Healthy Hair Color, Without the Damage: A Redken Artist’s Real Talk on Bond Care in NYC & LA
Healthy Hair Color, Without the Damage: A Redken Artist’s Real Talk on Bond Care in NYC & LA
If you’ve ever sat in a salon chair and said, “I want to go blonde, but I’m scared of ruining my hair…”—I hear you. Whether you’re in the heart of New York City or the sun-soaked streets of Los Angeles, it’s totally normal to want gorgeous, head-turning color without wrecking your hair in the process.
And guess what? You don’t have to choose between the two.
I’m a hair color specialist, Redken Artist, and educator, and I’ve dedicated my career to helping clients (and fellow stylists!) create beautiful color while keeping the hair strong, healthy, and intact. This goes way beyond pretty tones—it's about understanding the fabric of the hair and knowing exactly how to protect it during every step of the color journey.
So whether you're thinking about going lighter, changing your look, or you’re a stylist looking to level up your bond care knowledge—I’ve got you.
Let’s break it all down, salon-style.
First Off: Healthy Hair is Everything
You know that feeling when your hair looks amazing, but it feels like straw? Yeah... we don’t do that here.
A lot of people don’t realize that coloring and lightening hair isn’t just about depositing pigment or lifting levels. Every time we color, we’re changing the internal structure of the hair. That’s why things like bond protection and pH balance aren’t just buzzwords—they’re essential.
As both a working stylist and an educator for Redken, I’m constantly helping clients and salon teams understand the “why” behind keeping the hair’s internal bonds strong. Because the truth is: when your hair is healthy, your color lasts longer, looks better, and feels incredible.
Hair 101: What’s Actually Happening Inside Your Hair?
Hair is made mostly of keratin, which is a protein, and it’s held together by three main types of bonds. These bonds are what keep your hair strong, stretchy, and able to bounce back from things like heat and chemicals.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
💪 Disulfide Bonds
These are the big ones. Think of them like the steel beams holding up a building. They’re super strong, and when they break (like during bleaching or perming), hair can lose its structure and feel mushy or fragile.
⚡ Salt Bonds
These little guys react to pH changes. So anytime we do a chemical service—like permanent color or lightener—we’re temporarily disrupting these. If we don’t bring the pH back down after, hair can feel dry or frizzy.
💧 Hydrogen Bonds
These are the ones you’re most familiar with, even if you didn’t realize it. They break and reform with water or heat—like when you style your hair wet or flat iron it. They help with elasticity and shape.
So, How Do We Protect These Bonds During Color?
Now that we know what we’re working with, here’s how I approach every single color service—whether I’m blonding in Brooklyn, doing lived-in balayage in Silver Lake, or leading a salon training in SoHo.
🧬 First up: Protecting Disulfide Bonds
These bonds are the first to break during things like bleach or high-lift color. To keep the hair strong:
I always use lower volume developers and take a “low and slow” approach for better, healthier lift.
I’m really careful to avoid overlapping lightener, especially on already-processed hair.
I use bond-supporting treatments right in the bowl to help minimize the damage as we color.
At home its all about K18 to help the peptide chain
This little leave-in miracle works inside the hair to reconnect broken keratin chains. It’s not just a surface fix—it’s molecular-level repair. I’ll use it before or after your service depending on what your hair needs most.
🌡️ Next: Restoring the pH and Salt Bonds
Color and bleach are alkaline, which we need to open the cuticle—but we can’t leave hair in that state. That’s where my absolute favorite system comes in: Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate.
It helps:
Bring the pH back to normal after a chemical service
Strengthen and reinforce weak bonds
Seal the cuticle, which means smoother, shinier, longer-lasting color
I use it during and after color services—and I always recommend clients take home the shampoo, conditioner, and leave-in to keep that salon-fresh feeling going.
🧪 Don’t Forget Hydrogen Bonds: Elasticity Matters
Have you ever brushed your wet hair and it just… stretched way too far or even snapped off? That’s hydrogen bond breakdown in action.
Here’s how I protect those:
I do an elasticity test before starting any major service (especially lightening).
If the hair is too stretchy, we pause the color and go into repair mode first.
I rely on treatments that support both moisture and protein balance.
One of my top go-tos for this? REDKEN Acidic Bonding Concentrate BACKBAR Treatment
In the Chair: What It’s Like to Work With Me
Whether you’re booking a color session in NYC or coming to me in Los Angeles, here’s what to expect when you’re in my chair:
💬 A Real Conversation
We’ll chat about your goals, hair history, and what’s realistic—because I’m never going to compromise your hair health just to hit a certain tone.
🧑🔬 Custom Formulation
No one-size-fits-all here. Every formula I mix is tailored to your hair type, current condition, and desired outcome.
💆♀️ Built-In Bond Care
Every service includes bond protection using Redken ABC and K18, so you’re not just getting color—you’re getting strength, shine, and softness, too.
🏡 Home Care You’ll Actually Use
You’ll leave with a game plan: what to use, how often, and why it matters. No pressure—just helpful guidance so you can keep your hair looking and feeling amazing between visits.
For Stylists + Salons: Let’s Grow Together
I don’t just work behind the chair—I also teach. As a Redken Artist, I partner with salons in New York City, Los Angeles, and beyond to bring customized education to their teams.
If you’re a salon owner or stylist, I offer:
In-salon classes on modern blonding, color correction, and bond care
Product knowledge and hands-on demos with Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate and K18
Help building service menus that prioritize hair health (and make your books busier!)
Real-world strategies to improve client retention and satisfaction
If your team wants to level up their color game and start doing health-first color, let’s connect. I’d love to bring a class to your space.
Final Thoughts: Color That Feels As Good As It Looks
Look—I love bold color transformations as much as anyone. But what I really love is when my clients leave the salon saying, “Wow, my hair feels better now than when I walked in.”
That’s the magic of understanding hair from the inside out.
When we protect disulfide, salt, and hydrogen bonds, we’re not just avoiding breakage—we’re creating lasting beauty, confidence, and trust.
So whether you're in New York City, Los Angeles, or somewhere in between—if you’re ready for color that feels as good as it looks, I’d love to be part of your journey.
🎨 Clients:
Looking for a hair color specialist who gets it?
Ready to go blonde (or brunette, or copper) the right way?
📍 Book your appointment in NYC or LA.
https://www.trent-matthews.com/trent-matthews-nyc
https://www.trent-matthews.com/trent-matthews-los-angeles
🧑🏫 Salon Owners + Stylists:
Want to bring Redken education and bond-focused training to your team?
Let’s schedule a class and take your salon to the next level.
👉 Contact Me to get started. Or Request me on L’oreal Level Loyalty
Need help booking a class? Email me at trentmatthews.redken@gmail.com or text me on my business line (929) 799-1902