The Brittany Shears

Everyone wants the formula… but what if I told you the formula is only part of the story?

This was my model from Premiere Orlando, and while I’m giving you the formula breakdown today… I might be teasing something bigger coming soon.

For this Cool Summer Bronde, I knew one lightener wasn’t going to create the result I wanted.

Instead, I strategically chose 3 different lightening options to create 3 distinct levels of brightness and depth throughout the hair — because not every section should be treated the same when your goal is dimension, softness, and movement.

Some areas were designed for maximum lift.
Some for controlled brightness.
And some were intentionally formulated to preserve depth and create contrast.

Because beautiful color isn’t just about what formula you use…
It’s understanding where brightness should live and how to build dimension with intention.

Swipe for the full breakdown →

And if you’ve been following my education journey lately… consider this your first sneak peek of something I’ve been working on behind the scenes. 👀

Save this for your next formulation session… and stay tuned. Big things are coming.

The biggest mistake I see stylists make?
Jumping straight into the formula before fully understanding the hair in front of them.

Before I ever mixed a bowl for this guest, I looked at everything.

✨ Natural level
✨ Previous color history
✨ Porosity
✨ Overall hair integrity

Because while the inspiration photo shows me where we’re going… the hair tells me how we’re getting there.

For this blonding session, I chose back-to-back baby slices paired with micro weaves in a horizontal placement pattern.

Why? Because my goal was to create maximum brightness exactly where the eye naturally goes first… while still protecting depth and dimension throughout the rest of the hair.

Here’s what I reached for:

⚡ Kenra Crème Lightener — infused with argan + marula oil so I get beautiful lift while helping keep the hair moisturized throughout the process.

⚡ Horizontal foil placement — because placement matters just as much as formula when creating high-impact brightness.

⚡ Gold Violet Rapid Toner — to control warmth while still creating a clean blonde with a cooler end result.

One thing I’m always thinking about? Not just how the hair looks when my guest leaves the salon… but how it’s going to wear weeks from now.

As stylists, it’s easy to focus on formulas… but the real growth happens when you understand WHY you’re making every decision behind the chair.

Because no two heads of hair should ever have the exact same game plan.

Stylists, tell me… what’s the FIRST thing you assess before creating your color plan?

Save this for your next blonding appointment if you want more intentional results.

The difference between a good blonde and a great blonde often comes down to one thing: placement.

I stopped looking at placement as a pattern to follow and started looking at it as a strategy.

For a long time, I thought the answer to more brightness was simple: add more foils.

But the longer I’ve been behind the chair, the more I’ve realized that placement is often more important than the number of foils you’re using.

If my client wants brightness around her face, I’m focusing on the areas that will make the biggest visual impact—the hairline, face frame, and part line. If she wants a softer, more lived-in blonde with dimension, I’m intentionally leaving depth in the areas that support that result.

Because the goal isn’t to make every strand blonde.

The goal is to place brightness where the eye naturally sees it first.

And that’s why two clients can show me the exact same inspiration photo and still walk away with completely different placement plans.

Blonding isn’t about following a formula or a foil map.
It’s about creating a customized strategy for the hair sitting in your chair.

Save this post for the next time you’re planning a blonding service. You’ll thank yourself later.

If your clients are asking, “What color should I do next?”… start here.

These are the shades I’m seeing clients save, screenshot, and bring into appointments right now:

🤎 Brown Sugar — rich, dimensional brunette with soft warmth

☕ Espresso Martini — deep luxe brunette with glossy depth

🧡 Sunlit Copper — radiant copper kissed by natural sunlight

🥥 Vanilla Coconut — bright creamy blonde with soft contrast

✨ Cool Summer Bronde — the perfect balance of blonde and brunette with a cooler finish

The best hair color isn’t about chasing trends. It’s about finding the shade that complements your skin tone, lifestyle, maintenance goals, and personal style.

Which one are you choosing? 👇

1️⃣ Brown Sugar
2️⃣ Espresso Martini
3️⃣ Sunlit Copper
4️⃣ Vanilla Coconut
5️⃣ Cool Summer Bronde

Save this for your next hair appointment and follow along because I’ll be sharing the formulas, placement, and toning breakdowns for these colors soon.

If your color formulas feel inconsistent, the problem probably isn’t your formula.

