HAIR COLOUR

HAIR COLOUR

Hair colour, Introduction:

If you want to change the colour of you're hair, either to brighten up your natural colour or just going for a change. Using a home hair colourant is easy to use, gives you great shine and they are so much cheaper then going to the salon.
Decide on a colour, stay within one or two shades of your natural hair colour. If you would like to go lighter, this is best done professionally. You should get an instruction leaflet in the box. It is very important to read this information, such as whether it covers grey hair, whether it is wash in wash out, 24 washes or permanent.
Also you should always's do a strand test, especially if this is your first time or if you are trying a different brand. When you read the instructions it should tell you whether to put it onto dry hair or wet hair. For an even coverage use a comb, this is especially useful when applying it to dry hair.
If you do have any questions, there should be a help line number on the box.

Temporary colours have no ammonia or peroxide. They work by coating the outside, or cuticle layer of the hair. Temporary colours are good for a quick change, they are designed only for a subtle change and for a short time only. They are also good for enhancing your natural colour.

Semi-permanent colours have little or no peroxide. They give of a more noticeable look that lasts for six to eight washes. They are great if you are less than 50 per cent grey and want to disguise it. They are also excellent for enhancing, darkening and adding tones to your hair. Which creates more shine. The colour gradually wears off ever time you wash your hair.
Longer lasting semi-permanents remain in the hair for 12-20 washes and are perfect for blending in the first grey hair.

Permanent colours contain peroxide or other chemicals that penetrate the hair shafts. After the stripping process works the pigment then penetrates the hair with a new colour. This is the most effective way to blend away grey hair. If you are lightening your hair, root application is required about every 6-8 weeks to cover regrowth. When retouching your roots it is important to only colour the new hair growth.

Wash in wash out hair colours are good for experimenting with, especially if you have just started to dye your hair. Wash in wash out hair dyes won't darken or lighten your hair. They sit on the hair shafts and enhance or slightly change your natural colour.

Vegetable colourants such as henna and camomile have been used since ancient times to colour hair. Henna is the most widely used natural dye. Natural dyes work in much the same way as semi-permanent colourants by staining the outside of the hair. Henna enhances natural highlights making the colour appear richer. It is available today as a powder, which is mixed with water to form a paste. Henna will not lighten your hair, and it is not suitable on hair that is more than 20 per cent grey, white, tinted, bleached or highlighted.

Highlights can add texture and gloss to your hair making it look bolder and more fuller. Ash and cream colour hair tones are best suited for blue or green eyes. Whereas honey and warm tones are best suited to brown eyes. Red hair tones are best suits tanned skin and green, blue or brown eyes. Whereas burgundy and auburn shades are better suited to dark hair. If you have a pink-toned complexion, you should avoid red tones. Highlights also gives fine hair extra texture. It also breaks up the heaviness of thick hair.

Don't dye your hair if:

Your hair is very dry or damaged.

You have highlighted or bleached hair.

You suffer from any scalp irritations.

If you are using a home colourant then there should be instructions on do's and don'ts. Or if you are going to a salon then your hairdresser will inform you.

Tips for your highlights looking their best:

You should never wash your hair on the same day you colour it.

You should always wear rubber gloves when you're colouring your hair.

Always apply the highlights to the top layers of your hair. By leaving your underneath hair it will give you more of a natural sun kissed look and also the hair underneath is always harder to manage, so keeping it natural will help.

You should always pull your strands through before you make your mixture. As soon as you have mixed the mixture together you should use it straight away. Never save any mixture for another day.

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