The Shade

Can't decide between blonde and brunette? Meet bronde. ✨

Bronde is the beautiful middle ground — a soft, sun-kissed blend of light brown and medium blonde that sits between Levels 6 and 8. Less commitment than going platinum, less flat than staying dark, and infinitely more flattering than either one alone.

Why women are choosing bronde over blonde:

🤎 Healthier hair — brondes with more depth often skip the repeated lightening required for platinum, meaning stronger, shinier, better-condition hair
🤎 Easier maintenance — regrowth is softer and more forgiving, so you're not chasing roots every 3 weeks
🤎 A glossier finish — depth reflects light beautifully; over-lightened blonde often looks dry and washed out
🤎 Universally flattering — works with cool, warm and neutral complexions alike

Find your perfect bronde:

🩶 Bronde Brunette (going lighter from a dark base)
Cool tones are essential to mute the warmth revealed by lightening. Try our Duo blend of Montecristo 6.1 Light Ash Brown + Bellaria 7.1 Dark Ash Blonde — depth and lightness in one gorgeous, tonally-balanced result.

✨ Softer Bronde (adding depth to a lighter blonde)
Very light blondes can look washed out — a hint of depth adds contrast and freshness. Blend a level 7 dark blonde with a level 8 or 9 for a beautiful multi-tonal finish.

🤎 Warmer Bronde (adding golden glow)
For a burnished, chestnut-touched bronde, try Lucca 7.53 Chocolate Blonde — a soft dark blonde with warm chestnut and copper undertones. A little goes a long way.

The most beautiful thing about bronde? It's the natural choice — the shade that looks like you were born with it (only better).

Are you a bronde-curious brunette, or a blonde ready to embrace some depth? Tell us in the comments 👇

Read the full guide 👉 https://theshade.com.au/bronde-perfection/

Roots looking lighter, brighter or orange than the rest of your hair? Meet "hot roots" — and how to stop them. 🔥

Hot roots happen when your regrowth ends up visibly warmer or lighter than the rest of your colour — that unwanted orange-y, brassy halo around your scalp. It's one of the most common home-colouring frustrations (and even happens in salons), but once you understand why, it's completely fixable.

Why hot roots happen:

🔥 Cause 1 — Colour can't lift colour.
If your lengths have older, darker colour in them, and you apply a lighter shade over the top, only your virgin regrowth will actually lift. Your roots end up brighter than your lengths.

🔥 Cause 2 — Your scalp is warm.
Colour processes faster at the roots because of body heat. If you're using a warm or neutral shade that's even slightly lighter than your natural colour, that extra processing plus revealed natural warmth = hot roots.

How to avoid hot roots:

🩶 Choose cool tones when lightening — even a 1-level lift reveals natural warmth. Cool tones counter-balance it.
🩶 Bleach wash your lengths first if they have older, darker colour you want to lighten to match your new lift level.
🩶 Covering greys with warm tones? Blend your warm colour with a neutral. Neutrals fill the missing pigment in greys and anchor the tone — otherwise warm colours pop bright and brassy over greys.

How to fix hot roots (if you're already there):

✔ Apply a cool, slightly deeper shade to your roots only as a "root smudge" — adds depth + dimension
✔ Switch to a cool-based colour next time
✔ Use a toner to deposit cool tones and neutralise warmth
✔ For greys, try a Duo Colour Kit — everything you need to blend a warm + neutral for even, consistent coverage

If you're battling hot roots, our colourists will help you nail the right colour + technique for your hair — for free. 💌

Are you a "cool tones all the way" colourer, or do you love warm shades and battle roots? Tell us in the comments 👇

Read the full guide 👉 https://theshade.com.au/how-to-avoid-hot-roots/

Fistfuls of hair in the shower drain? You're not alone. 🌿

Hair shedding can be one of the most quietly distressing things — the extra strands in the hairbrush, the ponytail that's not as thick as it used to be, that moment in the shower where clumps come loose in your hands.

If any of that sounds familiar, take a deep breath. Shedding is different to hair loss — and in most cases, it's reversible.

