How to Color Your Hair:  Box Hair Color vs. Salon Hair Color

As you walk down the aisle of your local drugstore and try to figure out what hair color product to buy, there are a few things you need to think about. The truth is that most hair color products – whether professional (sold to licensed professionals only) or retail (for sale to the public) – contain the same basic ingredients.

The general composition of both semi-permanent and permanent hair-coloring products is the same, regardless of whom they are sold to. A major challenge in how to color your hair at home, is selecting the hair color that is the right one for your desired end result. You ask yourself, “Do I choose by the picture on the box? Do I make an attempt to decipher the chart hanging on the shelf? Do I take a shot at the instructions on the back of the box?”

Know what you have before choosing a box color

Before you journey into the world of hair color, know what you have. This means knowing the answers to basic hair color questions such as: What is your natural hair color or, as the professionals refer to it, level and tone? What is your percentage of grey?

Once you decide the answers to these questions, you should stay within 2 levels of your natural hair color. It is not a good idea to make a drastic hair color change on your own. Also, a golden rule of hair coloring to know is,” hair color will not lift or lighten previously colored hair.” This is a major misconception. Making your hair color lighter can only be done with a lightning product such as, bleach or color remover, which is usually sold to licensed professionals only.

Dimensional color in a box?

Now for that multi-color or dimensional hair color promised in one step . . . well, they are sold in the  aisle right next to the unicorns . . . in other words, they don’t exist! The only way to get dimensional color is to highlight or lowlight your hair color . . . period!

Good to know!

Before you leave the store make sure you have enough product for your hair. Most boxes of hair color are notorious for only providing you with a few small ounces of color. If you have any more than the less-than-average head of hair, you may want to by two or three boxes. You can always return unopened product.

Don’t forget to . . .

Read the instructions carefully. Find an old shirt that you can take off easily before showering, or, if you wash your hair in a sink, wear something without a collar. Have old towels handy and get your shampoo and conditioner ready (the boxes usually come with very small tubes of conditioner). Applying the color can be as important as choosing a shade.

Your best bet is to apply the product to very small and even sections. You can‘t just shampoo in or lather in hair color and expect good results. If it were that easy this article wouldn’t be necessary, hair professionals would be non-existent, and everyone would have beautiful hair color! Also, be careful that the color is applied on your head only. Removing hair color from tile, bathroom rugs, shower curtains, and skin can be a difficult process – if not impossible.

Choosing a professional

If all of this sounds like too much work, you might be right, but choosing a salon can be just as challenging as picking a box of hair color from the store shelves. The best way to find a salon is to ask around. Look for someone with a hair color that you like. Find a coworker, a mother at your child’s school, or even a woman at the mall or gym and ask them where they get their hair done. People are flattered when you notice. It’s a compliment to any woman and most are happy to tell you where they go.

Ask good questions

Once you find a salon, ask for a consultation before scheduling an appointment. This is a great time to ask important questions, such as: What has to be done to achieve my desired color? How long of a process is this? What is the maintenance or upkeep? What products do I need to use to best preserve this color?

Pictures tell a thousand words

It is a good idea to take a picture of hair color you like. Colorists really do like seeing pictures. This helps them avoid dealing with subjective and highly interpretable adjectives like “ash, brassy, buttery, low lights, etc.” These are words that if not used properly will land you in the color correction chair. But don’t forget one of the most important questions: How much is this going to cost? The last thing you want is sticker shock when you are checking out at the salon. You need to be sure that once you get a color you love, you will be able to pay for it and keep up with the maintenance.

Now that you are armed with the information you need on how to color your own hair or on how to find a profession to color it for you, the decision is up to you. Will it be the drug store or the salon?

Guest author Daniel Galloway of Salon Oasis of Boca Raton has 29 years of experience as a hair colorist, salon consultant, and industry educator at The Hair Design Institute. Follow Dann on Twitter.

You can remove hair dye BUT . . . know what to expect!

It is possible to remove hair dye at home effectively but to get it right requires some due diligence on your part. A reader recently asked us about removing hair dye with “Color Oops” by Developlus and then how to dye it back to a lighter color.

“Remove Hair Dye Carefully”I haven’t used “Color Oops” before so we asked the manufacturer if they would answer the question below, but there are some things that are a ‘given’ when dying your hair and especially if you want to remove dye from your hair.

• Read all the information given by the manufacturer, some hair dyes may not be able to be removed.

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• Prep hair by doing deep conditioning or protein treatments.

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• If you have questions, call the manufacturers help line. Every one’s situation is different. The process to remove hair dye and get to YOUR desired end result requires specific steps.

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• Strand test - leaves no surprises!

Sarah asks;

I was alternating going to a hair salon and home hair coloring to cover grey roots, but we recently moved and I haven’t found a new hair salon yet. My hair color is a bit darker now than I’d like and so I want to use Color Oops. I use permanent hair color for the grey roots only, and use a color gloss over the lengtht to refresh color.

