The Dos and Don’ts of Hair Coloring

Coloring your hair is one of the biggest changes youcan make to rejuvenate your appearance. You may be nervous about making such aserious decision about your look, and rightfully so. There is a lot toconsider, but also a lot to be excited about. Preparation, the hair coloringitself and aftercare are all important to the success of your hair colorchanges, and it is important to consider each area very carefully before goingall in on a brand-new look.

HairColor Preparation

Before your hair undergoes whatever colortransformation you have planned for it there are things that you need to do toprepare. Hair dyes and bleaches have harsh chemicals that can be extremely hardon your hair, particularly if you aren’t careful beforehand. Starting withhealthy hair may not be the most glamorous or fun part of the coloring process,but it is essential to successfully achieving the look that you are going for.

HairColor Preparation Do’s

Invest in a good conditioner and hair serum

The amount of damage done when coloring can beminimized by making good choices about the hair dyes you use, but at the end ofthe day hair coloring requires the use of chemicals. The harsh effect of thesechemicals can be amplified if you’re starting with hair follicles that arealready damaged. Achieving a proper moisture balance can help strengthen andrevitalize any damage you may have already done before stressing your hair outwith bleaches and colors.

Be patient with your hair

Try your best to be patient with your hair. I know youcan hardly stand to wait for your exciting new color transformation to happenbut rushing things can lead to disappointing results. Being in a hurry couldcause you to damage your hair to the point that it takes months or even yearsto come back properly. It can be difficult not to shortcut to the“fun” part, but it will be worth it when the final result looks everybit as good as you want it to.

HairColor Preparation Don’ts

Turn down the heat

Curling irons, flat irons and hair dryers are some of the most commonly used heated styling tools, but can cause damage if not used carefully. Even using them too frequently can cause hair to be dry and brittle. Before embarking on your exciting color adventure, it might be wise to minimize the use of hot tools and give your hair a break. This could be a good time to explore heat-free styling techniques and think outside the box a little bit.

Don’t waste dye on damaged ends

Leaving split and fried ends is never a good idea, butespecially when it comes to coloring. Getting rid of dead, dry ends will helpyour hair repair itself and can assist with the overall health and growth ofyour hair. Even if you are only getting highlights or touching up some gray,cleaning up damaged ends is a helpful step in preparing for whatever colors youhave in mind for the beautiful new you.

HairColoring

Whether you want a vibrant, multi-colored rainbow lookwith color transitions and fading or you are looking for some hi-lights orlo-lights, coloring is an incredible way to breathe new life into your hairstyle.Here are some tips to make sure that all of that change to your look ends upbeing for the better.

HairColoring Do’s

Choose a hair colorist you trust

This might seem difficult if you don’t already have areliable hair colorist you go to already. It can be challenging to feel likeyou can trust someone you’ve never met with such a dramatic and immediatelyvisible change to your look. You can ask other professionals in the cosmetologyfield for their recommendations, ask friends for advice, and look at onlinereviews to help you feel more at ease with the idea. Make sure that the hair coloristyou choose is certified in their field and operating from a licensed salon.

Know what you want before you make the appointment

Having a basic concept of what you want can work insome areas of cosmetology and beauty, but hair color is specific. Mere shadescan make a significant difference in the way a look comes together.  having a vague idea or acting spontaneously can lead to fantastic looks, but oftenthey lead to disappointment, regret, and some serious revitalizationtreatments. Being sure about your decision is the best way to know you’ll behappy with it long term, so don’t be afraid to take your time and think on itif you need to.

Communicate as clearly as you can with your hair color specialist

Sometimes, words fail us. You try to explain thespecific look you are going for, but it can be hard to know if you got yourmessage across. Therefore, it is always wise to have multiple visual referencesof the colors and affects you are looking for to show to your hair colorist. Thiswill allow them to ask you questions and voice any concerns they may have withyour hair color goals. It will also allow you to discuss alternatives andsolutions to any issues there may be. A clear understanding between you andyour hair colorist about what you are hoping for will help you get an endresult you are thrilled with and help your hair colorist give that to you.Sometimes, a picture really is worth a thousand words.

HairColoring Don’ts

Resist the urge to take on big color projects without professional help

It can be tempting to impulsively run to your nearestbeauty supply store and grab boxes of hair dye the second the idea comes tomind. For extremely simple color projects a DIY dye kit might do the trick.However, even those can be messy, uneven and can end up fading quickly.Utilizing professional skills allows the benefit of professional products andequipment, keeps you from damaging your belongings with chemicals and colors,and keeps you from accidentally damaging your hair.

Rushing isn’t an option

All coloring is a process. Some styles take longerthan others and a lot depends on the hair you are starting with. Your naturalcolor, texture, cut, and previous coloring history all play a factor in howlong the process takes. Prepare for a few hours of time in most cases and don’tschedule your appointment on an already busy day if you can possibly help it.

Take advice carefully

There is a definite difference between taking adviceor suggestions and being bullied by a hair stylist into a look you didn’treally want. If your hair colorist suggests something you like, go for it! Ifthey have a concern, discuss it and allow them to provide you with analternative. But there is also no shame in going home and thinking about itbefore you say yes to any changes to the original plan.

HairAftercare

After the hair coloring is done, the best part begins!You are all ready for the world to get a good look at the striking new you.There are some things you are going to want to keep in mind so that you cankeep the look you want for as long you want it.

HairAftercare Do’s

Invest in a leave-in treatment to protect your hair

Of you course you are going to want to immediately show off your new look, but make sure you protect it. A conditioning treatment that doesn’t need to wash out will help maintain a protective barrier against the impact of things like brushing, twisting and tying. Also, it will maintain moisture for those times you want to curl or straighten it.

Include a dry shampoo into your routine to reduce fading

The more you wash, the more your hair color fades.However, no one should sacrifice hygiene for color, no matter how truly epic itis. Dry shampoo will help you keep your hair clean without compromising thecolor with the scrub and rinse of a traditional shampoo. Lather shampooing willstill be necessary, but dry shampoo will help you keep you color for as long aspossible.

Make regular appointments for touch-ups

Touching up your exciting new look after hair growthor fading will help you keep it as vibrant as it was on day one. The moredramatic your look, the more frequent your touch-ups will need to be. Keep upthat gorgeous new look and keep turning heads!

HairAftercare Don’ts

Avoid shampooing your hair in extremely hot water

Not only can hot water damage follicles, but it alsois more effective at fading and washing out dyes. Washing with warm waterinstead of hot will help you cleanse without damaging. Rinsing with cold waterafter conditioning can help seal in the moisture.

Stay away from products with sulfates

Sulfates are a harsh detergent ingredient found in manycommon shampoos. It acts as an astringent to clean dirt and excess oils, but itcan also be harsh and damaging to your beautiful new look. If you are havingtrouble finding a shampoo that isn’t harmful to the style you love, ask your haircolorist or hairstylist for some product recommendations.

The color changes you make to your look can be asshocking or as subtle as you want them to be. Following these tips will helpyou both achieve and maintain your hair color.