I understand that: 

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• There are two parts and main goals to gray blending: The first part is in the short term, and immediate- the goals are to reduce demarcation and create a more cohesive look. The second part is in the long term, and takes up to two years, depending on individual circumstances- the goals are to experience a softer, more blended regrowth, and eventually stop coloring altogether. 

• A gray blending service is not a permanent, final step to reaching the long-term goals, but the first step in the process. 

• Gray Blending is a color corrective service, typically utilizing lightener (bleach) and often more color to achieve the desired results.

• Regardless of products added to or used in conjunction with lightener to mitigate damage, my hair will inevitably become less healthy than before my service. Dryness, breakage, formation of split ends, proneness to static, frizz and flyaway hair should be expected. 

• Deep conditioning treatments, regular trims, avoidance of harsh products, less frequent washing, and little to no heat styling will be required to keep my hair in good condition.

• Natural gray hair is cool-toned, and the visual change from typically warm-toned hair (red, orange/copper and/or yellow/gold) to cool-toned hair (gray, platinum, purple/violet, blue and/or green/ash) can be an emotional and psychological shock, which will require an adjustment period.

• Cool tones appear darker than warm tones..

• If my gray percentage is under 50%, my hair will have an overall darker appearance, and if it is higher than 50%, it will have an overall lighter appearance.

• Despite best efforts to align highlights with my natural gray patterns, regrowth will not be a perfect match and may have slight demarcation or misalignment, usually negligible. 

• Gray blending is not "gray matching".

• Despite best efforts to align blending with natural gray patterns, I may need to return to add more highlights, lowlights, or darken base areas in an additional service appointment.

• Demarcation of warm and cool, dark and light, light and dark will still occur.

• Salon visits for toning or at-home applications of cool toners will still be required on a regular basis to maintain a "gray" appearance. 

• Any lightened, highlighted, or low lighted hair will return to warm (yellow/gold, orange/copper, red) tones as applied toners and base colors fade with each wash. 

• Cool tones (silver, gray, platinum, violet and ash) fade faster than warm tones.

• Lightened or highlighted areas will return to the "raw" lift of gold/yellow/warm blonde within 1-4 shampoo applications. Darker base colors will return to copper/red, usually more gradually.

• Products such as color-depositing shampoos, conditioners, or masks may reduce the frequency of toner and base color applications, but are very temporary- meaning they wash out with any non-color depositing shampoo application.

• Until my previously colored or lightened hair has grown out and is trimmed off, I should expect to need tonal maintenance every 2-6 weeks for 12-18 months for medium-length hair, and 18-24 months or more for long hair.

• Tonal maintenance frequency is dependent on whether I want cool tones throughout the transitional period or can accept a blonde look, whether I keep my hair long or am willing to go shorter, and how committed I am to proper at-home care.

• My blending appointment may run longer than estimated, depending on how my hair processes, because adjustments will be made during the initial appointment (if needed) and every step will be taken to ensure the best possible outcome.

• Adjustments made during the initial appointment or that will require a separate appointment at no additional cost to me include: unwanted tones that result from errors that occur and may be missed during the initial process, such as warmth in lightened areas due to air exposure or insufficient timing, or warmth in base colors due to insufficient saturation or timing.  

• Adjustments that will require a separate appointment at full cost include: additional highlighting or low lighting for aesthetic purposes and that do not align with my natural gray patterns, "change of heart or mind" adjustments, any at-home application corrections, or correcting any adjustments made at another salon.

• I must remember that my natural gray hair will look amazing once it has fully grown out, that others' opinions are just that- opinions, and that the freedom I'll experience is the most amazing feeling, as long as I invest with a little patience!