Got Stubborn Yellow or Brassy Tones That Won’t Go Away (No Matter How Light You Go Or What Toner Your Stylist Uses)? …Hard Water May Be To Blame!

By: Heather Hooke

For this month’s popular Ask The Expert series, I chat with Paul Mitchell graduate, hair stylist and beauty expert, Brittany Cabral, on one of the best kept secrets in the haircare industry! We talk about an easy, non-toxic hair treatment that gets rid of the hard water barrier blocking color and how this treatment reveals cooler, on-trend tones in under an hour (with no color what-so-ever)!

My Hair Before | After This $40 Treatment (takes less than an hour)!

In my interview, we talk about the on-trend “white blonde” or “cool tone” look and why some girls seem to get it with ease, while for others (ahem, me) it feels like a gamble every time.

This haircare treatment is something your stylist can order and do as a simple add-on treatment for about $40; Britt explains it’s super easy to do with fool-proof, clear directions any stylist can follow even if she/he hasn’t done before and takes less than an hour!

So, if you’ve struggled with the frustrating brassy tone scenario too or just want softer, healthier, richer looking hair, read my Q&A below and see the before/after pictures (including my own). Plus, be sure to watch the video interview where we go into more detail, like why even people with soft water should do this treatment! By the end of the interview, we are confident you will be texting your stylist asking her/him to order this treatment for you STAT—so you can rock your new, “cooler” do in no time!

Q&A—Haircare Expert: Brittany Cabral, Hair Stylist & Pro Makeup Artist (PMUA)

• tbM: Who qualifies for this treatment?
• BC: Everyone! Especially people who have hard water, water softeners, people who swim, or who have color/ product buildup.
• tbM: Who does NOT qualify or should avoid this treatment?
• BC: No one, it it safe and gentle for everyone and all hair types.
• tbM: What is this treatment called?
• BC: Malibu C crystal gel, it is a packet.

• tbM: Does it use non-toxic ingredients?
• BC: Yes Malibu C is 100% Vegan, Cruelty-Free, and Formulated Without Gluten, Parabens and Sulfates.
• tbM: What does it do exactly? Benefits? Results?
• BC: Antioxidant vitamin crystals activate to a gel and draw out mineral deposits from the hair and scalp. These mineral deposits form a “rock” layer that can inhibit highlights and color to process correctly, causing highlights to lift too brassy and color to look dull.

Me Going Through The EASY Steps To Get The Treatment Done LOL

• tbM: What is the prep for treatment?
• BC: Wet hair and use Malibu C Undoo goo shampoo to clarify, Malibu C crystal gel is applied and emulsified into the hair, the hair is sectioned and clipped, a cap is placed over the hair and put under heat for 45 minutes.
• tbM: What are the cautions?
• BC: There are no cautions.
• tbM: What is the cost?
• BC: Prices vary, I charge $40 for a treatment and a style, and $25 when it’s added to a color service.
• tbM: When should people do this treatment?
• BC: It can be done at any time, but it’s best to do before a color service. It helps the color to process faster and prevents brassy tones in the hair.
• tbM: How soon will people see results?
• BC: Immediately.
• tbM: After doing once, how often should people with hard water do this treatment to maintain results?
• BC: It should be done every 3 to 4 months.
• tbM: Where is this treatment offered?
• BC: In salons.
• tbM: Can someone get this treatment and do at home to save money or salon only? 
• BC: It is not an at home treatment, it requires 45 minutes under a dryer.
• tbM: For FL locals, where do YOU offer it & how can they contact you to make appt? 
• BC: Absolutely, appointments can be made through “Ring My Stylist” App and search “Brittany Cabral” or “Jazmyn Huynh.”  You Can also follow me on instagram @brittcabral or call my direct number 727-459-8166
• tbM: Why should people do this treatment?
• BC: It’s safe and gentle, your hair will look and feel better and your color will last longer.
• tbM: How does it work?
• BC: It lifts mineral deposits from the hair
• tbM: How do people find out if their salon offers it? *Does salon have to have hot dryers? Where can stylist order it and do?
• BC: Yes heat is required, ask your service professional.
• tbM: Any special treatment or process people need to do after treatment or to maintain results?
• BC: Using a Malibu C shampoo that fits your hair needs will help to minimize buildup, there are no reactions to be careful of.
• tbM: Anything people need to tell their stylist who colors their hair post treatment to prevent overprocessing or “burning hair” now that hardwater “barrier” is gone and color will take faster?
• BC: Good, professional and experienced stylists should never get “stuck in a rut” or process hair the exact same time every time, because so many factors go into hair color (i.e body temperaure, temperature of the room, hormones, etc).  So, YES color can go faster without the hard water “barrier” there blocking the color; make sure to mention to your stylist so they watch the hair more carefully.  Again, a great stylist should always do this anyway, but it’s worth the mention.
• tbM: Any Products you recommend to protect hair and/or extend results?
• BC: Malibu C offers take home products for blondes, swimmers and hard water, there’s something for every hair type.

• tbM: How often should this treatment be done for those who have hard water?
• BC: Should be done every 3-4 months, or as often as needed.
• tbM: If someone has soft water or switches to soft water, is this treatment unnecessary or still helpful & why?
• BC: It is still helpful, [because] it cleanses the scalp and removes buildup. Softened water results from a sodium-ion process that removes hard water minerals, but leaves behind sodium and potassium.

Before | After Pictures: (*My Hair—ZERO COLOR, Treatment ONLY)!

Brittany had mentioned in our interview that if you add color to your hair it is ideal to do this treatment first to strip away the hard water barrier and then color right after or very soon after. To further test this, I did just that. I had Brittany do the Malibu treatment and noticed results right away (see before & after images above using 45 minute treatment ONLY and no color what-so-ever)!  It was impressive and I noticed a HUGE difference in the softness, texture and overall color balance of my hair (i.e. no grayish/white blonde ends and yellow blonde closer to the root).  Instead, my hair overall looked more balanced in color, healthy and cool tones, which I loved!  That was a Thursday.  I then had my normal stylist do my normal white blonde highlights (see my popular YouTube Video Ask The Expert—How To: White Blonde Hair! For what color/technique I use). I already loved the treatment, but after having fresh color I was like, “Wow!” and so were you guys according to my Instagram, where I got TONS of likes, comments and DM’s asking what I did!!! You all LOVED my new white, cooler tone, blonde hair—all without toner—just this non-toxic hair treatment and my normal color.

My Hair—Treatment PLUS Normal Color Added (2 Days Later)! 

Before | After Pictures: (*Brittany’s Other Brunnette & Red Head Salon Clients—ZERO COLOR, Treatment ONLY)!

I truly hope you loved this Ask The Expert Interview and video and learned as much as I did about this hidden secret that makes a BIG difference in your hair color—plus it is considered clean beauty (whoo hoo)! Be sure to follow me on Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, and of course my Blog (& don’t forget to follow Brittany too)!  Comment if you plan to do this treatment after reading my blog post and watching my video interview!  Now go text your stylist or call Britt if you are in the area and lets all get out there and rock our new, on-point, “cooler” do’s!

Until next time—be balanced. be tru. & proud to be YOU!

xo! Heath