THE BEAUTY OF BLONDES BY OLI TRACEY

January 15, 2025

I’m Oli Tracey, Crazy Color Brand Ambassador and a passionate advocate for all things colour. My journey into the world of hairdressing began back in 2007. However, life had other plans, and I took a detour to explore different dreams. It wasn’t until 2021 that I found my way back to hairdressing, retraining at the amazing Ambassador salon ‘Slunks’, where my love for creative colour really took off.

Since then, I’ve worked my way up to becoming a senior stylist and educator, sharing my passion and expertise with others which I love. Today, as a Crazy Color Brand Ambassador, I’m fortunate to collaborate with multiple brands on exciting projects, constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in hair artistry: me in my happy place!

Why Crazy Color for Blonde Toning?

My relationship with Crazy Color goes back to 2013 when I first experimented with blonde toning in a shared university kitchen. Little did I know that a bottle of Marshmallow—intended for a rainbow-tipped ombre—would spark a lifelong passion for creating the perfect blonde.

Now, as a professional, Crazy Color has become my go-to for toning blondes. It gives me unparalleled control and creative freedom while protecting my clients’ natural hair colour. It makes me truly think about the composition of blonde shades, what defines an Ash, a Pearl, or a Violet.

What Sets Crazy Color Apart:

  1. Versatility: With 40 intermixable shades, the possibilities are endless.
  2. Cost-Effective: Achieve premium results without the premium price tag.
  3. No Natural Base Shift: Unlike many cream toners, Crazy Color won’t alter your clients’ natural tones, eliminating unwanted surprises.

Hero Shades for Blonde Toning

Here are some of the shades I rely on to create show-stopping blondes:

  1. Marshmallow:
    My absolute favourite! On paper, it’s described as the palest pink, but in reality, it’s a stunning pastel lavender-pink that’s perfect for eliminating unwanted warmth in blondes. It creates what I’d call a clean level 10 blonde with a soft violet undertone. Marshmallow also works wonders for neutralizing leftover green or blue tones in the hair when transitioning colours. Since pink is the opposite of green on the colour wheel, it gently neutralizes green, restoring the hair to a neutral base, ready to take on a new shade. Over time, it’s become one of my go-to tools for achieving flawless, customized blondes.
  2. Metallics:
    I often use shades like Slate, Silver, and Platinum as the foundation for my blonde tones, layering in small amounts of other shades to create a rich, multidimensional finish.
  3. Neutral Mix:
    A must-have for customising shades. It balances tones without overpowering them, giving you full control over your creations without having to worry about the dominance of blues or purples.

Custom Blonde Formulas

I’ve developed some go-to mixtures that, in my opinion, rival and even surpass traditional blonde toners you’d find in a tube. The best part? Crazy Color is incredibly cost-effective, making these hacks a great way to save both you and your salon money over time.

To simplify things for you, I’ve developed these go-to blonde toning blends inspired by traditional toner numbering systems:

  1. 10V / 10.2
    1. Marshmallow + Platinum + Silver
      Result: A clean, icy blonde with a soft violet tint.
  2. 10A / 10.1
    1. Neutral Mix + Lilac + Bubblegum Blue + Candyfloss
      Result: A cool ash blonde, perfect for neutralizing warmth.
  3. 10G / 10.3
    1. Neutral Mix + Rose Gold + Canary Yellow
      Result: A soft, golden blonde with subtle warmth.
  4. 10P / 10.9
    1. Slate + Black + Marshmallow
      Result: A deeper silver blonde. For a bolder tone, like 8P / 8.9, add more Black.

Toning Hacks & Why Marshmallow Is a Must-Have

One of the most unique benefits of Marshmallow is its versatility. It’s not just a toner, it’s a tool for creative colour correction. Whether it’s neutralising warmth or gently correcting leftover greens, Marshmallow is my go-to for achieving flawless results.

Using Crazy Color has also taught me the importance of layering tones to create depth and dimension. These blends give me complete creative freedom to craft bespoke blondes for every client.

Crazy Color has transformed my approach to blonde toning, allowing me to combine artistry, precision and practicality all without having to worry about product cost. Whether you’re an experienced stylist or just starting your journey with blonde toning, I hope these tips and formulas inspire you to create something truly unique.

Happy toning!
Oli Tracey, Crazy Color Brand Ambassador

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