Hair coloring virgin...need advice

[kaytieeldr]

Here's some Hair Coloring 101 - Crash Course:

Too much trouble Can't I just find the color I want, and you tell me what numbers/letters I should buy?

 

[kaytieeldr]

What does this mean??? I have naturally curly hair

Demi = half/partly, perm = permanent. It's a formulation that will gradually wash itself out over a period of time, i.e. ideally before the roots have a chance to grow out

 

[CathrynRose]

Too much trouble Can't I just find the color I want, and you tell me what numbers/letters I should buy?

Yes.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Thank you. You're the nicest friend I've never met . I'll see if I can find a picture of it somewhere.

 

[lovebuzz]

TO EVERYONE - in the future...

Buy it from a Sally's like place.

Here's some Hair Coloring 101 - Crash Course:

LEVELS OF COLOR (1 - 10):

1 - being a blue black. Darkest you can get.

10 - being blondest blonde.


See this: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sXI8Dr0DF...s400/JULY+-+Natural+hair+color+Levels+101.jpg


However - you can also have 11 & 12 blondes (platinum) by using the highest volume of peroxide you can get (40)

LIFTING
The best results from hair color (if you're lifting) come within a couple shades of your own NATURAL hair color. If your hair is a level 4 (and you can look at swatches at a Sally's - ask for the coloring books) - you can pretty safely lift to a 6, with out too many issues. Anything beyond 2 levels, you shouldn't be doing at home.

(see peroxide levels below)

Also - you can mix levels. If you love the richness of a 3R swatch, and the depth of a 5N swatch - you can mix them, And you'll have a 4RN. Make sense?

***Be advised - swatch colors of hair, anywhere, are done on WHITE hair. If your hair is darker, your result will be darker.

DEPOSITING
You can deposit as far down as you want - but do you want to? If you're a natural 8 - do you really want to be a blue-black level 1? Again, you're safe within a few shades. Your hair will almost always grab that color, but when you're depositing you have to think "Will it look right?"

SHADES

All color is going to be followed by a letter. Usually:

G- Gold.
R - Red.
B - Beige
A- Ash
N - Neutral. No gold, no red, no ash, no beige.


There could even be more depending on your brand, and there could be mixes of 2 letters. ( 7 RB )

This is where your tone comes in. If you hit the sunlight, and see red in your NATURAL hair, and don't like it - don't choose a gold, don't choose a red. Depending on how much you want that red gone - choose a neutral or an ash.

Let's see what else....

OH!

Peroxide

10 - 40 Volume. What does this mean? It means how many level's you will lift.

10 - none thru one level
20 - one thru two levels
30 - two thru three levels
40 - three thru four levels

**But again - 40 volume isn't what a home, non-experienced user, should be messing with. Truly. You'll end up with a mess.

If you're a natural 5, and you want to go to a level 6, you'd want to choose *at least* a 20 volume. (one level lift, plus one)

If you're depositing only - you choose a 10. I like to richen up my naturally brown hair (which I keep underneath) I choose a 3N - with a level 10 deposit. If you are not lifting, don't bother with anything higher than a 20. No reason for it, and it's just harder on your hair.

One of the reasons stylists are so against boxed hair color - is not that it's any different than formulations, but because they're just so across the board. Generally all 30 volume, which someone - who perhaps is just covering gray, doesn't need.

And how many of you have colored your hair - from the box - a nice rich, chocolately brown - only to have a brassy, funky *cheap* color in maybe 6 weeks?

Why does that happen? Because that box lifted you THREE shades, and then deposited. The deposit fades. It's normal - any brand will - but that that lift stays put. Hence that "Sun-In" like color you have (that's all Sun-In was... oomped up peroxide)

Which is why - myself - say, go buy your color, and get a 10 volume for depositing. When your color fades, you're back where you began. Not orange.

Lastly - I can't sing the praises enough of pigmented shampoo. They will stretch out your coloring for weeks and weeks. They will brighten blondes, and richen brunettes.



That's all.

Thank you for all of the advice. You are allways so helpfull.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yes.

Okay - this is as close as I could find http://www.beautifulhairstyles.com/red/

The top picture, above the words "red hair color pictures" - NOT the one with the cigarette (not because of the cigarette, that's just not the color I want - too gold/coppery/light ).

Now, I do know the picture is a mannequin, so the hair is a wig and no matter what I used, I wouldn't get the exact match. But I do have a couple of inches of light gray roots, and I know gray is coarser and harder to color. I also know about doing JUST the roots, and combing through to the ends for the last ten minutes or so.

Since I can't get 'that' color, I'd rather go (a little) darker than lighter. So, what can you suggest? And I will NOT blame you if I don't get the results I want. Did I ever tell you about the time I ended up with fuschia hair? NOT my intention!

Thanks!

 

[CathrynRose]

Okay - this is as close as I could find http://www.beautifulhairstyles.com/red/

The top picture, above the words "red hair color pictures" - NOT the one with the cigarette (not because of the cigarette, that's just not the color I want - too gold/coppery/light ).

Now, I do know the picture is a mannequin, so the hair is a wig and no matter what I used, I wouldn't get the exact match. But I do have a couple of inches of light gray roots, and I know gray is coarser and harder to color. I also know about doing JUST the roots, and combing through to the ends for the last ten minutes or so.

Since I can't get 'that' color, I'd rather go (a little) darker than lighter. So, what can you suggest? And I will NOT blame you if I don't get the results I want. Did I ever tell you about the time I ended up with fuschia hair? NOT my intention!

Thanks!

You're easy.

Permanent or Demi?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Permanent