From soft balayage to perfect platinum, here’s how to take dark hair to the light side

Going from brunette to blonde requires exceptionally high-performing products to achieve the desired result with minimal compromise to the hair’s integrity. This is where the Wella Professionals range excels, whether endowing subtle dimension with a natural balayage or leaning into the light side with a high-contrast blonde. And, should you wish to experience Wella’s superior products yourself, we suggest you enter the fantastic giveaway at the end of this feature.

Perfectly Platinum
Showcasing what can be achieved on healthy hair with no previous colour work, Cinnamon Scholes of Toni & Guy took Sabina’s naturally dark tresses to a striking light tone using Wella BlondorPlex. To tone, Wella Color Touch in Frosted Grey was applied from roots to ends, isolating the fringe area and smudging through the darker Steel Ash tone on the ends. “This created a bespoke, multi-dimensional feeling to the front area, framing the face,” says Scholes. With a pageboy fringe and soft layers cut by stylist Brad Lepper of French Revolver, the final look is modern yet wearable and the integrity of the hair is still firmly intact thanks to the BlondorPlex’s Bond Builder Technology.


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Softly Does It
A perfect technique for someone looking to gently integrate some lightness into their locks, Jess’ naturally beautiful lengths were given a soft balayage, while her face was framed with ‘baby lights’ — ultra-fine lightened strands. “A fine weave allows it to grow out seamlessly,” says stylist Brad Lepper, who expertly applied BlondorPlex lightener in foils from mid-lengths to ends and toned with Wella Illumina colour to ensure the hair was kept shiny and soft. System Professional’s Luxe Oil and Eimi Perfect Me lotion were applied during the end styling process for a gloriously glossy finish.

Creative Expression
For those on the lookout for anything but basic blonde, Wella’s BlondorPlex colour can also be utilised for trend-forward, statement shades while leaving the hair in “near-perfect condition”, says stylist Mikaela Campbell. “We created playful shapes with Phoebe’s colour, lightening with BlondorPlex around the hairline, back and front, before adding depth through the crown using Wella Color Touch. Toni & Guy’s Bronwyn Illingworth cut a classic, graphic bob on Phoebe’s hair, which created a clean and simple base for the more creative colour look. “The end result was a statement colour and cut to make Phoebe feel powerful,” says Campbell, who looked to Wella’s ingenious formulations to maintain the hair’s integrity for a sleek, modern finish that shows shine, quality and consistency throughout.

Video: Devan Narsai
Makeup: Phoebe Watt

To celebrate Wella’s superior colour capabilities, we are giving one lucky Denizen the chance to receive a cut, colour and take home products to the value of $600 at any Wella salon. You can find the full list of salons here.

This competition has now closed.

T&Cs: Winner must be over the age of 21, and Wella will cover the cost of Wella colouring, any Wella treatments and the cost of Wella take home retail on the day (i.e a shampoo, conditioner, mask). Wella will not cover the cost of any services, treatments or take-home products that are not Wella.

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