KTP Reflection

Dyeing hair is as much a science as it is an art form. After precisely measuring ingredients, a colorist coats hair with a chemical mixture, which typically contains ammonia and hydrogen peroxide, that causes the follicles to open and the dye molecules to be deposited within. The seemingly straightforward process has actually taken decades to perfect, and stylists still look for new ways to give their clients the color of their dreams. And as more individuals lean toward a green lifestyle, beauty trends follow—more salons are beginning to offer newly formulated dyes that are organic, ammonia-free, or naturally derived. Here are some Chicago salons embracing chemical-free color alternatives. Salon Soca | Lincoln Park The most basic form of organic hair dye is henna, made from a plant that produces a rich red-orange color. Salon Soca, however, can produce a variety of brown and black shades by using specialized henna dyes. The dye is gentle—it coats, rather than penetrates, the follicle—but its results are lasting. Splendor Organic Salon & Spa | Norridge Though the decor may be glamorous at this Norridge salon, stylists keep their services simple by using vegan, cruelty-free, and eco-friendly Organic Color Systems. The ammonia-free, oil-based formulation allows hair to naturally absorb dye molecules while imparting rich shine. An added bonus: the absence of chemicals keeps Splendor smelling fresh. Leader Hair Salon | Portage Park Leader Hair Salon also uses ammonia-free dyes from Organic Color Systems, applied by certified Organic Color Systems hair colorists with an expert knowledge of the brand. These specialists are more than happy to explain why OCS dyes provide thorough coverage without damaging hair. Hint: it has to do with formulations that are free of parabens, ammonia, formaldehyde, SLS, and animal products. Mera Natural Hair & Body | Lincoln Park Sisters Meredith and Sara Jackson exclusively use Simply Organic beauty products at this boutique Lincoln Park spa. The family-owned company has spent more than a decade perfecting dyes infused with naturally moisturizing olive-leaf extract and olive oil. And since the formulations release fewer gases into the atmosphere than their chemical counterparts, clients can rest assured knowing they’re caring for both their hair and the environment. Salon Echo | Edgewater Salon Echo is all about sustainability, from interiors made of recycled materials to services that rely on Aveda’s botanical-based beauty products. Full disclosure: despite being petrochemical-free and created using wind power, Aveda’s Full Spectrum Hair Color is made with a small percentage of chemicals. Understanding that may concern some clients, the salon also offers an ammonia-free glaze that leaves strands glistening with semipermanent color. Delle Amiche | Gold Coast Though it does offer traditional coloring services, Delle Amiche salon also revamps looks using L’Oréal’s INOA (Innovation No Ammonia). Believed to be the first ammonia-free dye to spark interest in high-end salons, this well-known brand is designed to evenly color hair while hydrating for up to six weeks post-treatment. The secret? An oil-based system that effectively yet gently deposits the dye into strands.

One is a fun twist on the messy bun, and the other turns your hair into a French-braided headband. Way 1: The Messy Bun with Braided Sides You’ll need: A hair elastic, a few bobby pins, and hair long enough to put up in a bun. Way 2: The Twisted-Crown Braid You’ll need: A few bobby pins and hair slightly longer than shoulder length. Video: Amanda Nyren and Mae Rice, Groupon

So I consulted a bartender, my mother, and a bus. Frankie Avalon’s Teen Angel must be quietly sobbing in his malt shop in the sky. Because pink hair is no longer the domain of beauty school dropouts—it’s a full-blown trend. It seemed like the world was just getting used to gray hair on young women, but now Pantone’s pastel hues have begun infiltrating hairdos. It started innocently enough with candy-colored streaks of hair chalk, but now it’s not unusual to spot someone with a full head of pastel strands. Lately, I’ve seen lilac- and rose-tinted ladies everywhere I look, especially on Instagram, where I follow my salon, Mops Beauty Shop (2500 N. California Ave.), as well as hip lasses like ban.do founder Jen Gotch, who recently went pink. Yet I’d never seen a pastel hairdo in real life. I wondered: could I pull it off? To find out, I decided to take pink hair for a test run and gauge public opinion. Test One: The Stylist “Would this color make me look like a baby and/or a unicorn?” I asked my stylist, Krista, as I showed her this pin. I’ve been able to pull off boy-short hair and asymmetrical bangs in the past (not at the same time), but for something as unusual as rosy-pink strands, I wanted a professional’s opinion. Her take: I could rock it. My take: Let’s do this before I chicken out. Krista picked a toner that would make my hair pink enough to try the trend, but was careful not to use more than a few shampoos could undo. At one point, as I squinted at my reflection in the mirror, I saw her hands come out of the wash basin covered with electric-pink suds—without my glasses on, it looked as if she was murdering me. (She wasn’t.) Vivid as the toner may have looked, by the time my hair was trimmed and dried, I resembled neither a baby, nor a unicorn, nor a baby unicorn. In fact, the pink actually played off the brown and blond streaks in my hair and looked about as natural as pink locks can. Test Two: The CTA/Myself I left the salon feeling hopeful—until I hopped on the bus and caught my reflection in the windows. The harsh lighting made me look like I was reviving my eighth-grade role of Anne of Green Gables all over again. Back then, a botched dye job left my hair a deep magenta for a week, instead of Anne’s signature carrot-orange. When I got off the bus, I took a quick selfie on the sidewalk to be certain: nope, my hair was still pastel, and I was still a middle-school graduate. Regression averted. Test Three: My Mom I texted my mom to tell her what I’d done. I usually call her before making even tiny decisions, like gauging a vegetable’s freshness in my crisper or impulse-buying housewares from Anthropologie, but she took this bigger news in stride: “My own little Kelly Osbourne,” she replied. “You should wear [a] Peeps necklace on Easter [to match].” Pink hair: Instagram tested, Mother approved. Test Four: A Bartender Now that I’d sufficiently impressed myself and my mother, I had one crucial demographic left to test: bartenders. I have a very young-looking face, and while someday I’m sure I’ll be grateful for all the collagen I’m packing, I’m currently carded really, really hard all the time. This night’s bartender gave my out-of-state license a cursory look and skipped the “are you secretly a minor?” stare-down I usually get. A novelty hair color makes me look less like a teenager? I was amazed. The Verdict Success. After the second wash, the color has already started to fade, but I plan to book another appointment with Krista soon to recommit to the hue for the rest of spring and summer. Not only will it look rad, but deepening the color a little will hopefully help me avoid semi-compliments like this one, which I got from a well-meaning male coworker the other day: “I like your hair. Is it … a color?” Photo: Amelia Buzzell, Groupon