Emerson Salon – Capitol Hill Seattle

Last weekend saw the release of the highly-anticipated movie, Scott Pilgrim vs The World, starring Michael Cera. In this fast-moving action/comedy, Scott Pilgrim must battle the seven evil ex’s of the love of his life, Ramona Flowers, in order to win her heart.

Ramona Flowers is played by the young actress, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who you probably remember as the girl in the cheerleading outfit (Lee) in Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof. She has also appeared in The Ring Two, Factory Girl and the now-canceled TV show, “Passions.”

In this film, Mary’s character, Ramona, is notorious for her anime style hair and hair color. Throughout the movie, Ramona’s color changes from pink to blue to purple and more! Most likely this was accomplished through the use of wigs, as altering your hair color drastically in a small period of time can be extremely damaging. Here we explain why.

If you have lighter blond hair it is much easier to deposit punk colors because they will show up instantaneously on the hair once applied (this is an all over color service). If your hair is dirty blond to brown or black, it will be necessary to bleach the hair to a light blond before applying the desired color (this is a bleach and tone service). We use a semi-permanent line from Pravanna that utilizes silk proteins in order to condition the hair while coloring it. This is because hair bleach can cause breakage, frizz, difficulty in styling and uneven porosity.

A semi-permanent is a color that sits on top of the hair and does not alter the internal structure. Semi-permanents last between 7-14 shampoos and must be refreshed monthly to maintain their hue.  Ironically, removing them can be problematic, as attempting to bleach them out can sometimes cause the color to be driven deeper into the hair. This is the reason why changing vibrant shades often can be damaging, in addition to providing inconsistent results. Hair has a limit and when it reaches it it can break off. Avoid this hair disaster by talking to a knowledgeable stylist who will review what to expect and how to maintain these colors.

OR you can try on a bunch of wigs like Mary (as Ramona) and use that to figure out what new hair color will look best for you. It can be a fun outing with friends and you can take pictures in order to get people’s opinions later (try Display and Costume or Champion Costume Supply.)

If you want to attempt one of these spunky shades, we recommend booking a consultation with an Emerson stylist. Only then can it be determined whether your hair (in its present state) can withstand the process needed to create these vibrant colors. We love wild and crazy shades, give us a call today to set up your appointment. Dress your hair up and take on the world like Scott Pilgrim!

Post by D’Arcy