A new hair colour is a great way to instantly transform your look. Updating your colour at home can be an easy-on-the-pocket option, but can also be a risky colour change. Here are a few tips and tricks to changing shades.
At-home hair colouring v salon colouring
Solid colouring of your hair can be easily done in your own bathroom using at-home hair colour kits, such as Clairol Nice 'n Easy hair colour. But if you want to add a number of different hues to your colour with highlights or lowlights it's best to get this done be a professional hairdresser.
A hairdresser will charge between $100 and $200 for colouring, so with the ever-increasing costs of living, colouring your hair at home with a colour kit for just under $20 is much more friendly on the budget.
Permanent hair colour
A permanent colour contains hydrogen peroxide to bleach the hair, remove build-up of previous colour pigment and provide a clean base for the new colour. Such products also contain ammonia, which opens up the hair shaft and allows the colour to adhere to the hair. Permanent hair colours are perfect for colouring grey hair and providing an all-over colour, but they can be drying and damaging.
Semi-permanent colour
A semi-permanent colour gradually fades and washes out within six to eight weeks. They usually do not contain ammonia or hydrogen peroxide, so they're safer and less damaging on the hair.
Colour rinses
A temporary colour, also known as a gloss colour or rinse, usually washes out within two or three washes. The colour used within these products contains molecules that are too large to penetrate to the hair shaft, so they provide a short-term colour solution.
Be sure to follow the instructions carefully. Leave enough time for development, always wear gloves when colouring and have old towels on hand to clean up any mess.
Colour picking
Be sure to know what colour is going to suit you. Don't pick a colour just because it looks great on the front of the box; that doesn't mean it's going to be the best look for you. Ask friends and family for an opinion and if you're really unsure about your colour, gradually take steps, going one shade lighter or darker to start. Panic picking can end in disaster and cost you more to fix the problem.
Unrealistic expectations
Most people have unrealistic expectations when it comes to hair colour. Be pragmatic when colouring your hair. Every person's hair is different, so the colour will take to the hair differently and throw different shades of colour. For example, colour will penetrate quicker on damaged hair. The same goes for curly hair as it's generally a lot dryer. Healthy tresses or oilier hair will take a little longer for the colour to adhere to.
If you're aspiring to achieve a particular celebrity's colour, don't be shocked with disappointment if you don't get it. Even if you do visit an expensive salon to get an A-lister's colour, you might not walk out with the exact same hue.
Going lighter
If you're looking to lighten-up your hair a number of shades, it's important not to do this at home. Lightening hair generally means stressed tresses. Your hair is dryer and more susceptible to breakage so make sure your hairdresser explains the pros and cons. Take it slow when bleaching dark hair. Opt for half a head of foils before jumping in getting a full head of blonde.
Give your salon a clear colour brief
To avoid disappointment when getting your hair coloured in a salon, always take a picture and tell your hairdresser exactly what you want. That way they will have a better understanding of what you're trying to achieve and they can inform you how many visits it may take to achieve that particular colour.
Be aware of cost
Straying away from your natural colour can be costly. Regrowth is never a good look so you're going to be up for colour every four to six weeks.
Colour build-up
Don't overdo hair colour. Colour build-up of dark shades can leave you with an uneven blotchy colour and make it hard for future colours to be achieved. Going over the top with blonde can also be dangerous, aim for a healthy, natural-toned head of hair, unless you want the Barbie look.
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