My question is on recoloring after using Color Oops. Should I still use permanent hair color on the roots since that is virgin hair? WHAT should i use for the lengths??? Semi, or Demi, or just a color gloss again? Also, for the virgin roots, I’m assuming I pick the hair color shade I want (say 5N) But for the lengths that are more porous, do I need to use a 7N or 8N for them to “match?” I am planning on using a protein treatment after Color Oops and waiting 1 week before recoloring.

Phillip Agrey of research and development at Developlus says;

Yes, you should use permanent hair color on your roots/virgin hair. On your ends you should use the semi color as you have done in the past. However, you should only process for 5 minutes on the ends. Your ends will be porous and they will absorb color quickly. Processing longer than 5 minutes can cause grabbing and the hair color can turn out too dark.

Satin Reconstruct

We highly recommend using a good protein treatment such as Satin Reconstruct. Apply the conditioner, place a shower cap over your hair and leave on at least 20 minutes.

A lighter hair color will be not necessary if a reduced processing time is used. In either regard, a strand test is highly recommended, as every ones hair reacts differently. A strand test will let you see what the color will turn out prior to recoloring your whole head.

Hope that helps Sarah! Remember the hair color shade you pick for your roots now should be lighter than what you have been using or you will eventually be back to having darker hair than you want. If you were using 5N you may want to consider using half 5N and half 6N to gently lighten up, or even add some warmth to that formula.

Also I found that www.developlus.com has a great FAQ’s section that covers just about any question you may have on how to remove hair dye effectively.

For further discussion on your natural hair color you might want to check out these other articles:

• How to Get Back to Your Natural Hair Color
• How Can I Get my Natural Hair Color Back?
• How do I go back to my natural hair color?
• Getting Back to Your Natural Hair Color
• Can I get my natural hair color back? How long do I need to wait?
• Stripping Hair Back to Natural Colour

Barb Quinn on Google+  

Are you stuck in a hairstyle rut?  

Read on for some quick and easy ways to style long hair that will make you feel like a you just got a makeover!

All too often we get into a beauty rut, wearing the same thing and doing the same thing, day in and day out.  It’s safe, it’s easy and it’s comfortable, but it’s not very exciting.  Here are some simple ways to style long hair for a change that is fresh and fun.

Ponytails

If you normally wear your hair pulled back in a ponytail (and who doesn’t love the ease of a ponytail!) try adjusting the height of your pony.  A ponytail swept high on your head (not like Pebbles from the Flintstones, but at the back of your crown) elongates your cheekbones and eyes and can change the illusion of  the shape of your face, giving you a whole new look.  And if you usually wear it high, try low, loose ponytail for an elegant, new look.

Look how different Gwynneth Paltrow looks in each picture, simply by adjusting the height of her ponytail.

Headbands

Headbands aren’t just for the gym anymore. If you only pull your locks back to wash your face, try a simple headband for a modern look. You can create a messy, tousled look or something more polished, simply by adding apiece of fabric to frame your face. And a bonus is your won’t be pushing your hair out of your eyes all day!  You can find simple. functional headbands at most major drug stores, or fancy ones at your favorite department store.

Updos

If up-dos are more your style, try a simple French Twist if you typically wear a bun.  Your local drug store likely carries several inexpensive styling tools that can help you create a sleek twist, or with a twist of your wrist and a few pins you can go for a  more casual styling approach, a la Renee Zellweger.

Blow Outs

If you have a little extra time on your hands, you can go from curly to straight for a completely different look. If you don’t want to pay for a salon blow out, wash your hair and add a styling gel at home, then dry as usual and go over sections of your hair with a flat-iron. If you have pin straight hair, try some foam rollers or electric rollers to add waves and volume to create a bold new hairstyle.  Taylor Swift shows just how dramatic the difference can be.

Braids

Braids aren’t just for school girls any more.  For a special party look, try braiding a small section of hair long the side of your face, then sweeping it back behind your ear, secured with a pin. This simple style is chic and elegant and can really glam up a look.  Anne Hathaway looks so fresh with her simple braid.

Accessorize

In celebration of spring, try adding a fresh or silk flower to you hairstyle.  Tucked behind your ear or secured with a pin in a ponytail, flowers can make your hairstyle playful or elegant. And you don’t have to save the flowers for a special night – a small flower used to highlight your style can be perfectly acceptable at work.

Don’t be afraid to try new hairstyles. You might even find a completely different look that will work better for your hairstyle and your lifestyle!

Barb Quinn on Google+  

Got a question, war story or comment about this topic? Click on the "Leave Your Comments" link at the very bottom of this article. Some of my best ideas for future articles come from reading reader comments. I'd love to hear from you!

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