Today I want to discuss Trionics Hair Care and how their products changed the game for me and my clients. If you're following me on any of my social media accounts, you've probably already seen me posting about these wonderful products. I hope that this post can reach other professionals who may have questions about Trionics, and also serve to educate my clients as to why I am so passionate about the use of these products in the salon.
Trionics makes developers for every level of lift: No Lift for deposit only, Accent for one level of lift, Gray B Gone which is a 17 volume for just the right balance of lift/deposit for gray coverage, Actuator for 2-3 levels of lift, Lift thru which is the highest volume that is safe for on scalp usage, and Higher & Higher for 5-8 levels of lift for off scalp use only.
Let me start by saying Trionics is not new to the industry. For nearly 30 years they have been offering enzyme-based developers to salon professionals. My entire time in beauty school I never heard anything about enzyme developers at all. When I stumbled across a post about Trionics Higher & Higher enzyme developer in a Facebook hair forum, I was intrigued. At first glance, the comparison to 40-80 volume developer seemed scary. Knowing how aggressive 40 volume developer can be, I was terrified of trying something stronger, so when I picked up my first bottle of Higher & Higher I put it to the test on a sample of hair cut from a client. I was shocked to see the high level of lift achieved in a short time, but also amazed at how healthy the hair felt after lightening! This experiment sparked a desire within me to learn more about the product and to get to know how and why the enzymes work. I took a Trionics class at the Fashion Focus hair show in Charlotte, NC in October 2016 where I became familiar with all of their products.
Presentation during Trionics class at the Fashion Focus Charlotte, NC hair show.
While Trionics enzyme developers do still contain hydrogen peroxide like standard developers, the chemistry with the enzymes is far more nuanced. When processed with heat, these enzymes catalyze to accelerate the chemical reaction while also nourshing, healing, and protecting the scalp and hair. Without heat you still reap the benefits of the enzymes, just at normal processing speed. As a colorist, this ensures I achieve brighter blondes, richer reds and browns, better gray coverage, healthier hair, and save time still using my favorite color lines! The products are both gentle and effective, and have been a lifesaver for many stylists and clients who have reactions to using harsh peroxide products in the salon.
Philice LeBow is an educator for Trionics, and she is the daughter of Marvin LeBow, who is the president of Trionics Hair Care. We met in person at the Charlotte Fashion Focus 2016. Philice is extremely knowledgeable and uses social media & her online presence to provide endless support for Trionics users. She makes herself personally available for any questions or troubleshooting to make sure you are getting the most from your products.
Trionics is a line of universal developers, meaning they can be used with all manufacturers color lines and lighteners. Universal developers can be a controversial topic in our industry. Some stylists are opposed to them, and most all manufacturers won't support the use of such products with their color lines. At the end of the day, it is a very personal decision that I would never try to force on someone else. But let me put something out there for consideration: What company wants to admit that another companies product works just as well as, or better than, their own product? It would be directing sales right out the door and hurting their very own pockets. I encourage everyone to do your own research, your own hands on testing, and make your decision based on science vs. opinion.
I have done a ton of testing with my Trionics Hair Care products, and will share some of the results with you here.
For this experiment, I used Schwarzkopf BlondeMe powdered lightener. Tested with Trionics Higher & Higher vs standard 40 volume developer, with and without heat. Trionics Higher & Higher gave superior lift both with and without heat, and also protected the integrity of the hair. The hair used with normal 40 volume under heat was overprocessed and crunchy, dry, and matted. DISCLAIMER: Manufacturers directions of BlondeMe do not recommend using with heat, or anything above 30 volume developer. I broke both of those rules for the sake of this experiment.
It's important to always use good judgement and follow basic precautions when lightening hair, even with enzyme developers. If you wouldn't feel comfortable using normal 30 or 40 volume peroxide on the hair, don't use Trionics Higher & Higher. If you are applying heat to speed processing, use a low to medium gentle heat to process and check the hair frequently during the process. Olaplex also works great to mitigate the damage being done to the hair, but do not rely on that alone to prevent overprocessing.
Comparison of Redken Freehand clay based lightener and Trionics KO Blondes clay based lightener, using both Redken 40 volume pro-oxide and Trionics Higher & Higher developers. Processed 20 minutes in a meche sheet with medium heat. These hair samples were cut from an artifically colored client.
The launch of Trionics KO Blondes was such an exciting moment! The minute I received my first tub in the mail I couldn't wait to put it to the test. In the past I have used other clay based lighteners with lackluster results. Trionics KO Blondes has blown me away in every aspect. The lightener is violet tinted, which helps to fight brassy tones through the lifting process. The powder is easy to mix, unlike some clay based lighteners which have texture like flour and explode out the bowl making a mess. The lightener stays a nice consistency as you work, unlike some others which swell rapidly in the bowl. The lift when paired with Trionics developers is definitely unmatched by any clay based lightener I've ever used! Brighter blondes, in less time, while still maintaining the integrity of the hair. What more could you ask for?
Comparison using Redken Shades EQ with dedicated processing solution vs. with Trionics No Lift Enzyme Developer. Applied on dry hair and both processed 20 minutes.
Shades EQ is a great product in many colorists arsenals. If you have ever used Shades EQ, you know it calls for a dedicated processing solution. I decided to test using Trionics No Lift enzyme developer to replace my SEQ processing solution. I was impressed to find the same great color payoff, but with an improvement to the consistency of my mixed color as well as more shine on the colored hair. I tested these same hair samples shampooing a total of 10 times to compare longevity, and found that SEQ faded about the same amount on both test strands. Trionics No lift enzyme developer has eliminated the need for me to stock Shades EQ dedicated processing solution.
Trionics Gray B Gone developer with Pravana 4N, on 100% white/gray hair, processed 20 minutes under warm dryer.
Gray coverage is something we have all struggled with. In beauty school we were taught to process gray for the full processing time (often 40-60 minutes) and if the hair was still stubborn, to pretreat by presoftening the hair. This can be a time consuming process, which is not only inconvenient to stylists and clients alike, but also a burden in an industry where time equals money. Trionics Gray B Gone eliminates the need for these time consuming steps, and allows me to cover grays in as little as 20 minutes when capped under a warm dryer. The hair sample for this test was cut from my only 100% gray/white haired client, and illustrates this products amazing ability to penetrate resistant hair. My clients have been amazed by the rich coverage and faster processing time when using Trionics Gray B Gone enzyme developer!
Trionics doesn't just make developers. There is a full arsenal of cleansers & treatments as well as perms. I am a huge fan of the enzyme conditioning cocktail, booster plus blowout spray, Get It Strate semipermanent straightening system, and I also have their Pre-Chemical Cleanser and Chelating clarifying shampoo on the way in my next shipment! I enjoy the consistent quality results that these products provide on a daily basis behind the chair, as well as the world-class education and endless support I've recieved from the company on a personal level. Thank you Trionics for the amazing products you provide and every way you have touched my life!
Some of the beautiful diverse colors I have created using my Trionics Hair Care products.
Are you already using Trionics Hair Care products in the salon? Do you have questions or reservations about making the switch? Feel free to leave your feedback on this post or reach out to me personally.