A little context:
The average person sheds 50–100 strands a day (yes, really). Excess shedding is usually a sign that something in the background needs attention — often nutrition, scalp health, stress, hormones, or the products you're using.

Common triggers:
🌱 Post-partum — your body prioritises baby recovery over hair; this is temporary and normal
🌱 Aging + hormones — as we age, hair's growth phase shortens and DHT can weaken follicles
🌱 Stress + poor sleep — cortisol pushes hair prematurely into the shedding phase
🌱 Nutritional gaps — zinc, iron, B vitamins, biotin, folic acid all play a role
🌱 Harsh products — silicones and synthetic chemicals can suffocate the scalp

How to gently turn things around:

💚 Nourish from the inside — sleep, hydration, green vegies, water, and (if in doubt) a chat with your GP
💚 Rethink your scalp environment — your scalp is where hair growth happens; treat it like the skin it is
💚 Choose gentler styles — loose ponytails, low buns, claw clips instead of tight braids or cornrows
💚 Feed your follicles topically — our Restore range (Scalp & Hair Therapy Oil, Hair Food Oil, and Scalp Therapy Spray) is 100% plant-based and packed with scientifically-proven botanicals like kakadu plum, biotin, spirulina and green tea. They calm inflammation, reduce DHT, boost circulation and create the healthiest possible environment for new growth 🌿

The most important thing to remember: you're not imagining it, you're not alone, and there's plenty you can do. Small consistent steps can make a real difference.

If you've navigated a shedding season yourself, what helped? Share below — your story might be exactly what someone else needs to hear today 💚

Read the full guide 👉 https://theshade.com.au/how-to-reduce-hair-shedding-and-stimulate-growth/

Think toners are just for blondes? Think again. 🤎

Brassy tones aren't just a blonde problem. Brunettes get them too — that unwanted warm, orange or reddish tint that creeps in over time, especially if your hair has been lightened, sun-exposed, or heat-styled.

The fix? A brunette toner.

What toners do:
Toners deposit cool violet secondary tones (the natural opposite of orange and red on the colour wheel) plus a beautiful high-shine finish. They don't lift, lighten or change your base colour — they simply refine, balance and cool down unwanted warmth. Sleek, glossy, tonally-perfect brunette locks — done.

Why brunettes love them:
✔ Mute unwanted orange, red or warm gold tones
✔ Add high shine and gloss
✔ Refresh colour between full applications
✔ Won't lighten or lift — gentle enough to use often
✔ Quick — just 20 minutes processing time

How to choose your toner:
🤎 Select a toner at the same level, or one level lighter than the lightest colour in your hair
🤎 If you have highlights, choose close to your lightest highlight level — this refines both the highlights AND your base colour
🤎 We offer toners for every brunette level — from darkest black-brown right through to lighter brondes

Between full colour applications, a toner is the fastest way to keep your brunette looking salon-fresh — without any lifting, damage or commitment.

Have you tried a brunette toner before, or is this a new one for you? Tell us in the comments and our colourists will help you find your perfect match 👇

Read the full guide 👉 https://theshade.com.au/toners-for-brass-free-brunettes/

"I'll just apply a lighter colour on top." Ah — about that. ✨

Here's a myth-busting colouring fact that catches almost everyone out: colour cannot lift colour. If you already have dye in your hair and you apply a lighter shade on top, it won't lighten. You'll just end up with warm, brassy roots against darker lengths — the dreaded "hot roots" look.

So how do you go lighter when your hair is already coloured? You have three colourist-approved options 👇

🍋 1. Vitamin C Colour Pigment Remover
Our bleach- and peroxide-free antioxidant formula gently lifts out 1–3 levels of oxidative colour pigments (permanent, semi and demi-permanent). It won't damage your hair, and it won't lighten you beyond your natural colour level. Perfect if your current colour has gone too dark, too warm, or just needs a reset.

💫 2. Highlights Kit
Add dimension and softness with fine babylights, classic highlights or foilyage. Our Highlights Kit includes everything (and illustrated instructions for each technique) — so you can lift your look without committing to an all-over lightening process.

