3.2 Colouring Tools and Supplies

Chapter 3 – Product Selection and Formulation

Selecting the correct tools and supplies for the technique that you choose will help you create the best result possible.

Let’s summarize the various colour tools and their best uses.

Gloves
Colour bowl
Colour bottle
Whisk
Colour keys
Weigh scale
Timer
Colour cape
Towels
Foil comb with rat tail
- For foil application and slicing/weaving
Teasing comb
- To create seamless blends in your hair painting techniques
Balayage board
- Without comb – creates a sturdy surface for hair painting
- With comb – holds backcombing in place while creating a sturdy surface for hair painting
Hair clips
Cushion clips
- For use with hair separators to hold in place
Cotton
- To keep sections seperate when hair separators are not ideal
Tint brushes
- Standard 2-inch flat tipped
  - Ideal for root touches and foiling
  - Stiffer brush for more precise saturation at root or in foil
- Wide standard 3–4-inch flat tipped
  - Ideal for foiling, balayage, all over toner/colour application.
  - More surface area/ more efficient saturation than 2” standard
- Slanted tip or V-angled brush
  - Ideal for precision hair painting
- Feather-soft tint brushes
  - Ideal for hair painting
  - Achieve maximum glide with better product transference to hair
- Balayage brush
  - Ideal for balayage / ombré saturation
  - Maximum product load
  - Achieve maximum saturation
  - Usually have feather soft bristles for glide and product transference
Hair Separators:

Hair Separators
	Ideal Colour Techniques	Ideal Colour Products	Pros	Cons	Re-usable?
Foil	Highlighting Lowlighting Weaves Slices Backcombing techniques	Bleach Colour	Neat/compact Insulatiing for maximum processing Can apply product close to scalp	May slip May rip Must open to observe processing	NO
Cling Film	Balayage Ombré Backcombing techniques	Bleach Colour	Cost effective Non-slip Transparent to see placement and processing progress Keeps product moist without insulating	Hard to work with Not efficient/ must rip as you work Difficult to remove individual sections	NO
No-stick Film	Balayage Ombré Backcombing techniques	Bleach Colour	Cost effective Non-slip Transparent to see placement and processing progress Keeps product moist without insulating Pre-ripped sheets Easy to use	Difficult to remove individual sections	NO
Thermal Strips	Highlighting Lowlighting Weaves Slices	Bleach Colour Heavy direct-dye product	Lightweight Sturdy Non-slip Insulating Can apply product close to scalp Pre-ripped Easy and efficient to use Easy to remove	Must open to view processing progress	YES
Meche	Balayage Ombré Backcombing techniques	Bleach Colour Heavy direct-dye product	Non-slip Transparent to see placement and processing progress Keeps product moist without insulating Pre-ripped Easy and efficient to use Easy to remove	May slip Not ideal for small sections	YES

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