Christmas was wonderful, but the holidays are not over yet! This is the perfect day to take stock of the rest of the week. 

 Hmmm…. I’ve got a dinner with friends, an ice skating event with my son, and a New Year’s Eve gathering to look forward to! 

Perfect dress? Check! Killer shoes (as in they look fabulous, but they kill me)? Check! But what will I do with my long, red hair?

Whether I wear it up or down, one thing I know for sure is that I want plenty of shine.  And I have the ideal solution: Ion Color Defense Intensive Shine Treatment. This quick and easy weekly treatment adds moisture, revitalizes my hair color and gives my hair instant, intense shine! I simply apply it after shampooing, leave in for 3-5 minutes, then rinse.

I know my hair will look brilliant and feel soft and silky—the perfect finish to any look.

The Pantone Color of the Year is…drumroll please…

TANGERINE TANGO!

Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute® describes Tangerine Tango as, “Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.”

What do you think? Love it? Think Pantone was off? Vote and let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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What’s the most hectic time of the year? The holiday season—for sure!

Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day most of us have a hard time just coming up for air! And on top of working, shopping, planning, cooking, and taking care of normal life, comes a calendar full of parties and family get-togethers.

So, if you can’t find time for your normal touchup, how about refreshing your permanent hair color with semi-permanent. It’s easy to use—no developer to mix and no damage to your hair—and will keep your color vibrant until after the rush is over.

If you don’t already color your hair, but want to give your natural shade a warmer, richer tone and plenty of shine, semi-permanent color will take your holiday look to a new level, without a lot of fuss. Check out Ion Color Brilliance Semi-Permanent—it’s a great choice.

We’re always looking for easy hair color solutions. For many of us, Ion Color Brilliance Demi-Permanent Hair Color is both the gentler and easier way to blend gray. However, selecting the perfect demi-permanent shade can be tricky if you don’t understand a basic hair color concept: “depth on depth creates more depth.”

Let me explain: demi-permanent color is “deposit” color, which means that it adds a veil of new color on top of your current hair color. So, if you have Light Brown (Level 5) hair and you use a Light Brown (Level 5) demi-permanent color, the results will remain a Light Brown (Level 5), right? WRONG!

The results will be darker—probably a Medium Brown (Level 4)—because “depth on depth creates more depth.” The new color added to the current color makes it darker, just as layering one sheer fabric over another adds depth.

So… to maintain the same overall color Level with demi-permanent color, select a shade that is one to two Levels lighter than your current shade. In this example, a Dark Blonde (Level 6), or a Medium Blonde (Level 7) will produce results that remain Light Brown (Level 5).

Happy hair color!

Just as the leaves are beginning to change on the trees to rich reds, bright coppers, deep browns and even some yellow and gold, isn’t it time to change up your hair color?

Below is one technique to achieve a great fall look that will be sure to turn heads as you walk by. Please note that this technique is for those with hair a level 6 or above, a.k.a dark blonde or lighter.

• First, pre-lighten the hair to a level 7 or 8 with the new Ion Color Brilliance Ammonia Free Powder Lightener. Use a highlighting cap or foils to highlight as many pieces as you prefer.
• After processing according to manufacturers’ directions, rinse and shampoo your hair. If you used a highlighting cap, remove the cap at this time.
• Next, apply Ion Intensive Shine Demi Permanent 6WR Dark Warm Red Blonde to all of your hair, including the freshly highlighted area. Process according to manufacturers’ directions. When complete you will have a rich red blonde tone with light copper fall highlights.

Remember to always do a strand test first and follow all the manufacturers’ instructions!

Please share with us how you are updating your look for this fall season!

Here in Texas you never know if Halloween is going to be hot, like the surface of the sun, or if it’s going to be cold and rainy. Texas weather tends to change on a dime, it can be 85 degrees one day and 50 degrees the next.  This is true except for August when it’s 100 degrees out every day.  As a parent, the Halloween survival trick is to buy a costume for your child that is both lightweight in design, but also has room for layers.  By doing this, you’ll be able to prepare him for whatever weather Texas throws at you.

Last year, my youngest was obsessed with dinosaurs (he loved to roar like one).  We set out to find a dinosaur costume that was Texas-weather friendly.  Finally we found a costume that just covered his legs, so he could wear a matching short or long-sleeved shirt. He was prepared for anything!

It turned out to be a very hot Halloween. So I decided to give the Beyond The Zone Spike It Hair Cement in green a try, instead of putting a stuffy, dinosaur-green hat on his head. I was a little concerned that the green may not wash out of his platinum-blond hair the first time we washed it.  So, I did a small patch test a few days before. 

I was able to put his hair into a Mohawk (his dino-spikes) with the Beyond The Zone Spike It Hair Cement and it stayed! I was expecting his baby-fine hair to fall flat within an hour, but it held up all night. To my relief, the colored hair gel washed out easily without leaving a green tint.

I liked the gel so much I bought it in red for my oldest son to wear on Wacky Hair Day at his school a few months later. The Beyond The Zone Spike It Hair Cement is now one of my Halloween faves! 

Do you have any Halloween product favorites?

You love your hair color so how can you make it last longer between coloring treatments? Here are some tips for getting the most out of your color using Ion – our most popular brand!

1. Start with Ion Color Defense Shampoo. It gently cleanses without stripping out color.

2. Towel dry your hair, then apply Healing Leave-In Therapy to restore moisture and get silky soft hair. Comb it through for even distribution.

3. Then style as usual. We recommend the Ion Titanium Platinum Digital Dryer with its unique styling controls that allow you to customize the heat and air flow.

4. Use the Ion Perpetual Heat Ceramic Digital Styling Iron for one-stroke styling that limits your hair from damage. Remember, when using a styling iron, your hair must be completely dry.

5. Then finish it off once a week with Ion Color Defense Intensive Shine Treatment for added moisture, shine, and vibrancy.

Summer is almost over, can you believe it? Now that fall is fast approaching, it’s time to take a look at your hair situation.

Did your blonde hair get a little too blonde from the sun? You don’t have to color your hair dark or get rid of the blonde to tone it down. Just use demi color! Ion Intensive Shine Demi Permanent Hair Color is a great choice. 

There are a variety of shades and tones of blonde to help prepare you for the new season.  The 9NG Very Light Natural Golden Blonde is a popular one. It will leave you looking less over processed, but still golden. 

Don’t forget the rule! Make sure you do a strand test first and read all the manufacturer’s directions prior to use.