Has the term "blonde specialist" lost its' meaning over the course of the last few yrs?
I have been doing varying degrees of blonde highlights for several years now. Now that I'm an adult and have adult money, I want to be able to get the bright white hair that I've always wanted. Not a complete bleach and tone, but a full head of highlights that are just about platinum but not fully. I don't want root taps, root smudges, lived in or low maintenance looks. I want a bright blonde with little to no warmth , all the way to my roots. I don't care about grow out lines.
I understand blondes are hard. I understand its difficult to get that bright white look. I understand I'm a patient that makes more "difficult" requests, however, I am willing to pay for it and undergo the maintenance. Because I understand blondes are hard, I often seek out stylists that label themselves as blonde specialists...cause....that's what you do when you have a difficult request. You go to specialized stylists.
I have found ONE stylist who got me where I wanted, and then I unfortunately moved far away. Since then, I can't seem to find a stylist who can just make me bright blonde, or at the very least, properly communicate the fact that I might not be able to get exactly what I want at risk of damage. Totally get that! It just seems like I find these "blonde specialists" who really just do lived-in low maintenance looks. Most of the blondes they do are warmer honey blondes, beige blondes, butter blonde, etc, and won't do that bright and icy look.
And then the ones who DO tell me they can do exactly what I want (I show pictures to make sure I am accurately conveying what I want), always under deliver. They then tell me that that was the closest they could get me, that I can't be super bright because of xyz reason, that this is the best they could do. Essentially telling me what I am asking for isn't realistic or attainable.
I know that's not true because I have found someone who did it successfully without any significant damage...so clearly, it's a skill issue. Which again is fine!! Blonde is difficult , and everyone has to start somewhere. Just don't go around calling yourself a blonde specialist if you aren't able to take the more difficult and high maintenance clients. If a blonde specialist can't get me to where I want, then who tf can?? And again, I know its possible because its been done before.
It just seems like some stylists have lightened a few clients or took them up a few levels and then are calling themselves blonde specialists. I'm sorry but if I come to you and tell you I want a full head of bright white highlights and you tell me it's impossible and unrealistic when I have done it before, then you aren't a blonde specialist. Am I crazy?