Explaining and Debunking TikTok’s Newest Pattern

When a brand new hair time period hits the trending web page, there’s at all times an opportunity we’re simply placing a brand new identify on an already-established method. Moonlights, the freehand spotlight method to revive a colour job, is one other case of this renaming phenomenon. No less than, that’s what we thought.

This exploding pattern appears to be extra smoke and mirrors than precise method. Consultants assume the true moonlight method just isn’t as algorithm-friendly; the type takes longer than displayed in these viral movies.

Featured Consultants

• Marie Nino is an knowledgeable colorist and stylist based mostly in New York
• Ryan Dickie is an knowledgeable colorist at IGK Salon Miami

Wait, what are moonlights?

Like this TikTok (seemingly) demonstrates, moonlights are created by sweeping the hair again and making use of bleach in a freehand type to areas the solar would catch. The bleach is combed in to create that balayage impact.

Besides.

Is that even bleach?

Whereas the colour payoff to this haphazard and ultra-fast method seems to be tremendous satisfying, we have now to ask: that’s hair mousse, proper? Actually, in the event you dig by way of the preferred moonlights clips, every video smells a little bit fishy. And we’re not the one ones who assume that.

What do consultants assume?

In response to knowledgeable colorist at IGK Salon Miami, Ryan Dickie, there’s some reality to this method. However the reality just isn’t in its presentation.

“The overwhelming majority of content material I’ve discovered of this method on-line appears to be massively manipulative and deceptive,” Dickie explains. “I’ve additionally consulted with a number of colorists to confirm my concern. In the end, the notion of this method is vastly misunderstood, and seemingly purposely deceitful.“

So, what are actual moonlights?

It’s not that moonlights are faux, it’s that they take far more technique than simply plopping bleach onto your brow and brushing it in.

“Moonlights, or vibrant minimal highlights with vivid colours utilized in a means that mimics the pure gentle reflection within the hair,” explains New York colorist and stylist, Marie Nino. “They create a vivid, glowing impact by inserting vibrant tones by way of sections of the hair.”

So, form of a balayage, however brighter?

“‘Moonlights’ refers back to the strategy of colour software during which a colorist will apply lightener to hair in open-air, with the intention of brightening or lightening,” Dickie provides. “This system is finest used to revive a beforehand lifted, and now lived-in and light blonde or bronde.”

How is that this type totally different from a balayage?

“That is totally different from balayage as it’s extra free kind, much less structured and fewer saturated,” Dickie explains. “Whereas balayage focuses in additional focal areas, moonlighting is a extra world and common software.”

Each goal to catch gentle, however based on Nino, you may consider moonlights as extra deliberately eye-catching.

“In contrast to balayage, which is extra about comfortable, pure gradation, moonlights concentrate on creating daring, eye-catching distinction with extra outlined placement,” she explains.

How are they really created?

No shock right here: your colorist received’t simply throw a bunch of bleach straight onto your head.

“Throughout software for the moonlighting method, a colorist will paint lightener straight onto a brush or a comb and easily comb the lightener into the areas to be lightened,” Dickie says. “I typically use this method to refresh previous and ‘worn out’ blonde after a full spotlight software, as it’s a very delicate, quick and simple method so as to add further lightness, concurrently attaining a multitonal impact.”

That is undoubtedly much like the TikTok movies going viral however with a key distinction. The bleach goes on the comb first, not your head.  

Are moonlights best for you?

“Layered, wavy, curly hairstyles or types with motion work finest for this highlighting method,” says Nino. “They permit the colourful tones to pop and mix seamlessly.”

For Dickie, moonlights are excellent for lighter colours in want of a refresh.

“Utilizing this method on darkish or virgin hair doesn’t promise very best outcomes,” Dickie warns. “With out making certain even software and heavy saturation, most lightener merchandise will attain their most lightening functionality and stall, inflicting uneven raise and undesirable underlying tones.”