Do it well and it looks very cool (Smart Beauty Smart Highlights)

Member Name: daniash

Product:	Smart Beauty Smart Highlights
Date:	15/05/09 (56 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Achieves very vibrant colours

Disadvantages: Like all highlights it is hard to apply correctly

With the health of your hair on the line, you have to be careful which colourants and highlights you choose. You know to avoid the too cheap, and to never believe that the result you'll get will be as good as the picture. You must keep in mind that it will also depend on your skill.

If you have skill, patience and discipline, I believe that you will be able to get a very satisfactory result from this product. The packaging contains very helpful instructions including several examples (with pictures) of how you can use the highlights to achieve different effects. It really does feel a bit overkill, because everything in the procedure is explained in fastidious details, but if you take care (and better still, if you have a friend to help) it will pay off.

The colour product itself is similar to what you'll have seen everywhere. You mix two liquids, leave it to develop for a while, apply, leave it on, then rinse it off and follow with a conditioner. However this stuff looks slightly better quality than the rest, with a consistency that will allow you to spread it on in creative ways without worrying too much about it running down.

Once you have it on (and putting it on correctly is the trickiest bit as with any similar product) you wait for the develop time to pass (most of us will be tempted to add 5 minutes just to be sure). Normally I get a slight itch when colouring, but this one didn't cause any reaction. As said before, it doesn't drip either. You can easily spend the time reading or watching TV without worrying too much.

When you rinse, it doesn't take too long for the water to run clear, which I take as a good sign that most of it is firmly stuck to your hair. The mess you will have created with all the gloves, aluminium foil, tray and brush will have to be cleaned up, and this colour can stain stuff, so be careful. Don't expect to see the final result until your hair is 100% dry.

When this moment comes, the outcome will depend on you as much as the product. The colour achieved is VERY vibrant at first, and it stays so for long enough. Whether you've applied it to the right areas in order to have a sharp contrast or made more of a sloppy smear, it is not to blame on the colour itself. I tried twice, once by myself, once with a friend, and the difference is great.
I am highly satisfied with the shades that will be produced. If you combine it with good judgment and planning, you'll end up with some eye catching hair.

Summary: Think well about what you want to achieve and go for it, chances are you'll come near.