are often placed much closer to the scalp and applied in specific sections while the balayage process includes a graduated painting the color onto the hair in random sections," says Rivera. If you are looking to add non-uniform chunks or sweeps of color, balayage is a better option.