“Don't put color on
your hair. Once you start, you'll never get it back to the way it was
ever again.”
This is what my late
mother told me when I told her I was considering coloring my hair. It
wouldn't have been anything drastic-just a shade darker than my
already-dark-brown hair. Like most teenagers, I didn't listen. Also,
like most teenagers, I lived to regret it. It
wasn't that I shouldn't have done it at all so much as that there
were a lot of things that my 17-year-old self didn't consider
beforehand.
Normally I would say go
to a salon if you want to color your hair, but I understand that it's
not always within your budget. This is especially true if you are
like me and have gray roots that won't go away-at least, not for
long. If you must color your hair at home, though, here are some 'dos
and don'ts;' to consider.
Dos-
-Go to a professional
if you want streaks or highlights. It might also be a good idea to
ask a stylist to suggest a color for you, or at least give advice
about the color you're considering. If you're not sure where to
start looking, here's a basic guide:
http://www.totalbeauty.com/content/quizzes/hair-color-for-your-skin,
-If you are coloring
your hair at home, follow the directions on the package to a T. Do
whatever 'patch tests' are recommended, and don't leave the color on
longer than it says to. Otherwise you might end up with bright
burgundy hair like I did the day of my high school graduation. I
liked it, but my mom wasn't too happy.
-If you are
experimenting with colors, only use temporary or semi-permanent dyes.
That way, the color will gradually fade from your hair as you shampoo
it rather than having to deal with roots. Also, since they don't
penetrate the hair follicle as deeply (if at all) as permanent dyes,
you're less likely to have lasting damage.
-Use shampoos,
conditioners, etc formulated for color-treated hair. The reason for
this is that colored hair needs gentle cleansers and deep
moisturizers that 'regular' products don't have-at least, not in the
necessary balances. The best products also protect your hair from the
sun's UV rays and help enhance its shine.
-Do use root touch-up
kits if that's really all you need. I say this because doing all-over
dyes too often can damage your hair. There are some out there that
aren't very expensive and are easy to apply at home.
Don't
-Don't go directly from
dark to light, and vice versa. At least, not by yourself. Always use
a salon for drastic changes, because a lot of the 'recipes' or
'suggestions' you find on the internet can really do a number on your
hair. For instance, my sister used Sun-In (heat-activated peroxide
spray) to go from brown to platinum blonde. It looked good once she
achieved her intended color, but there were stages in between when
her hair was orange. It was equally disastrous when she tried
to go from the light blonde to dark brown-her hair turned purple.
Also, her hair felt like straw for the next few years. Long story
short-if you want a drastic change, just go to a salon.
-Don't color your hair
on a whim. Take your time to pick out the right color so you won't
end up with a head full of If you're doing something like dyeing your
hair for a special occasion or trying out a new or outrageous color,
use temporary dye.
-This might sound
obvious, but don't use color to dye your eyebrows or eyelashes. This
can cause blindness.
-If you screw something
up, don't try to fix it on your own. Go to a salon.
There's nothing wrong
with coloring your hair; in fact, it can make you feel like a
completely different person. If done correctly, it can really help
your confidence. It's not always as easy as the commercials make it
look, though, so you need to do your homework beforehand.
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