☁️ 3. Bleach Wash Kit
If you want to go significantly lighter (2–3 levels), a bleach wash will lift out darker pigments and give you a lighter base to work with. Just remember: any lightening process reveals natural warmth, so a cool-toned colour afterwards is almost always essential.

Not sure which option is right for you? Our colourists can help you plan the safest, gentlest path to your dream colour — for free.

Which "going lighter" story is yours — the accidental hot roots, the gradual lift over time, or dreaming of a big change? Tell us in the comments 👇

Read the full guide 👉 https://theshade.com.au/can-i-lighten-already-coloured-hair/

Want blonde. Ended up orange. Sound familiar? 🍊😩

You're not alone — brassy, orange, or reddish hair after lightening is one of the most common colouring frustrations there is. And here's the good news: there's a real science to why it happens, and once you understand it, it becomes completely fixable.

Why hair goes brassy when you lighten it:
Your natural hair colour contains multiple pigments — cool tones (small molecules) and warm tones (large molecules). When you lighten, the cool tones lift out first. The warm red/orange pigments are much bigger and cling on longer — which is why lightened hair almost always reveals visible warmth.

This is called Natural Contributing Pigment (NCP) — and every hairdresser has to account for it. Once you know about NCP, brassy hair stops being a mystery.

How to fix it (four options):

🧡 1. Lighten further — A stronger 27 vol developer, or a bleach wash, will lift more of the stubborn warm pigments. Follow with a cool-based colour.

🖤 2. Add depth — Going a shade darker with cool tones can beautifully cover unwanted warmth without any further lightening.

🩶 3. Add cool tones — A toner (deposit only, lasts ~10 washes) or a demi-permanent cool colour (~24 washes) will counter-balance warmth without touching your base.

💜 4. Use a violet-pigmented care range — Our Brass-Banishing Blonde Shampoo, Conditioner and Mask deposit violet tones with every wash — so you're actively fighting brassiness between colour appointments.

Prevention for next time:
✔ Colour closer to your natural level (less lifting = less revealed warmth)
✔ Always use cool-toned colours when lightening (ash tones are your best friend)

Have you battled brassy hair before? Tell us in the comments — and one of our colourists will point you to your perfect fix 👇

Read the full guide 👉 https://theshade.com.au/i-coloured-my-hair-blonde-and-it-went-orange-whats-going-on/

Sick of your brunette going brassy? Meet your new hero. 🩶

Cool-toned ash browns are one of our most requested colours — and for good reason. They're sleek, sophisticated, endlessly wearable, and they work hard at muting unwanted warmth to keep your colour looking fresh, shiny and expensive.

So what makes ash browns so special?
Ash tones contain a smokey blend of grey, violet, blue and green undertones — sitting on the opposite side of the colour wheel to warm gold and copper. That opposition is what neutralises brassiness, adds brightness and delivers that lived-in, silky finish.

Regular vs Intense Ash — which do you need?

🩶 Regular Ash (.1) — Softly mutes warmth and adds a cool, sophisticated finish. e.g. Toscano 4.1 Dark Ash Brown
🖤 Intense Ash (.11) — Double-strength ash tones for hair that resists cooling down. Ideal if you've tried a regular ash and still see warmth. e.g. Perugia 4.11 Intense Dark Ash Brown

Ash tones are especially brilliant for:

✔ Cooling down brassy or brunette hair
✔ Colouring after lightening (bleach wash reveals warmth — ash counters it)
✔ Correcting hot roots, red or orange tones
✔ Adding shine + dimension without red undertones

A couple of things to note:
⚠ Cool tones fade faster with heated styling — go easy on the straightener
⚠ Not ideal over cool-toned highlights or balayage (can lean greenish)

Are you naturally cool-toned, or do you battle brassiness constantly? Tell us in the comments and we'll help you find your perfect ash 👇

Read the full guide 👉 https://theshade.com.au/alluring-ash-browns/

The salon secret hiding in plain sight. 🔥

Ever wondered why your conditioning treatment looks amazing at the salon but a little underwhelming at home? It's not the product. It's the heat.

