hair coloring questions

[ez]

please help me...I am on a real downer today. I usually get my hair highlighted...its been a while so my hair is really looking like my natural color which is mousy brown with a (very) little gray. I am tired of the striped look the highlights give me, they don't seem to at first, but as they grow in they do, also it seems to get so ashy looking. I am fair skinned with blue/green eyes. My hair is curly/wavy and slightly frizzy in texture. I keep going to the store to buy hair coloring, but I lose my nerve and come home empty handed. I would love to be able to give my hair nice color on my own...I'm scared though. If any of you who color your own hair could give me specific advice/encouragement...I would really appreciate it. Thanks so much!

 

[Scratch42]

When I first started to color my own hair, I started with the temps that only last 3 days. That way if you did not like it you did not have to live with it too long! The more washing the more it would fade! Try to pick a colour that is within your own hair colouring. Use your natural highlights as an indication as to which color to use; Red/ stick with Auburns type thing.

If there is a cosmetician on staff where you plan on buying, ask them also, they can be very helpful.

Good Luck!

Scratch

 

[powellrj]

I always had great luck with Belle Colure, but I haven't been able to find it in a long time, so lately I have been using Hydrance which I am having problems finding the right shade. The last time it was too Red. I am usually a light golden brown. I use to have my hair colored at the salon, but I was never happy with the result, so I am much happier doing it myself, plus its a lot cheaper. I say go for it, just don't do anything very drastic, maybe try to keep the shade that you have or one shade up or down. Good Luck!!

 

[dianeschlicht]

I like Excellence Cream by L'Oreal. I have never had a failure with it, and I have used it for years.

 

[holycow]

I too vote for the Excellence....I was terrified at doing my own hair but after going to the salon and having the woman get hair dye all around my face for the 3rd time I had had it...The excellence is easy to use and I have never had a problem with the color ...in fact...get a mirror and go out in the sun when you are done....the color is amazing!

Use the hair swatches to match your own hair color....also...I use joico...K pac and my frizzes are gone too! (I have spent major money trying to get rid of the frizzes! LOL


Holycow

 

[Muffy]

I agree to stick with a color close to your natural color. Loreal is a good brand.

holycow, what is joico K pac and where do you buy it? I have frizzy hair too!

 

[DaisyDebbie]

Four words: have it professionally done. When I tried to go a few shades lighter brown I wound up Red.

And if you use Clairols Shimmer Lights, it's in a purple bottle, it will keep your highlighting toned down.

Good Luck

 

[winniedapooh]

DH is the lucky one who does my hair, lol. Nah I am the lucky one and he is great at it. I use Clairol Natural Instincts, the kind that washes out in 24 shampoos. My hair naturally lightens or darkens depending on sunlight exposure and/or shampoo brands. With 5 DCherubs, I never now what shampoo will be left in the bathroom! So I choose to use one that will slowly wash out and then I can do it again.....lighter, darker, or the same shade.

 

[Mamu]

A word of caution if you still have highlights do not color it yourself. You will end up with 2 shades. Your natural color will except the store bought color. Your highlighted hair could turn green or maybe even black. There will be very little a professional stylist will be able to do if this happens and it will end up costing a lot of money to correct. Plus your hair will probably be fried.

 

[holycow]

Muffy
I found it at one of the stores in the mall that carries all of the products for hair. I is called Kpac and you just put a small amount in your hair and rub it all over...It works!

I have the frizziest hair in the world and it was driving me nuts with all of the humidity....I have been through so many products and most of them just made my hair really soft and frizzy!...this one actually smooths my hair out!
It is pricey though...I think I paid 10$ for it.

Good luck!

 

[faith]

For home coloring Loreal Excellence is by far the best product I have used over the years. Just a guess but I think you could use any of the beige tones.

 

[tnkrbell]

Im a hairdresser, and my professional opinion is to go to a salon! Dont try this at home. You will be happier with the results! good luck!

 

[Poohnatic]

I've been coloring my hair for a long time, and have never had it done professionally. If you're used to having it done by a stylist, stick to the stylist.

That said, I am also fair skinned with blue/green/grey eyes and I found my natural chestnut brown with auburn highlights made me look ill(dark hair and pale skin). In my late teens, I used summer blonde, then graduated to actually picking a shade of red instead of bleaching.

I usually go with a medium red and a lot of people are surprised that its not my natural shade. I finally treated myself to a good hair stylist about a year ago, and she usually compliments the coloring job I do. I'm about 1/4 grey and color more to cover that than anything else.

