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Which Hair Colour Is Right For You?

Hair colour correction is a big money maker in salons nationwide. The reason: over-the-counter hair colouring products have given consumers the impression that hair colour is easy and extremely affordable. One look at a professionally-coloured model on a commercial or glossy magazine page, and many people clamor to the closest drug store to purchase a $5 box of colour with the hopes of receiving a $50 salon look.

Once in a while, you can get an amazing reaults, but most results are often disastrous, and it can take hundreds of dollars to correct a hair colour problem that could have been prevented with just a tiny bit of knowledge and planning. When I first started colouring my hair, I had no idea what I was doing and wasted so much money with my experiments.

The most common problem seen with hair colouring at home and in salons is choosing a hair colour that is too light for the natural shade of hair. Realistically, colour can only lighten hair beautifully by a few shades. If you go any lighter than a few shades, you need to choose a high-lift product such as bleach or a professional highlighting system. Failure to do this often results in hair colour that is much too brassy or even orange – something I have dealt with on numerous occasions!

Word to the wise: high-lift hair colouring should only be performed by professionals. The controlled chemicals used in the process, if used incorrectly, can result in irreparable damage and/or chemical burns on the scalp and skin.

Another hair colour mistake that is seen quite often is choosing a color that is too dark. Extremely dark hair colour can be the most challenging to correct because dark colour can actually stain the cortex (inner layer) of the hair, making it almost impossible to lighten. Again, avoid choosing hair colours that are more than a few shades darker than your own to prevent a costly cortex stain.

When it comes to choosing the right shade of hair colour to use, pick tones and shades that flatter your skin tone. Choose warm shade of hair colour (reds and warm browns) if you look best in warm-coloured clothing such as reds, pinks and oranges. Choose a cool shade (beige, pale blonde highlights and neutral colors) if you look best in blues and greens.

As you can see, just a little bit of planning and knowledge can save you from costly hair colouring disasters. And by making an informed decision before you purchase hair colour, you will not only save money, you will also save your hair from needless damage.

Hair colour is a chemical, and every time you chemically process your hair, you damage it to some extent. The damage can be minimal, as is usually the case with high-end professional hair coloring systems, or can be extreme. And each time you use hair colour to correct a problem, you are damaging your hair even more.

Here are just a few tell-tale signs that your hair has been over processed with hair colour and other chemicals.

  • The hair is limp and dull, and no amount of styling can bring back its luster and bounce.
  • The hair is extremely dry and brittle. When it is wet, it is almost impossible to comb it without causing breakage.
  • The hair colour has faded dramatically, and you are left with brassy and banded hair colour. (Banded hair color is evident by the sudden change of hair colour along the hair shaft. For example: the hair may be dark until about 2” from the scalp where it turns a brassy orange.)

You can avoid damage to your hair caused by hair colouring by taking the same precautions recommended for choosing the right hair colour. Choosing the right hair colour reduces the amount of colour applications, therefore, reducing the chances of your hair becoming over processed.

If you are looking for ways to help you transition to your next hair colour, this guide will tell you everything you need to know!

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