Ashley Orton Artistry

when stylists talk about “speciality blonding” 🗣️ it may look something like the 3rd pic when processing 👀

1) approaching the hair with a few different techniques, 2) timing everything to finish at the same time if possible, 3) formulating the strength of lightener each mix, and to the consistency needed for whatever application is next, etc.

this isn’t the early 2000s anymore where people are spending $75 to get a chunky partial highlight 🙂‍↔️ and it’s rare to be in and out of the salon in a couple hours unless you’re getting a quick face-frame touchup.

we’re in the era of clients showing us perfect AI inspiration pictures, or Pinterest-worthy hair with seamless blends that likely took a lot more time than they realize.

when you book with me, you can be assured that I’m hustling to get the job done as quick as I can, but not at the risk of compromising your hair or your end result.

that’s why this blonding transformation took 6 hours (reminder, I’m $75 per/hr) and I can’t lie, she did pay a little blonde tax (what the industry lovingly calls ✨damage✨) on some of her ends that we were cutting off anyway.

^ it’s just a risk we’re taking when wanting to brighten up your blonde allllll over, even when I’m the MOST careful I could possibly be, and it just feels right to be totally transparent about that in case y’all forgot your hair isn’t invincible!

+ I’d never overlap previous blonde if I knew for certain breakage was going to happen, but like I said, it’s a risk we take for results like these to be possible 😍

would you pay the blonde tax to have a hair transformation like this?

if anyone ever tries telling me color blocking is “out” I will block them 😌 fun hair will always be in! ❤️‍🔥

I checked my clients foils, thinking they’d be the shade of a nice pale banana, and to my surprise, saw ORANGE. 🫠(I love orange hair, not brassy blonde. huge difference.)

since we were going for icy white blonde, this just wouldn’t do! I re-applied lightener to every foil, put a towel on her head (to keep the heat from the foils locked in) and prayed to the hair gods. it worked!

after working my magic with 3 different toner formulas, we achieved her icy blonde hair goals 🤍

becoming a blonding specialist took time, I’ve been behind the chair for 10+ years, and I became comfortable calling myself a specialist once I:

• learned to pivot, not panic
• knew how to fix mistakes / surprises instead of feeling lost about the next step to take
• could achieve seamless blends
• was able to mimic or come close to the placement / vibe of an inspiration picture
• could get hair bright blonde, while keeping it as healthy as possible (shoutout Hair)
• felt comfortable formulating toners
• could calmly and confidently communicate with clients thoughout the process

I love a challenge 🤩 and I LOVE a good blonde

these “after” photos are completely unretouched, straight from my camera roll (Canon Rebel SL3)

I looooveeeee pinkkkk haaaiiirrrrrr 💗🌸🍬

magenta + wild orchid

‼️♥️💋 “diablo” + “checkmate”

took a much needed break from both posting and working last month (I had 5 extra days off) and I’m feeling so refreshed going into my busy March! 💚

I have quite a bit of hair to share so let me start back up with this beautiful transition from a grown-out, almost fully solid blonde to a softer, more dimensional lived-in look 🤌🏻💞 I will always advocate for adding dimension!

igora vibrance:
lowlights- 7-48 + 8-46
blonde- 9-55 + 9,5-5

this balance of copper and blonde is tooooo good 👌🏻🧡 it gave me some serious hair envy!!

stylist tip: if a client wants a strawberry blonde that will last, add some copper-gold lowlights (we made hers a bit more intense copper to lean more into redhead territory this time) and add rose gold into your blonde formula! 💗

when your besties want to pitch in to give the most deserving girl some fun birthday hair we go all out!!! 🤭 so obsessed with this new look on my beautiful friend .schwantes 💖🖤

“cheap date” + “lovesick” 💞