Page 15 - Understanding light, colour and hair colour

Why does blonde hair look lighter in daylight? Daylight is the ultimate

white light because it has such a huge energy source (The Sun). We have

all said to a client take the mirror out into the daylight and you will see the

true colour. Light in the salon usually comes from 100 what bulbs. The
light transmitted from 100-watt bulbs is very warm, because it only

contains two wavelengths, visible red and invisible infrared wavelengths.

Everything this light touches reflects very warm in colour, therefore
making white blonde hair look orange/yellow.

Some salons have only fluorescent lighting. This form of white light is
created by filling and sealing a glass tube with mercury vapor, when the

mercury vapor is electrically charged it emits ultraviolet wave lengths

only, which are absorbed by the coating of phosphors on the inside of the
glass tube, converting and emitting mainly green wavelengths along with

some red and blue as well. Because of the very strong green wavelengths

once this light is absorbed by the white blonde hair, it reflects as Khaki or

with a greenish cast over the blonde. (Please see Fig. 14)