Hair Colours – Understanding Hair Colour from Root to Tip
Many of us get to that point in life when we wonder if we should dye our hair or not. But experimenting with colours and getting a new look can be daunting sometimes. Here are a few simple guidelines on all you need to know about hair colouring.
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Different Types of Hair Colour
source: @catwalkau
Temporary dye – This type of hair dye colour doesn’t change your actual hair colour and can be washed away with shampoo. Usually, these can be found in the form of sprays and can come in handy for playing with the look of your hair whenever you wish. The easiest way of getting the colour you want without commitment!
Hair toners – These are hair colour products that gently alter the hair undertone, often referred to as semi-permanent or demi-permanent hair dye. They lie on the hair’s surface and fade slowly within six to eight weeks from applying.
source: @evohair
Toners are used to upgrade or refine the colour of your hair. They can neutralise any unwanted tones and are also used for pre-toning. Pre-toning means creating a neutral base for keeping the colour consistent as it fades. Many times, hairstylists apply permanent colour to cover up the re-growth and then hair toner to the rest of the hair, balancing the existing shade in a healthier manner. Similar to this, you can use toner to fix any potential pop up of uneven application of your hair colour.
You can use toners to simply add the shine your hair needs, or blend your greys with the pigmented hair colour that remains and get a fully grey hair look.
Permanent – Now, this is the type of hair dye that makes the greatest change to your natural hair colour, whether you want to lighten or darken it or cover any grey hairs. Permanent colours need to be mixed with a developer before dying and then the hair would require proper care as to keep the shade on for longer. It’s important to know that permanent hair colours fade away and grow out, too. That’s why you should maintain your hair quality with specially formulated products for treating dyed hair.
Prepare Your Hair for Colouring
If you’re colouring your hair at home, it’s important to prepare your face and hair accordingly. Follow these few steps and you will love the results.
1. Wash your hair.
Whether you wash your hair the day before applying dye or right before applying it, use a shampoo and conditioner and make sure you dry it properly. For naturally oily hair, it’s recommendable to wash it immediately before colouring.
2. Remove makeup and brush your hair.
Brushing your hair with care is necessary for removing any knots or tangles, which will make applying the colour to your hair easier and distributed evenly.
3. Choose a well-lit area and proper clothing.
If possible, avoid tight clothing and always make sure to protect your clothes from any drops.
How to Take Care of Coloured Hair
source: @catwalkau
Keeping your newly coloured hair full of life can be done with proper care and a bit of creativity. Your hair will remain shiny and vibrant with the help of the following tips.
Don’t shampoo your hair right after colouring – give the hair dye some time to set in and wash it the next day.
Use the right shampoo and conditioner and use them right – Always choose a shampoo that is formulated for coloured hair, as well as a good quality conditioner because they should protect the hair structure and seal the cuticles, thus prevent the hair from becoming dull. Conditioners create a protective barrier around the hair follicle, keeping the dye on for longer. However, limit the washing of your hair to three times a week and use cool or room-temperature water.
You should also consider using a colour-safe dry shampoo on the in-between days. Spray dry shampoo on the roots of your hair and it will absorb excess oil, making your hair look all natural and fresh, and your colour vibrant.
source: @keunehaircosmetics
Sometimes you can even skip shampooing your coloured hair and go straight to conditioner, but make sure it’s a colour-protecting one.
Protect your hair from heat and from chlorine – Use heat-protective spray or hair oil before blow-drying your hair, which will prevent heat damage and make sure you keep it on the lowest heat setting. Whenever exposed to sun, cover up your hair and apply products that contain UV protectors.
If you’re planning on spending much time in a swimming pool, apply protective leave-in conditioner that will protect your hair from the possible damaging effects of chlorine.
How Often Should You Colour Your Hair?
Changing the shade of your natural hair comes as a refreshment from everyday life, and getting a new look can boost your confidence. However, never compromise on the quality of your hair. Hair is delicate along its entire length, therefore the recommended time span for hair dying is from four to eight weeks. Any colour change requires maintenance and here are two things that can help you determine how to reduce hair damage.
Know your hair type – Depending on your hair colour and the shade you’re going after, you may need more frequent hair colouring. Let’s say you’re dark-haired and want to go blonde – that will surely require colouring your hair more times on a regular basis. Also, your hair growth determines the frequency of hair dying, so if it grows faster than average, it will require applying hair products and covering the re-growth more often.
Consider the condition of your hair – Based on the level of your hair damage, you can determine how often you should dye your hair. So, if there is minimal damage or you’ve never dyed your hair before, then you will be fine with more frequent hair colouring. But, if your hair is already damaged, you better give it a break, provide good care and repair it carefully.
