Hair Coloring Tips
From Adviceopedia
Hair Coloring Tips
Pick a Color
Follow professional hair color advice by picking a color that will complement your complexion.
Perm First
If you plan to perm and color your hair, do the perm first. In a week, after one washing, apply your hair color.
Condition
A few days before coloring, use a high quality conditioner in your hair. This will ensure that your hair is healthy and will take the color better.
Don’t Wash Your Hair
Be sure that you don’t wash your hair for 24 hours before you color it. The natural oils in your hair will help to protect your scalp from possible damage that the hair colorant can cause.
Always Allergy Test
Even if you have colored before with the same product, you need to test for allergies that may have developed. 48 hours before coloring your hair, mix a small amount of color and developer. With a cotton ball apply a small patch to the inside of your elbow and leave it alone for 48 hours. If redness, burning or itching develops, do not use the product.
Conduct a Strand Test
48 hours before coloring apply the mixture that is left from your allergy test to a small strand of hair (clipped from underneath your hair so it isn’t noticeable). Allow your sample to dry completely and see if it is the color that you want.
Protect Your Skin
Apply a moisturizer around the hairline to keep color off of your skin.
Have the Right Tools
Use a hair coloring brush to color the hair around your ears and hair line. A brush is also helpful when targeting gray hair.
Use a Timer
A timer will assure that you don’t leave color on too long—or not long enough.
Protect Your Clothing
Wear an old button up shirt to protect your good clothes. Buttons make it easier to take the shirt off when you hit the shower.
Use an Old Towel
Use a towel that you don’t mind staining. Some hair coloring tips say to use a white towel so you can bleach it clean. Others say to use a dark towel that stains won’t show up on. The choice is yours.
Follow the Basic Steps
- Mix color and developer in applicator bottle. Shake well to mix thoroughly.
- Work color evenly through your hair with gloved hands.
- Leave color in your hair for 20 to 30 minutes depending on the directions on the box.
- Rinse your hair well.
- Apply conditioner and allow it to absorb for two minutes. This will seal in color.
- Rinse your hair well.
Correct Color
If your hair comes out too dark, too light or just not right, call the help line on the box of hair color. There you will be given professional hair coloring tips to help you correct any problems.
Be Careful
Never mix different shades together or save left over hair color. This could result in bursting bottles, among other problems.
Buy Extra
If you have long hair, a good hair coloring tip is to buy two boxes of color. This will give you a backup if one box is not enough to cover all of your hair. If you don’t need two boxes, you will have one for next time.
Buy the Right Formulation
If you want to cover gray hair, be sure the product that you choose is formulated for gray hair. These formulations have a neutral base so you won’t need to worry about your hair turning orange or blue.
Touch Up New Growth
When you touch up your roots, mix the color as usual. Part your unwashed hair with a comb or with the tip of the applicator bottle. Apply the color to new growth only and allow it to work for 20 minutes before rinsing. You may need a touch up every four to six weeks.
Hair Coloring Tips for Highlighting
Make your highlights look natural by applying both one shade lighter and one shade darker (also known as lowlights) than your natural color.
Highlight Curly Hair
A helpful hair coloring tip for curly hair is to braid your hair. Now apply the highlighting product thoroughly to your braids with a gloved hand and allow it to work for the time specified on the package.
Do Not Use Foil
If you are applying your own highlights, you will get the best results if you use a cap and a wand or brush for your highlights.
