The salon chair shouldn't feel intimidating — it should feel empowering. At The PVD Hair Edit, the best color happens when we're speaking the same language. This glossary decodes every word and technique you'll hear in my chair so you can walk in confident and leave luminous.
"The best color happens when we're speaking the same language."
Balayage
A French word meaning "to sweep." It's a hand-painted technique that creates a soft, blended look. Clients often use "balayage" when they really mean highlights — and I'll usually make a lighthearted joke to clear up the confusion. Balayage is a technique, not a service.
"Balayage is how we apply — highlights are what you see."
Foils / Foilyage
Foils are classic — precise sections wrapped to lighten with maximum lift. Foilyage is the hybrid: painted like balayage, but finished in foils for added brightness and intensity. Foilyage marries artistry with intensity.
Babylights
Ultra-fine foils that mimic the natural highlights children get from the sun. Perfect for clients who want softness and shimmer without visible stripes. Think shimmer, not stripes.
Teasylights
Foils placed after backcombing small sections of hair. This diffuses the root line and creates a very natural, blended brightness — teasylights erase harsh lines with softness.
Ombre
Often misused by clients, "ombre" is a look with a darker root melting into lighter ends. It's a result, not a technique. An effect, not an application — and the distinction matters when we're planning your service.
Money Piece
Face-framing highlights, usually lighter and brighter than the rest of the hair. Creates a bold, eye-catching effect — hair's version of a spotlight.
Lowlights
The opposite of highlights — adding darker tones for depth and contrast. Essential for dimension in overly light hair. Highlights sparkle; lowlights ground them.
Toner
A demi- or semi-permanent color used to shift tone. If blonde hair is too yellow, adding violet neutralizes it to a pearly white. Toner is about tonal correction — taking a very light highlight down a notch or refining undertones. I often reach for Schwarzkopf toners when I need precision.
"Toner is about shifting tone — not adding color."
Gloss
Think of this as a topcoat for the hair. Gloss adds shine, richness, and sometimes a sheer layer of color. It enhances brunettes, makes reds more vibrant, and gives blondes a luxe reflective finish. I love Joico Lumishine for its luminous, healthy shine.
Banding
Lines of uneven color, usually from overlapping box dye or poor technique. Correcting banding is often a major part of color correction services. It's the ghost of box dye past.
Porosity
How open or sealed the hair's cuticle layer is. High porosity hair grabs color quickly but fades fast. Healthy porosity means longer-lasting, more even color. Porosity decides how long your blonde actually lasts.
Lift
The number of levels a hair color or lightener can make your natural hair lighter. Essential when moving from a level 5 brunette to a level 9 blonde. Lift is how far we can take your canvas.
The Level System
The universal scale of hair color from 1 (black) to 10 (pale blonde). This is one of my favorite things to teach clients — when they grasp the level system, everything clicks. When I say you're a level 7, I'm not rating you — I'm mapping your canvas.
"When I say you're a level 7, I'm not rating you — I'm mapping your canvas."
Cuticle
The protective outer layer of your hair strand. When smooth, hair looks glossy. When raised, it can feel rough and dull. Treatments like Joico Defy Damage help keep the cuticle sealed and healthy. Glossy hair starts at the cuticle.
Aftercare
At-home care is just as important as salon color. Sulfate-free shampoos and bond-building masks protect your investment. For blondes and color clients, I often recommend Amika for gentle cleansing and nourishment. Color doesn't stop at the salon — it lives in your shower.
Smudge / Root Shadow
A technique to blur the line between natural root and highlights, creating a softer grow-out. Keeps hair looking natural and dimensional between appointments. Root shadows stretch your blonde with grace.
Dimension
What most clients ask for without realizing it — light and dark shades working together to create depth, movement, and visual interest. Dimension is the luxury everyone's asking for, even if they don't know the word yet.
"Dimension is the luxury everyone's asking for — even if they don't know the word."
Glossaries don't replace the consultation, but they give you the language to describe your vision. Bring this with you to your next appointment — and we'll translate it into the hair you've always imagined.
Your words, plus my craft, equals editorial-worthy results.