What technique involves lightening the hair and then recoloring to the desired tone?

What technique involves lightening the hair and then recoloring to the desired tone?

• A. Single-Process
• B. Double-Process
• C. Retro-Process
• D. Color Correction

Answer: (B)

Two-step lightening and recoloring, known as the double-process method, starts by lifting the hair to the desired level, then applying a tone or color to reach the final shade. Lifting first creates a clean canvas because depositing color on top of pigment that’s still dark won’t produce the correct depth or true tone. Once the hair has been lightened to the target level (often a pale yellow or pale orange), a toner or final color is applied to neutralize unwanted undertones and lock in the chosen shade.

This approach is especially important for dramatic changes or when aiming for precise tones that can’t be achieved by a single color deposit on a dark base. A single-pass method doesn’t involve a separate lightening step, so it can’t reach the same level of lift or tonal accuracy. The other terms aren’t standard techniques for this process, and color correction refers to fixing issues rather than performing a planned lift-and-tone progression.