If you do decide to do it yourself, go with a temporary color first (most have number 1 or 2 on the box).. I use a 3, but hardly find 4's-these are permanent. I recently switched to L'Oreal and I like the results. In addition to the contents of the box, have a fine tooth comb available to distribute the color more evenly. I have a few ratty tshirts that only get worn for coloring, a few 'coloring towels' and some hair clips to keep my hair up.

Read the instructions carefully, DO THE SKIN TEST, and follow the instructions to the letter. The help numbers on the instructions really do help, I called one time when I decided to go back to my natural shade (and hated it!). The consultants on the phone really do want to help you make the right choice.

The only downer about home coloring that I have is that I find a great color that I like, and then the manufacturer discontinues it. I also found that over time, some of the coloring doesn't cover grey as well. I had started with Nice and Easy, but once I went over 10% grey, it no longer was the product for me. Everyone is different.

With any process on the hair, which I'm sure you know from salon processes in the past, make sure you give extra conditioning to your hair. I have dry hair to begin with, so my hair gets a lot of moisture returned with humectants and conditioner.

Good luck, whether you go to a salon or do it yourself!

Suzanne

 

[sha_lyn]

Originally posted by Mamu
A word of caution if you still have highlights do not color it yourself. You will end up with 2 shades. Your natural color will except the store bought color. Your highlighted hair could turn green or maybe even black. There will be very little a professional stylist will be able to do if this happens and it will end up costing a lot of money to correct. Plus your hair will probably be fried.

The highlighted hair will take the color, and it will usually take up more of the color than your natural hair. So if going darker than your natural color it is possible that the highlights would be darker, and if going lighter, they might discolor or take on an odd shade.

 

[jana]

Another stylist here to tell you GO TO A SALON. When covering your highlights if you don't know what your doing could turn terrible. It may not just go darker it may pick up the base color in the color you are using turning your hair green, blue and something else you don't want.
If you want to do the up keep on your own after that go to a Sally's Beauty Supply and get better quality products that will be much cheaper. The staff there can help you with any questions you have.

 

[married2grumpy]

I agree with the suggestion of going to a salon. I too have heard that coloring on bleached hair could be a problem. The hair that has been highlighted may pick up the color more than the hair strands that haven't. I get my hair foiled and love the highlites. They are not streaky at all but I choose not to have chunky highlites. I too have thought about just doing a single process color but I think when that starts to grow out there is more upkeep. When my foil grows out I do have some roots but my whole hairline is not roots.

I know you were looking for advice/encouragement from those that home color but seek the advice of a professional colorist first then maybe try it at home.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

 

[delswife]

Don't walk, run to your stylist, drop to your knees and beg her forgiveness for even thinking of coloring your own hair!
Let me tell you, I THOUGHT it would be okay to put hair coloring in my hair, I had also had highlights that had grown out. Well this is top of my list of "Things to NEVER do again!!" I had a lovey shade of olive green. Kind of like olives and kermit the frog shades. The stylist had to completely bleach my hair white to correct the color. The bleach burned like holy heck, then the new color on top of that fried my hair so bad it came out in clumps. It was like straw. The stylist did the best she could, and really, with what she had to work with, she did a great job. I was about a year before my hair was normal again. I now leave this to qualified professionals. I will never preform my own operations and never color my own hair again. My appointment is tommorrow as a matter of fact.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Originally posted by tnkrbell
Im a hairdresser, and my professional opinion is to go to a salon! Dont try this at home. You will be happier with the results! good luck!

Not necesarily. I haed mine come out too brassy everytime the hairdresser did it. I have one side of my head that has a white streak. This is what got brassy. When I started doing it myself with L'Oreal Excellence, it always came out right. I have now used it for years, and yes, my hairdresser DOES know. I always color it just before I go get it cut. BTW, she loves the color too!

 

[sha_lyn]

I completely agree with dianeschlicht. I have covered highlights many many times at home with no problem what so ever. I've done it 1-2 times a yr for about the last 15-17 yrs or so. I usually used nice and easy if I'm using a pernament color and natural instinces for a semi pernament color. The 2 biggest mistakes anyone usually makes at home is not making sure the hiar is clean and produce free (gel, hair spray etc) and using too dark of a color.

 

[annemariec]

I have colored over highlights successfully. It wasn't hard. My highlights were done with the foil technique. It just got a little too blonde for me over time.

I called the L'Oreal 1-800 # and talked to a specialist about exactly what to do. She asked me a few questions and gave me the step by step instructions and it came out great. I had to mix two colors and the highlights blended in very naturally.

As long as you are informed, and choose carefully either way can go well. Sometimes I do my hair at home, sometimes at a salon.
I'm on a home kick now. It works for me.

Annemarie