Color your own hair

[joy@disney]

Need some help and advice. I am considering getting my hair colored for the first time. I started getting grey hair when I was 18. I am now 42 and have had some grey hair for most of my adult life. So I am used to seeing me this way, but I have really been feeling like a change.

My questions to you all are, should I have it done professionally or should I do it myself. If professionally, what do you all pay. If you have done it yourself, what brand do you use.

Thanks all.

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

Need some help and advice. I am considering getting my hair colored for the first time. I started getting grey hair when I was 18. I am now 42 and have had some grey hair for most of my adult life. So I am used to seeing me this way, but I have really been feeling like a change.

My questions to you all are, should I have it done professionally or should I do it myself. If professionally, what do you all pay. If you have done it yourself, what brand do you use.

Thanks all.

I'm a part-time stylist, and our salon starts at $60 for an all-over color (just one color, not highlights, etc.) and goes up depending on stylist level, length of hair, condition of hair, etc.

In general, though, it's fairly easy just to do a single color, so you could use a semi-permanent at home to get a feel for it and see if you like it. I am usually a champion for letting the pros handle the chemicals, but you'd be pretty safe with a semi-permanent color.

 

[gk90]

Sally Beauty Supply has more types and brands of hair color available compared to what you'd find in the drug store--if you ask a salesperson there to help you pick an easy to use do-it-yourself product, I'm sure they can point out something good.

 

[badblackpug]

I pay about $150 for color, highlights, cut and blow dry. My hair isn't real long, about a little above my shoulders, but it is super thick and coarse. I don't think I could manage the color on my own.

 

[gk90]

I don't think I could manage the color on my own.

My MIL used to have my FIL help her with coloring her hair--she would be the 1st to tell you she's all thumbs and 2 left feet while he was great with tools, crafts, repairs, painting, detailing etc. Since he passed away she goes to the salon or has my SIL help her.

My mom is very handy and careful and she does her own hair coloring. I have grey streaks that don't show if I comb my hair over them but with pool weather coming up it's finally time for me to color them...I'm thinking I can do mine myself since it's a single color and I've been looking at some of these semipermanent colors:
http://www.sallybeauty.com/Demi-Haircolor/SBS-800354,default,pd.html
http://www.sallybeauty.com/demi-permanent-haircolor/SBS-305448,default,pd.html
http://www.sallybeauty.com/haircolor/SBS-500766,default,pd.html

 

[badblackpug]

My MIL used to have my FIL help her with coloring her hair--she would be the 1st to tell you she's all thumbs and 2 left feet while he was great with tools, crafts, repairs, painting, detailing etc. Since he passed away she goes to the salon or has my SIL help her.

My mom is very handy and careful and she does her own hair coloring. I have grey streaks that don't show if I comb my hair over them but with pool weather coming up it's finally time for me to color them...I'm thinking I can do mine myself since it's a single color and I've been looking at some of these semipermanent colors:
http://www.sallybeauty.com/Demi-Haircolor/SBS-800354,default,pd.html
http://www.sallybeauty.com/demi-permanent-haircolor/SBS-305448,default,pd.html
http://www.sallybeauty.com/haircolor/SBS-500766,default,pd.html

OMG! ROFLMAO! I can just imagine my completely, BALD, not a wisp of hair on his shiny head husband trying to color my hair! LOL! LOL! LOL!

 

[drinkme]

The problem with diy at home coloring is that it's hard to cover gray. You may be able to keep the gray covered for 2 weeks if you're lucky.

When I used to get my hair professional colored, my stylist would give me beautiful blonde highlights in the front where my gray is the worst. It would cover the gray, and then when the gray started coming in, the blonde seemed to camaflouge it well to get me to 8-12 weeks to my next appt.

Blonde is a hard color to do yourself at home. Some times it comes out blonde for me, sometimes a strawberry blonde.

My daughter has had all shades of colors trying to get the platinum blonde coloring (gray, purple...lol).

So, if your gray isn't too bad, then do it at home with something from the drug store. But you probably want to get it professionally done if you have an important occasion to go to.

If you want to save money, then definitely do it at home.

 

[luvthatdisney]

I too get the blonde highlights around my face and throughout the crown to cover my grey. My regular hair color is a medium brown, but the highlights seem to blend the gray away for longer than using one color. I can also stretch out the time between coloring due to the highlights as the grey just blends into it. I do not have a whole lot of gray, but it is very noticible when I use only one color no highlights.

 

[singitalto]

I have med-dark brown hair (well I really am about 1/2 gray now) I use Preference by Loreal Medium brown. Very easy to use, covers gray well. I leave it on longer, like 40 min total, so that the gray gets covered.Good luck!

