There are days when you just want a change, and going for a different color is one of the common ways to do it. Dyeing your hair can completely change your look, but this can either go beautifully or go very very wrong.
Whether it’s adding some highlights, covering greying hair, going for a funky color, or simply changing your look from light to dark or the other way around, dyeing your hair is a big deal.
It’s not as simple as getting the first box of hair dye you see from a shelf and expecting your hair to transform magically. There are things you need to think about and tips you must remember:
Do your homework
You can of course walk into a salon and ask for a drastic change, but the process will be so much faster if you already had a color in mind. Before attempting to dye your hair, do your research and already look at pegs of the color that you want.
You can go for very specific colors offered by certain brands, but you can also just bring your style peg. The tricky part, of course, is deciding on this peg. What color do you want your hair to be? What shade of red? What kind of brown? Don’t just say blonde streaks, but be very specific.
Coloring your hair is generally a matter of personal taste, but there are also times when it’s driven by moods or certain life stages. If you’re going for something really drastic, you might even want to try on a wig to see what you’ll look like. Before you make up your mind and settle on a decision, look at all your options and pegs.
Consult with a colorist
It’s very tempting to do it yourself, but having the expert hands of a professional do it for you is still the better option. Before you actually dye your hair, you must book a consultation with your colorist, because they really do know better.
It’s easier if you consult with a clear picture of what you want to achieve in your hair, and your colorist can give you advice on whether or not it will look good. You’ll surely benefit from your colorist’s artistic eye, years of experience, and the many customers they’ve worked with before.
Depending on what you want to achieve, your colorist will also tell you how many salon visits this color will take. Some complicated styles will take more than one visit, and you should take this into consideration.
Prepare for the hair damage
Damage is inevitable when you’re coloring your hair, because dyes contain hydrogen peroxide. This changes the color of your hair pigment chemically, and if your hair is already damaged in the first place then this might cause you more problems.
It’s best to fortify your strands and first repair your damaged hair. Moisturize it and go for intense renewal products to keep your hair healthy. The last thing you want to happen is for the dyeing procedure to result to further damage and breakage.
Be aware of the things you need to avoid
Coloring your hair means adding chemicals to it, and this makes your hair more vulnerable to damage. You should also take steps to ensure that the color sticks, and avoid activities that can strip that color away.
For one, stay away from the swimming pool at least two weeks after, because chlorine will strip your hair cuticle and alter your hair color. You need to avoid heat as much as possible because this will result to further damage. If you really have to style your hair with heat, do so sparingly. When using heated styling tools like your hair iron for instance, stay away from the higher temperatures and make sure you use heat protectants.
Pay attention to the aftercare
Just because you got the color you want doesn’t mean you should stop there. Aftercare is just as important as preparing for the procedure and the actual dyeing, and it can also take as much effort.
What you need to remember is as soon as your hair becomes color-treated, you need to support it with hair products that are specifically made for color-treated hair. After dyeing, your hair will tend to be dry so you need to nurture it completely.
Go for moisture-rich shampoos and conditioners that specifically say they are formulated for color-treated hair. When taking a shower, you should also avoid hot water at all costs. Hot water will dry out your hair and scalp further, while cold water will help you keep your hair healthy and of course retain that color.
You can also use other products like UV-protectors that will protect your hair from the heat of the sun as you go with your daily activities.