| Doing your own home hair color for the first time can | | | | pine green indicate that cool hair tones are best for |
| be | | | | you: platinum, |
| intimidating, to say the least. Have I chosen the right | | | | ash blonde, ash brown, burgundy, and jet black.If you |
| color? What if I make a mistake and wind up with | | | | look good in true red, purple, charcoal grey, periwinkle, |
| green hair? | | | | and |
| What if I end up with overprocessed, dry damaged | | | | teal, then neutral tones like sandy or beige blonde, |
| hair? | | | | chocolate brown |
| | | | or mahogany will suit you. |
| The fact is that you can achieve excellent results and | | | | |
| save | | | | 4. How do I get ready to color my hair the first time? |
| a lot of money by coloring your hair at home as long | | | | |
| as you | | | | It's a good idea to gather a few materials together |
| know a few basics about how to select the right | | | | before starting: |
| color and | | | | an old T-shirt, a few old towels and a washcloth that |
| apply it correctly. | | | | you don't mind |
| | | | getting stained, some hair clips for sectioning your hair, |
| Here are seven of the most common questions and | | | | a timer, |
| my advice | | | | and a hand mirror to see the back of your head. |
| on hair coloring at home. | | | | |
| | | | 5. If I color my hair at home and hate it, what can I |
| Advice on Permanent Hair Coloring at Home | | | | do? |
| | | | |
| 1. How do I know whether I should color my hair at | | | | There are some home hair color products you can |
| home or | | | | use to repair the |
| go to a salon? | | | | damage, but it isn't easy. The problem is that if you |
| | | | used a home |
| Most people can successfully color their hair | | | | hair color kit to obtain a lighter color, your hair has |
| at home but there are exceptions. You should get a | | | | been bleached |
| professional | | | | and colored in a single process. So the color needs to |
| color job if your hair is in poor condition - coloring dry | | | | be added back |
| damaged hair at home can result in uneven color. | | | | in a process called "filling" before using the final color |
| Also, if your | | | | formula. |
| hair has different shades and you want one even | | | | Whatever you do, don't simply buy a box of your |
| tone, a hairdresser | | | | original color and |
| can apply different formulas to the different areas. | | | | try to cover over a bad dye job... it won't work. Fixing |
| Finally, it's | | | | hair color |
| best to leave it to the experts if you want to make a | | | | gone wrong is a multi-stage process so a trip to the |
| drastic | | | | salon may be |
| change to your hair color, say dark brown to platinum | | | | in order. |
| blonde, or | | | | |
| you want special color effects or highlights. | | | | 6. I already have permed hair. Can I color it without |
| | | | damaging it? |
| 2. Are drugstore hair colors just as good as salon hair | | | | |
| color | | | | If your hair has been permed or relaxed, color has to |
| products? | | | | be applied |
| | | | carefully or it can weaken the structure of your hair. |
| In general, salon hair colors contain higher-quality | | | | Salons have |
| ingredients | | | | colors specially formulated for treated hair. But if you |
| than the drugstore brands. Salons also offer a wider | | | | insist on |
| variety of | | | | home hair coloring, choose a shade darker than you |
| colors and tones. But home coloring kits are getting | | | | want since |
| better all | | | | processed hair may come out lighter than expected. |
| the time and can deliver good results if used properly. | | | | Then do a strand |
| | | | test to make sure your hair can handle the chemical |
| 3. How do I pick a color that will look natural on me? | | | | stress. |
| | | | |
| When choosing a hair color, your skin tone and natural | | | | 7. I love my new color... now how do I keep it looking |
| hair color | | | | good? |
| are the two most important factors. Whether you're | | | | |
| going lighter | | | | You'll probably want to recolor every four to six |
| or darker, stay within two or three shades of your | | | | weeks. Make a |
| natural hair | | | | record of the hair color product and shade you used, |
| color. Here is a guideline for selecting a compatible hair | | | | and how long |
| color | | | | you left it on the ends and the regrowth. Use |
| for your skin tone: | | | | shampoos and conditioners |
| | | | formulated for color-treated hair to prevent fading. |
| Dark/olive skin: Stay with darker hair colors. | | | | Stay out of the |
| Yellow skin: Dark, rich colors like deep auburn. | | | | sun and chlorinated pools. Hair that has been |
| Pale skin: Almost any color. | | | | previously been bleached is |
| Pink skin: Neutral tones like sandy or beige blonde or | | | | prone to such effects and should be rinsed as soon |
| chocolate brown | | | | as possible. Don't use |
| are best. Avoid reds or golden tones.If you know | | | | heavy conditioners and oil treatments after coloring... |
| what clothing colors suit you, you can also use that to | | | | they can lift |
| help | | | | the color. |
| in choosing hair color: | | | | |
| | | | Now go out and enjoy your new look and all the |
| If you look good in warm shades like red, orange, | | | | money you saved by doing it yourself!Nancy Faizabadi |
| golden yellow, cinnamon | | | | is a professional hair stylist and the founder of where |
| brown, olive green, and rust, then warm hair tones like | | | | you can find free tips on short hair style and color |
| golden blonde, | | | | ideas, hair color trends, hair products and much more. |
| golden brown, strawberry blonde, and auburn will suit | | | | Whether your hair is fine, thick, curly, straight, |
| you best.Cool color favorites like bluish red, fuschia, | | | | processed, colored or in need of a new style, has a |
| black, royal blue, and | | | | section for you. |