You may have heard these sentences when discussing The Lauren Ashtyn Collection color selection with one of our stylists, but what exactly do they mean by golden, ash, or neutral? When you hear descriptive words like those, we are usually describing the tone of The Lauren Ashtyn Collection Volume or Crown Extensions. While the color is blonde, the tone might look warmer, cooler, or neutral depending on which colors are more prevalent throughout. An Extension described as “ash” is an overall cool undertone. Cool tones are most prevalent in blues and violets and the reason they are considered “cool tones” is because those are the colors most prevalent when the weather is at its coldest and most overcast. LED lights could be considered “cool.” In hair, blue and violet will not be detectable to the eye – the hair will still appear blonde – but compared to other, warmer pieces, it will appear obviously ashier than the others. Our color Elsie is an ash tone with a root and some lowlights. “Gold,” on the other hand, is a much warmer undertone. Just like the color on a warm, sunny summer day, rich golden colors are more prevalent in Extensions described as “golden.” Edison lights could be considered “warm.” In hair, red or golden colors are more prevalent in an Extension described as “golden,” but of course those colors will not be detectable to the eye when blended in a hair color; the hair will still appear blonde, but compared to other, ashier pieces, it will appear obviously warmer compared to those others. Our color Darci is an ash tone with a slight root and some subtle lowlights. Compared to “ash” and “gold” hair, “Neutral” is exactly what it sounds like it should be – a blend of both tonal extremes to achieve a middle ground. Incandescent light bulbs and overcast, warm days could be considered “neutral” in color. In hair colors considered “neutral,” red/golden colors and violet/blue colors blend together to achieve a look that does not fall under either extreme. Our color Giselle is a neutral tone with a dark root and lowlights. It is vital to understand the meaning of tones because some undertones don’t blend well with others. In other words, some skin tones might clash with some hair tones. Be sure to always email your photos to consult@laurenashtyn.com, live chat us on our website, or call/text us at your convenience and we will be sure to walk you through the process. Until next time, Lauren Ashtyn