| Lightening your hair can be a great way to | | | | through a rug when it is made.Using the end |
| change our look and reflect a different | | | | of a long comb or hair coloring brush, move |
| outlook. Or bring in the summer, or herald a | | | | it over and under a section of hair, picking |
| new job or period in your life. If you can't | | | | out the hair that is left on the top of the |
| afford to go to a salon, try these tips on | | | | handle. Then, with a piece of aluminum foil |
| how to lighten your hair to avoid brassy and | | | | handy, put the hair on the foil and apply the |
| badly damaged hair.When doing regrowth, don't | | | | hair lightener. This is what hairdressers do |
| apply all the hair color to all of your head. | | | | to get a subtle and blended effect.If you |
| Follow the instructions on the packet, which | | | | want to go quite a lot lighter than your |
| always say to apply color first to the roots, | | | | natural or base shade, you may need to do it |
| for a specified period of time. Then, apply | | | | gradually. Dark hair can be difficult to |
| the lightener to the rest of your hair. If | | | | lighten, at least if you want to keep any |
| you don't do this, you will end up | | | | sort of condition and length to your style. |
| effectively dissolving the ends of your hair. | | | | So you may need to compromise first and go |
| And even the parts of the hair shaft that | | | | for more of a caramel color, and then go |
| don't quite get to that stage will be | | | | through a process of using protein and |
| severely weakened and quite likely to break | | | | moisture treatments weekly for a month to |
| off very easily.You may need a friend to help | | | | strengthen your hair again.When applying |
| you lighten your hair, but at least the extra | | | | lightener the first time, follow the |
| effort will mean you have a better looking | | | | instructions on the packet, and test your |
| color, and better hair condition.Use a brush | | | | hair at regular intervals. You'll need to |
| and section the hair. Its much easier to | | | | test both for color and condition. Rub the |
| apply the lightener evenly this way. Use | | | | ends of part of your hair to see how light it |
| clips to keep the rest of your hair out of | | | | is getting, and also to see whether it |
| the way whilst you work on each section.Hair | | | | disintegrates at all. If it starts to |
| needs to be in reasonably good condition to | | | | disintegrate or break off, you'll need to |
| take peroxide based lighteners, especially if | | | | wash out the hair lightener, no matter how |
| you are going for a look that is a lot | | | | many gold or orange tones are left. This is |
| lighter than your natural or base hair color. | | | | where a semi permanent caramel color will |
| Use protein treatments to strengthen your | | | | come in. Apply this all over your hair once |
| hair first, if its not in good condition. Or | | | | you've washed out the peroxide based |
| go for a few highlights to complement your | | | | lightener. Then use two treatments every |
| cut instead. And remember to use intensive | | | | week, a protein and a moisture treatment, for |
| moisturizing treatments afterwards, as well. | | | | about a month.Then you can try again. But be |
| You can alternate the two every week for a | | | | careful when doing your regrowth. Follow the |
| few weeks. Then, if your hair no longer needs | | | | instructions for applying color to regrowth |
| strengthening, stop using the protein | | | | otherwise you will severely damage your |
| treatment. You will most likely need to use | | | | hair.Don't sacrifice too much hair condition |
| the moisture treatment still, though.If you | | | | for lighter hair. Work with your hair so you |
| want a sun kissed look - go for a color that | | | | end up looking a million dollars, instead of |
| is only 1 or 2 shades lighter than your | | | | ten!If you're concerned about hair loss, |
| natural hair color. Get a friend to help you, | | | | check out this article on vitamins for hair |
| and 'weave' the highlights through your hair. | | | | loss. If you're interested in learning about |
| The trick is not to have the color looking | | | | different hair loss treatments, see this |
| too chunky. You could try going for a weave | | | | article. |
| effect by mimicking the way a loom moves | | | | |