Read that again.

Most color issues aren’t caused by the toner, the lightener, or even the formula itself. They’re caused by skipping the consultation and analysis phase.

Before I ever mix a formula, I walk through the same 5 steps with every client:

✨ Natural level assessment
✨ Inspiration photo review
✨ Color history
✨ Developer selection based on the hair’s condition
✨ Underlying pigment analysis

Then I begin building my formulas!

This process has completely changed the consistency of my color work behind the chair.

Because beautiful color isn’t about guessing. It’s about understanding exactly what’s in front of you and creating a plan before you ever pick up a color brush.

The more intentional you are in your consultation and formulation process, the more predictable your results become.

This is the kind of foundational education that has made the biggest impact on my career, and it’s something I still practice every single day.

Save this post for your next color service, and tell me—which step do you think gets overlooked the most? 👇

Have you ever walked into a room and thought, “This is exactly where I’m supposed to be?”

This week was one of those moments.

I had the incredible opportunity to be part of an unforgettable evening in NYC celebrating being the # 1 Professional Styling Brand in the US. From the stunning venue at to every thoughtful detail, the entire experience was nothing short of magical.

Watching and create the most beautiful hair was so inspiring, the snacks were absolutely amazing, the drinks were beautiful and can we talk about those bedazzled Volume Spray 25 cans?! They were almost too pretty to touch.

I’m feeling incredibly grateful to be part of the Kenra family and to share these moments with such talented people. Here’s to celebrating big wins, beautiful hair, and the people who make it all possible.

Which detail would have caught your eye first: the hair, the sparkling Volume Spray 25 cans, or the snacks?

The secret to a dimensional blonde?
Sometimes it’s the hair you don’t highlight.

For this lived-in blonde, I wanted brightness around the face while keeping natural dimension through the crown for a softer grow out and more movement throughout the hair.

✨ Lightener Formula:
Kenra Beyond Bond Lightener + 20 Volume

✨ Toner Formula:
Equal parts Silver Violet + Violet Pearl
with 9 Volume Demi Activator

✨ Foil Placement:
• Diamond pattern through the top
• Standard weave application
• Compact face frame weaves for that pop of brightness
• Crown area left out intentionally to preserve depth and dimension

The result = a blonde that feels bright and airy without looking flat or overdone.

Stylists — don’t underestimate the power of strategic negative space in your blonding placements.

SAVE this formula + placement for your next lived-in blonde 💫
And tell me… are you team ultra bright or dimensional blonde? 👇

Yesterday while teaching a class, one of the students looked at my Instagram and said,
“Wow… you don’t do a lot of short haircuts, do you?”

And I laughed because the truth is… I absolutely do.
And I LOVE them.

I just realized I don’t post them very often.

That comment stuck with me the whole drive back to the hotel because it made me think about social media and how easy it is to accidentally put yourself in a box. Somewhere along the way, my page became this very “blonde aesthetic” version of me… but that’s not the full picture of who I am behind the chair.

I love short hair.
I love transformations.
I love softness, edge, texture, lived-in color, extensions, education, styling, laughter, chaos, creativity… ALL of it.

And honestly? I miss showing more of me.

So here’s my promise moving forward:
I’m done trying to fit my work into one aesthetic.

I’m going to share the variety.
The personality.
The artistry.
The real behind-the-chair moments.

Starting with one of my favorite short haircuts I’ve ever created

Thank you students of for pushing me to recognize I needed to grow a little myself! It was a pleasure teaching at your school yesterday! I wish you all the best and most successful career s in the best industry ever!!!!

The coolest part about this journey is realizing that the clients who supported me behind the chair helped create the educator I am today. I will forever be growing and evolving!

Every transformation, every challenge, every late night, every “let’s try something new” moment helped shape my artistry and gave me the passion I now get to share with stylists across the country.

To my clients: thank you for trusting me.

To the stylists who follow my education: thank you for believing in me.

And to this industry: thank you for constantly inspiring me to grow.

I would not be where I am today without and I am truly humbled by grace and love so many people have poured into me over the years to bring me to this point! I look forward to a fun filled year of adventures so buckle up and stay tuned!

I am forever grateful for this beautiful career.

With love, Britt

Use my link to join my classes at #PremiereOrlando The go-to event for beauty industry professionals.