Mermaid Melt Is the Dreamiest Summer Hair Color

Mermaids have been having a huge moment in beauty, especially when it comes to hair color. And we're always juiced to see new interpretations of the dreamy trend. Over in Missouri, hairstylist Courtney Gann offers her own, a look she created after being inspired by undersea hues of blue, green, and yellow.

She calls it “Mermaid Melt,” as the coloring is done in an ombré effect, ranging from dark to light, starting at the top of the crown. To begin the process, Gann used Pulp Riot Blank Canvas to remove the faded color on her client’s lob, which consisted of pink roots, yellow, and orange ends. This formula was mixed with B3 Brazilian Bond Builder to keep strands healthy and prep for the next phase.

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The real fun begins, though, when it's time to add color. “We always start by looking at inspiration photos and go from there,” Gann tells Allure. “After looking at blues and greens, we decided on those shades and wanted to add yellow for something brighter and summery.”

The dyes used were Pulp Riot’s three formulas (Nirvana blue, Sea Glass green, and Lemon yellow) mixed with B3. Gann sectioned the hair into four parts, painting the roots first, ends second, and then the middle, which blended the colors together for a seamless transition.

“Pulp Riot is extremely conditioning,” she says. “We melted three colors, even on short hair. I have lots of clients worry that their hair isn’t long enough, so I love showing that you can adjust techniques and formulas.”

Following, Gann rinsed the dyes out with cool water and a splash of Biolage Raw Color Care Acidic Milk Rinse, which was left on for five minutes. Design.me’s Fab.me leave-in treatment spray was then applied in addition to the Puff.me volumizing powder spray.

The hair was then blown dry with Kenra Professional Heat Block 22 Spray and finished with a spritz of the IGK Beach Club Texture Spray. From start to finish, the process took about four hours.

Ready to dive into a new hairstyle and try this look out for yourself? Gann notes it could work on a variety of hair textures. “Maintaining fashion colors is a commitment,” she notes. “The key to lasting color is washing hair with cool water and using a sulfate-free shampoo. Low settings on heat tools and a heat protectant spray also preserve longevity.”

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