Color Ideas If You Asked the Experts

 Are you desperately seeking sexy, sultry color ideas to spice up your drab looking locks? 

Sure coloring your hair sounds good and all.  Fun even.  But you're not quite sure you're ready to proceed, what with being the near total color virgin that you are?  It's okay if it's true.  There's no shame in admitting that.  But you've kept your secret long enough.

Besides we all have to start somewhere and once you do (start coloring) it's doubtful you'll give up the habit. As today more women than ever are coloring their hair in some form or fashion.

So it would seem to be good you've got the itch too.  Yet like many color virgins, I'll bet the thought of coloring your hair has crossed your mind plenty of times before. But you're chicken.  Or at least have been.  You've agonized over the decision, afraid to take the plunge not knowing what awaits on the other side of the bottle. 

That's cool.  It's sometimes takes longer for it to dawn on some that change can be good.  Even if you're going to go from a mousy brown to bombshell blonde.  C'mon.  Live a little. 

But the title of this post promised color ideas from the lips of the experts.  Not wanting to cheat you let's get to them.

First, were you to ask a colorist about your plans, wondering if you might be able to do this at home, you'd likely hear a resounding NO!  Which might not be bad advice.  Sure I know home coloring kits have come a long way in recent years.  But this is a complicated change, going blonde that is.  For one you have to remove pigment which is always risky. And certainly not something I'd recommend for a first timer.

First timers are wise to take it slow.  Selecting ammonia free, non permanent products that are close to your natural color are a good way to do just that.  So called demi permanent dyes use just enough peroxide to help the color to take.  Being non permanent means you can expect it to last 25-30 shampoos as the color fades back to your natural shade.  This is a good way to ease into the whole hair coloring thing without making a big commitment.  Plus you avoid all that root touch up stuff too.

Also anyone contemplating a less radical change of color might do well to visit their local beauty supply store.  Sally beauty supply comes to mind as a good place to start.  Places like that give you a better shot at getting the help you may need as opposed to the local Dollar Store, Walmart, or big box drug chain outlet.  There you'd be on your own completely more or less. With no one who can reliably answer your questions.  

Did you know some colors retain their vibrancy longer than others?  The ones that have "fade resistant" on the label at least suggest they can.  Just a little tip.

Extending the color can be helped along immensely if you use products formulated for color treated hair.  These may have ingredients that block UV rays.  They may contain gentle cleansing agents.  Some may deposit a bit of color with each usage to offset any fade. 

In any case, coloring your hair for the first time can be a bit of an emotional experience.  To make sure you remember it fondly, be sure to do enough research so you know what you're doing, think ahead, and don't be in a rush.  Above all else, follow the directions on the box exactly and for as long as instructed.
 

11 Proven Home Coloring Tips That Work

Let me guess.  Didn't have enough cash on hand to have a pro do it so you broke down and bought a box of hair color at Walmart thinking you'd give the whole color-your-hair-yourself-at-home thing a whirl.  I'm not surprised.  There's a lot of that going on nowadays.

So how'd that work out for you? 

Again just guessing here, but one of two things likely happened. Color nirvana or you've already made a call to the colorist at your salon to get the color corrected.  Figuring you'll put the cost on your credit card and worry about that bill later.  Because things turned out so disastrously bad you couldn't dare show your face in public.  Not while looking like that at least. 

Not surprising.  Happens all the time to first time home colorists.  Which would suggest you need some proven hair coloring ideas you can use to make your next home hair coloring adventure a big success.  Because while this isn't exactly rocket science, it's not as easy as one might think no matter what your BFFs might tell you.  At least not if you want to end up with healthy, shiny hair afterwards.

Tip#1:  You never know so don't go and forget to do the patch test to see if you're going to have any kind of reaction.

Tip#2: If your hair is long or super thick buy two boxes just in case.  Nothing worse than finding out mid process you don't have enough dye to do the job. 

Tip#3: Take care to apply the color to all of your hair.  Sounds obvious I know.  But it can happen.  A good way to do that is to split your hair into sections.  Then do one at a time making sure you saturate the strands.  Otherwise you may end up with chunks of hair where the color did not take. 

Tip#4: Start from the top and work your way down to again make sure not a single strand is missed.

Tip#5: Make sure to massage the color in all over your head like you're shampooing your hair.

Tip#6: Don't forget the hairline. Some forget to do that you know.

Tip#7: Some find piling their hair on top of their head helps them to see if they missed anything underneath. 

Tip#8: This can be messy so plan on doing it in the bathtub.  Makes cleanup is easier.  And you will need to clean up since as you massage the dye in it will likely splatter some. 

Tip#9: Don't dare use your fav micro fiber towel.  Instead use an old ratty one you can pitch and never see again. 

Tip#10:  Remember to follow the directions on the box and you should be fine. It's really not hard at all if you do what the box says for as long as it says. 

Tip#11: Try real hard to avoid getting any dye on your face or ears.  Yes, it will wash off, eventually, but you don't want any splotches of dyed skin on display.  Ruins the effect, you know?  You might also run a little Vaseline around your hair line and on your ears to make sure this doesn't happen. 

BONUS Tip: Remember to ALWAYS use the follow up conditioner found in the kit.

Coloring your hair at home doesn't have to be a nightmare.  It also doesn't have to mean you will do horrible things to your hair.  Not at all.  At least not if you follow proven tips like the ones shared here.