 

[patsal]

I have almost totally grey hair and I color it myself--I have to it would not be affordable for me otherwise. Since I am 43 and a teacher the kids woudl think I was really old if I left it natural! I use Garnier and get great color that doesn't fade for about 4-6 weeks. My hair grows really fast and it needs the roots touched up every four weeks.

 

[msmayor]

The problem with diy at home coloring is that it's hard to cover gray. You may be able to keep the gray covered for 2 weeks if you're lucky.

When I used to get my hair professional colored, my stylist would give me beautiful blonde highlights in the front where my gray is the worst. It would cover the gray, and then when the gray started coming in, the blonde seemed to camaflouge it well to get me to 8-12 weeks to my next appt.

Blonde is a hard color to do yourself at home. Some times it comes out blonde for me, sometimes a strawberry blonde.

My daughter has had all shades of colors trying to get the platinum blonde coloring (gray, purple...lol).

So, if your gray isn't too bad, then do it at home with something from the drug store. But you probably want to get it professionally done if you have an important occasion to go to.

If you want to save money, then definitely do it at home.

Maybe its hard to keep the gray covered with a semi-permanent, but with a permanent level 3 its not really hard at all. I use Preference by Loreal and have had excellent success. I color about every 6 weeks and it does a great job.

The Preference has a great comb applicator that makes it very easy to keep control over the dye. I get $2 or $3 coupons all the time and with sales and coupons I pay around $5 a box. Excellent value, IMO.

 

[SalandJeff]

I used to get my hair done at the salon, but started doing it myself when I got laid off. HUGE difference in cost.

It is really not hard to do, although I will admit I hate doing it. I use either Garnier or L'Oreal - whichever is on sale and also use coupons.

A couple of tips. Go to Sally Beauty Supply and get a coloring brush. It is kind of like a paintbrush and makes it so much easier to get the color concentrated on your gray at the crown and temples. Do those gray areas first, so the color is on those for a longer time. And if you are doing it yourself, I would try to stay fairly close to your own color until you get the hang of it. Also, don't panic if it looks darker than you expect. It will lighten up after a couple of washes.

If you want to change the color significantly, I would go to the salon.

 

[Sadie22]

I pay about $150 for color, highlights, cut and blow dry. My hair isn't real long, about a little above my shoulders, but it is super thick and coarse. I don't think I could manage the color on my own.

Oh, my! Salons at our local mall charge about half that!

 

[DisneyNutMic]

I put my natural color back in this weekend actually. I only do one color though so mine is pretty simple.

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

Oh, my! Salons at our local mall charge about half that!

I'm guessing she goes to a boutique-type salon (unique as opposed to chain). They tend to offer a more individualized (read: personalized, spa-like, etc.) consultation and experience than the mall/Wal-mart/Supercuts type of salons, hence the heftier price tag.

 

[kesha]

If you can afford to get it done professionally that is what I would do. The price depends on the area you live. If you go with an all over color the gray seems to come back faster. If you can get by with highlights to cover your gray they seem to last longer. Just my opinion. I am not a professional but I do color my own hair with an all over color. Its a pain and as I have gotten older and getting more gray it is even a bigger pain. I'm ready to go back to the salon. I have saved alot of money doing it myself though. A professional told me what to buy at Sallys when I started doing it myself.

 

[Pigeon]

I've been coloring mine for many years. It's completely simple to do. I've used many brands and had good results. I usually use Preference, and it covers gray very well.

 

[stinkerbelle's mom]

I use Preference by Loreal about every 6 to 8 weeks. I use the different shades of medium brown. To keep it fresh about every 4 to 6 weeks I use the root touch up by Clairol. It will shine the crown and the roots and extend my regular dying time. The root touch up isn't has harsh as the more permenant dye.

 

[Tink-n-MrIncredible]

I vote for you to do it yourself. I have been doing mine for years. Here is a list of some things your want from Sally's : plastic gloves, color applicator bottle (small size), developer, and hair color (I like Clairol Gray busters). Let the associate or bring a friend and try and match the color swatch to your hair color. The associated should be able to tell you what type of developer and how much depending on what hair color you choose.

 

[CrzyforPiglet]

I've probably been coloring my own hair for about 2 years and have gotten okay results - not amazing but good enough for my needs and pocketbook. But I've noticed in the past 6 months that the grey hairs were getting more stubborn and coming out quicker so I broke down and got it done at the salon. The difference is amazing - I have gotten so many compliments and it still looks great. If I were you I'd try doing it yourself for a couple of times to see how it works out and if you like it before going to a salon.

And for the amusement of my son . . .