From vibrant, healthy blondes to rich, dimensional brunettes, high lift color is a versatile tool that is sure to enhance your services in the salon. A colorist’s essential, these high lift shades are ideal for achieving up to 4 levels of lift, all without the need for a lightener.
The new High Lift Series from Areté takes this multifaceted tool to the next level, delivering the same performance as traditional high lift color without compromising hair health. Free from ammonia, resorcinol, PPD, and gluten, these shades allow you to achieve stunning results while avoiding the toxic ingredients found in many high lift formulations.
Learn how to master your high lift formulations for optimal results and discover how this clean, innovative approach to high lift color can inspire your color services behind the chair.
Understanding & Mastering High Lift Color Formulations
When formulating with high lifts, it’s essential to consider the undertone of your starting level. Instead of solely focusing on the final tone you want to achieve, shift your focus to the undertone you’re aiming to neutralize during the lightening process. This approach will ensure a more precise and beautiful outcome, helping you achieve your desired shade.
The new High Lift Series from Areté offers two options for your high lift formulations. An “Intense Ash” (11.11) and an “Intense Ash Violet” (11.12).
The “Intense Ash” (11.11) series has blue pigment and works best to neutralize strong orange undertones, while the “Intense Ash Violet” (11.12) series has blue and violet pigment which works to control orange-yellow undertones.
Developing a solid understanding of these undertones will elevate your formulations and assist you in achieving your desired result every time.
How to Use for Best Results
Mixing Ratio: 1 part Areté High Lift Color: 2 parts Transformative Oxidizing Catalyst
- For approx. 3 levels of lift: 30 Vol is recommended
- For approx. 4 levels of lift: 40 Vol is recommended
Pro Tip: The Areté High Lift colors are designed for levels 6 and above. If you are formulating on a darker base, the best results will be achieved with 40 vol.
Understanding Color Theory & Tips For Formulating With High Lift Color
When lifting hair with color, high-lift shades, or lighteners, it’s essential to consider the underlying pigment of the starting level. As hair lightens, natural pigment is exposed, influencing the final result.
High-lift colors work by both lifting and depositing counteracting tones, helping to neutralize unwanted warmth for a balanced finish. The chart below will guide you in refining underlying pigments during formulation.
Pro Tip: Warm or cool tones can alter how natural levels appear. To accurately assess the true level, hold a natural level swatch next to the client’s hair, take a photo, and apply a black-and-white filter. This removes light reflections, making it easier to identify the hair’s actual depth.
Steps to Optimize High-Lift Color Performance
Optimizing the performance of high lift color starts at the color wheel. Once you have determined the hair’s natural level, the next step is selecting the shade that will best neutralize the underlying pigment exposed while lifting.
The correct way to read a color wheel is to find the tone on the wheel and see what tone is directly across from it. These colors are exactly opposite of each other in tonality, meaning they will cancel each other out for a neutral result.
1. Identify the Natural Level – Start by determining the client’s natural hair level before lifting.
2. Analyze Underlying Pigment – Consider the underlying pigment that will be exposed during the lightening process.
3. Use the Color Wheel – Locate the exposed pigment’s tone on the color wheel.
4. Find the Opposite Tone – Identify the color directly across from the exposed pigment on the wheel. This is the shade that will neutralize unwanted tones for a balanced result.
5. Select the Right High-Lift Shade – Choose a high-lift color that both lifts the hair and deposits the necessary counteracting pigment to achieve the desired tone.
High Lift Formulation Example
Starting: Level 7- “Medium Blonde”
Undertone: Orange (.4)
Refinement Tone: Blue (.1)
Shade Choice: 11.11 Intense Ash
Why: The blue (.1) neutralizes the warmth exposed when lifting from an orange undertone, resulting in a neutral and balanced blonde result.
Beyond Blondes
Traditionally, high lift color is used to lift virgin hair 3-4 levels on levels 6 and higher, but the creative possibilities expand well beyond that. We encourage you to look to our Areté Artists and discover innovative ways to maximize the Areté High Lift Series in your salon!
Blonde Versailles
Artist: Areté Lead Artist Jordan Jones
Formula
11.12 + 30 VOL (1 part color: 2 parts developer)
Ends: Wet balayage Enlightenment Powder + 10 Vol
No Toner Needed
Explore more of Jordan’s creations!
Cocoa Lush
Artist: Areté Lead Artist Marissa Neel & Areté Artist Nick Morales
Formula:
11.11 + 40 Vol (1 part color: 2 parts developer)
Technique: Tease Babylights
No Toner Needed
Explore more of Marissa’s creations!
Explore more of Nick’s Creations!
Luxury Copper
Artist: Areté Artist Alyssa Dosier
Formula:
Step One:
11.12 + 30 Vol on level 3 virgin hair (1 part color: 2 parts developer)
*Processed for 35 mins before washing
Step Two:
Base: 6.0 + 6.6 + 5 Vol (1 part color: 2 parts developer)
Mids-Ends: 6.43 + 7.5 + Dash of 6.0 + 5 Vol (1 part color: 2 parts developer)
Explore more of Alyssa’s creations!
Incorporating Areté High Lift color into your salon services unlocks a world of possibilities. With its clean, ammonia-free formula, this collection provides a controlled lift, locks in moisture, all while avoiding the harsh chemicals typically found in traditional lighteners or high lift color alternatives.
This makes it an essential addition to any clean colorist’s salon toolkit. Offering both stunning results and a healthier, more gentle approach to your lightening services.
By applying the formulation tips shared in this blog and drawing inspiration from some of our Areté Artists, we want to empower you to unleash your inner alchemist behind the chair.
Ready to maximize high lift color for your next creation? Explore the Areté High Lift Series!
