| Gray Hair: Step by Step Guide to Dye | | | | time according to the box. (It's |
| Your Gray Hair! | | | | generally around 40 minutes). |
| Had enough of standing in front of the | | | | · Although do keep checking for |
| mirror and plucking out your sneaky, | | | | the desired color, take a note of the |
| little gray hairs that seem to be | | | | time it took. |
| sprigging-up more and more. Well I am | | | | How to choose the right shade… |
| going to help you decide what color is | | | | Choose colors that closely match your |
| best for you and your hair and guide you | | | | natural color. The natural color you're |
| along with an easy step by step guide to | | | | looking for is not the gray; it's the |
| getting rid of gray hair. | | | | darker strands in your hair. Once you |
| 1. First of all you need to decide | | | | have determined your natural hair color |
| how much of your hair is gray, look at | | | | consider a shade darker for your chosen |
| your hair and estimate a percentage of | | | | color as the color can appear lighter |
| gray. | | | | than expected, and will most likely fade |
| 2. Use a semi-permanent if you | | | | a little due to washing and UV rays from |
| estimate your hair is around 20 percent | | | | the sun. |
| gray. The semi-permanent will begin to | | | | You will need to regularly touch-up your |
| fade after 6-12 washes. So your hair | | | | roots, around 6-8 weeks depending on |
| will require frequent re-coloring if you | | | | your hair growth. I would suggest |
| shampoo your hair everyday. | | | | coloring your hair on a Saturday |
| 3. If your hair is around 50 | | | | morning, if possible, so you have time |
| percent gray then I would opt for a | | | | get used to your new look before you go |
| longer lasting semi-permanent, often | | | | back to work. |
| called a "quasi". These colors will last | | | | Give yourself plenty of time to apply |
| roughly around 24-28 washes. So if | | | | the color as it may seem tricky at |
| "quasi" isn't labeled on the box then | | | | first. Take your time and apply neatly |
| look to see how many weeks the color | | | | over your hair. |
| will last which will be on the box. | | | | Be especially neat around your hair line |
| If your hair is more than 50 percent | | | | as the color will stain to a certain |
| gray and you are looking to color most | | | | degree. However there are ways to |
| or all of your gray hair then you will | | | | prevent bad staining by apply a small |
| need a permanent dye. If you are more | | | | amount of petroleum jelly (Vaseline) |
| than 50 percent gray and you would | | | | around your hair hairline and the tops |
| prefer a semi-permanent then that is | | | | of your ears and around the back of your |
| okay but you should know that all of | | | | neck. |
| your gray will not be covered, however | | | | Make sure you don't get any petroleum |
| some clients actually prefer this as: | | | | jelly on your hair as this will act as a |
| · A small amount of gray left | | | | barrier against the color, which means |
| which looks very natural. People that | | | | you will be left with patches of hair |
| see your hair will just assume you don't | | | | uncolored. |
| color your hair because they can see a | | | | Lay an old towel over the bathroom and |
| little gray, when in actual fact most of | | | | wear an old top. Wear fitted protective |
| it is covered! | | | | gloves and now you can begin the |
| · You don't need to do | | | | coloring process. Follow the directions |
| touch-ups (roots) as often. | | | | on the box exactly. |
| · Semi-permanents are kinder on | | | | Set the timer and sit back and relax |
| the hair and leave hair with an | | | | while you wait for your hair to develop. |
| incredible shine and in great condition. | | | | Top 3 Don'ts When Coloring your Hair! |
| 4. If you decide that your hair | | | | 1. If you have used a Henna Color, |
| needs a permanent dye then I would | | | | make sure you never use any Chemical |
| advise doing a strand test. One reason | | | | products on it i.e. Color and Perm |
| for this is to check your hair is | | | | solution as the chemical reaction will |
| compatible with the chemicals in the | | | | be extremely damaging to your hair, |
| color. Secondly, to assess the result of | | | | scalp and skin. You will have to wait |
| the color. | | | | until it grows out. |
| · Cut off about a ¼ of an inch | | | | 2. Some color-enhancing products |
| of hair from underneath, near your neck | | | | can be quite irritable to the scalp so |
| and bind one end with some tape. | | | | always test on very small amount before |
| · Mix a small amount of the | | | | hand. (back of your neck or behind your |
| hair color solution from the directions | | | | ear) |
| on the box. | | | | 3. Avoid chlorine for a few days |
| · Place the hair swatch in the | | | | after coloring, this could change the |
| solution and leave for least amount of | | | | color. |