Edgy and Elegant: Midnight Black
By Kristen Linares, Product Club Educator

Here are five tips to create a flawless application and add a raven-like dimension.

1. Sectioning for Precision
   A solid foundation starts with sectioning. Begin by using Product Club’s Grip Clips to divide the hair into four even sections—two in the front and two in the back. This method ensures you have full control and can apply color more efficiently. These sectioning clips also prevent unwanted overlap, which is crucial for maintaining that clean, crisp end result.
2. Precision Color Brushes for Root-to-Tip
   Coverage When you are working with dark hair color, even application is non-negotiable. I love Product Club’s Feather Bristle Brush Set! There are six brushes in the set that allow you to paint delicately around the hairline, saturate the base, and section with accuracy as you apply. Dark hair color can easily highlight unevenness and stain the client’s skin, but with the right tools, your application will be flawless from root to tip.
3. Use Foils for a Clean Application
   Haircolor has a way of creeping where it doesn’t belong. Product Club’s Pre-Cut Foil Sheets can be placed between sections to prevent color from bleeding or transferring. This step is essential if you are working with a combination of resistant hair or dry skin. A terrific way to keep skin stain-free, especially around the face, is to cut the pre-cut foils into 2-inch strips. Apply the strips to the hairline after you have applied your base color. This will protect the skin but also help lay down any grey hairs that may spring up out of the color.
4. Use a Timer for Consistency
   Product Club’s Triple Color Timer looks sophisticated and allows you to track three different processes or clients simultaneously. My favorite feature is the mini dry erase board. I find it a great place to write quick notes if I am not near my laptop to enter a formula and don’t want to forget. Keeping the color on too long can lead to over-processing, while rinsing too early can result in uneven coverage. Using a timer will ensure each section of hair gets the attention it deserves without any guesswork.
5. Create Raven-Like Dimension
   Now, here is the real trick to elevating your Level 1 color into something more luxurious and multidimensional: try alternating your gloss application with a blue-based black and violet-based black. Start in the nape with a diagonal section and apply the blue based black, then in the next section create another diagonal and apply the violet based black. Continue this through the entire head. Once you have completed your application, use Product Club’s Color Blending Brush to ensure complete saturation and marry the tones together.

The result? A stunning raven-like effect with depth and shimmer. This alternating technique creates an illusion of movement and dimension, especially in direct light, adding a fun, mysterious quality to the black.