Hairdressers strategically apply heat during in-salon treatments to soften and lift the hair cuticle, allowing the product to deeply absorb. The result? Stronger, shinier, more resilient hair — the kind you walk out of the salon with.

Our Thermal Heat Cap brings that exact technique into your home routine.

🌿 How it works:

-Flaxseed-filled and microwaveable
-Retains heat for a 20–45 minute treatment
-Reusable
-Suitable for all hair types and textures

✨ Pair it with your favourite treatment:

-Repair Mask for deep nourishment, strength and shine
-Tsubaki (Camellia) Oil for lightweight, deeply penetrating moisture and a luminous finish

Bonus: the gentle heat also stimulates blood flow to your scalp, which can support healthy hair growth. 🌱

The routine is simple — wash, apply treatment, microwave the cap, pop it on for 30 minutes, rinse. Once a week. That's it.

When was the last time your hair got a proper deep treatment? Tell us in the comments — and we'll suggest the perfect pairing for your hair type 👇

Read the full guide 👉 https://theshade.com.au/some-like-it-hot/

Salon-perfect colour, in your bathroom. Here's the formula. 💁‍♀️

Home colouring has come a long way — but the difference between okay results and flawless ones often comes down to a few colourist tricks you might not know about. Master these 5 and you'll never look back.

🎨 1. Timing is everything
Your hair has different porosity along its length. Roots = least porous, mid-lengths = more porous, ends = most porous. Always start at the roots and give them a 20-minute head start before combing colour down through the lengths. Otherwise you'll end up with darker, duller ends.

🎯 2. Total saturation at the roots
For root touch-ups, part your hair into 4 sections and methodically work the colour into every bit of new growth. Patience here = no missed patches later.

🔥 3. Avoid "hot roots"
Trying to go lighter? Remember: colour cannot lift colour. If your hair's already dyed, applying a lighter shade on top will leave your roots looking warm and orange against the rest. You'll need a separate lightening step.

🪮 4. Comb down to escape "the band"
That dark band around your crown happens when fresh colour overlaps onto previously coloured hair. Apply colour to your roots only, then gently feather it down with a comb — no band, no build-up.

✨ 5. The right product in the right place
If your lengths are porous, dry or damaged, our Colour Perfection approach is the gentlest way to keep colour fresh: permanent colour at the roots, semi/demi or toner through the lengths. Healthy hair, vibrant colour, no over-processing.

What's your biggest home colour challenge — dark ends, hot roots, or that dreaded crown band? Tell us in the comments and we'll point you to the right fix 👇

Read the full guide 👉 https://theshade.com.au/5-tips-for-flawless-hair-colour-at-home/

Stubborn greys winning the war on your roots? Here's how to fight back. 🩶

If your greys keep grinning through every colour, you're not imagining it — colour-resistant greys are a real thing. Grey hair is structurally different: the cuticle is often coarser and more tightly packed, which makes it harder for colour to absorb and hold.

The good news? With the right technique (and the right developer), you can achieve complete, beautiful grey coverage at home. Here are our 6 colourist-approved tips:

🎨 1. Strategic placement — Use our Colour Perfection approach: permanent colour on roots only, semi/toner through lengths. Less processing, better condition, better colour.

💪 2. 27 vol developer — Specifically formulated to lift the cuticle on stubborn greys and lock colour in where it counts.

⏱️ 3. Less colour, more often — A single colour session every 8 weeks won't outpace fast regrowth. Try half a tube + half a sachet every 2 weeks for ongoing coverage.

🔥 4. Add heat — Blast your roots with a hairdryer for 1–2 minutes, pop on a shower cap and let the warmth boost colour absorption.

⏳ 5. Extra processing time — Add an extra 10 minutes for stubborn greys (45 mins total is your sweet spot).

🎯 6. Ask a colourist — Warm + neutral blends often deliver the most balanced, natural-looking coverage over greys. Our colourists can help you nail your perfect mix — for free.

Are your greys cooperative or are they full rebellion? Tell us in the comments 👇

Read the full guide 👉 https://theshade.com.au/5-tips-colouring-grey-hair-regrowth/