Saving money - Color your own hair ?

[DawnM]

I have colored my own hair for years and years. I occasionally can't find my color and will substitute another color and I hate that because it doesn't always turn out!

I love the L'oreal preference with the highlighting in the box. It is a pain to rinse my hair twice (once for color and once for highlights) but I figure the salon would take just as long and this way I at least get to come hang out on the DIS while the color sets!

 

[hrslvr142]

I have colored my own hair for a long time. I am older and would be mostly grey by now. Used to use L'Oreal which I liked but have started going to Sally's and find it much cheaper and I like the color selection. My hair is longer and grows very fast so often needs a root touchup at 2 weeks...found a neat product at Sallys called Roux which is like a huge fat crayon that I can use just on the roots and it last until my next shampoo which has really helped stretch out my touch ups and it comes in Auburn. Also for the poster who mentioned they could not find the root touch ups for auburn...someone makes it because I have used it in the past but it is a bit harder to find...think I found it at CVS but not sure.

Good luck to the OP, definitely takes a little of practice but it is so much cheaper to do your own and I can do it anytime I want to without scheduling an appointment.

 

[erincon23]

I have dark brown hair and have had a box of color sitting on my bathroom counter for about 6 months -- I'm so nervous to try it! But I had my hair professionally colored a year ago (used to do it fairly frequently, but that was 25 years ago) and loved it, except that I asked for chunky highlights and they were too subtle for my taste. I'd do that again -- and push for the chunky highlights -- but it was $108, and I just don't have that money. I've colored DH's hair for a couple of years (completely gray at 40, doesn't help with job searches), and he's offered to help with mine. I think I'll try it this weekend (no highlights) - we're going to Disney in 3 weeks, so I'd like to look a little better for photos, and this gives me enough time to get in to my hairdresser and get it fixed if I have to.

Wish me luck!

 

[pocomom]

Those of you who use temp. does it cover gray well? I went gray early , and am prodominately gray (i think at my face frame. I've wanted to do temp. but have always done perm. color thinking it wouldn't cover as well.

I have made mistakes at home (normally by trying to go to light) and I've paid good money for the sallon to mess up too! If you stay close to natural you'll be happy with the results!

My brother's ex-wife did blonde and was naturally near black. Her hair looked fabulous, highlights, low lights no brassiness. She went to Sally Beauty and asked what to do. She said you need more bleaching power then are in the regular box kits to do it right. She did spend ALOT of time on it, so you have to weigh that as well...

 

[Kae]

well? I went gray early , and am prodominately gray (i think at my face Those of you who use temp. does it cover gray frame. I've wanted to do temp. but have always done perm. color thinking it wouldn't cover as well.
QUOTE]

Temp will only blend gray & that is if you are under 12% gray. And it might only work for 2 shampoos. If you are that gray it could just look kinda of muddy. but outside of the cost of the color you really shouldn't have anything to lose.

Kae

 

[gemini2727]

I have been coloring my hair myself for most of my life. I had had a few flops, but none that ever needed to be fixed by a hairdresser. On the other hand, I did once go to a salon for color, and THAT had to be fixed by another salon after the hairdresser turned my hair muppet orange.

Coloring at home is good if you want one overall color. Nothing too far from natural. Highlights and such will need a pro. I prefer John Frieda foam color. It is easy to use and less messy that the runny hair dye. I used to be a big fan of Feria, they have great auburn colors, but they don't cover grey as well as John Frieda.

Here is what I do. I don't wash my hair for a day or two before coloring.

I put vaseline around the hairline and ears to prevent the dye from staining my skin.

I have a hair dye shirt that is ok to ruin (have had the same one for years)

Couple of hair clips to section hair (got mine at Sallys Beauty SUpply), and handheld mirror to see the back.

I do roots first (front top and sides) then section it off by twisting it up in a clip. Then I do the next section under that, root to ends, then the bottom.

It would be easier with a helper, but I do my own. Make sure everything is covered, if up in ponytail and when down.

After coloring, I don't wash my hair for a day or two for the color to set. I don't know if it does or not, but someone told me this once so I still do it. I hate the initial look, its too bright for the first 2 days or so and my scalp has a little color on it. So I plan to color it on a Friday so I don't have to go out with bright hair.

If you get dye on your skin, use shampoo on a paper towel to get it off without adding water. It helps take it off.

Great advice, thank you

 

[DisneyMomma81]

A few weeks back I stopped at Sally's and bought some stuff for my hair ~ two colors to combine, a bottle and the stuff to add to the color - spent under $20, it's not permenant *though they have that option* it was easy and I'm pleased. I have naturally med/dark brown, slightly wavy, mid back hair. I went with a sort of plum color

 

[pooh2001]

I am still a bit nervous - but this thread is helping me.

My hair was professionally colored a week ago.

Do I have to wait till the professional hair color is gone from my hair and my hair is back to it's natural color with the gray strands, before I color my own hair?

I do not want chemicals to react with one another.

What should I do ?

I do not know actually how gray my hair is.
I have been coloring my hair at the salon for the last 5 years.


So - in 4 weeks - can I try to color my own hair, even if some of the hair still has the salon hair color on it ?

Thanks !

 

[capshockeygrl]

I've been coloring my own hair since I was in high school. The few times I went for a non-natural color - purple, for example, I had a friend do it (yes she knew what she was doing).

I stick pretty close to my natural color now, though. I'm naturally brunette, but I like to add a little depth and bring out the red tones in my hair, so I dye it a dark reddish brown. Even my stylist asks where I get my hair colored. I always just shrug and say it came from a box. (He then proceeds to make all of the other stylists look at it....) I've switched brands a bit over the years, but have settled on L'Oreal Excellence Creme for now.

 

[Tanzanite]

You could just try a root touch up or semi permanent color in between your regular color and stretch out your coloring sessions, but then you would still need to get your hair cut. So maybe not such a great idea.

I have to have my hair professionally colored, but I root touch up in between. I like the Clairol root touch up. Works great and matches well.

does the root touch up just wash out? can i use it on highlights? i have highlights every 6-8 wks way to much money a time $100

 

[goodfood4ursoul]

I think that once in my life I had my hair colored in a salon.
I have used a number of the major brands of at home hair color but every time
I found a color I liked they would reformulate or it would be hard to find my favorite so I was so happy when someone turned me on to esalon.
http://www.esalon.com/invite/jthurston

Salon quality hair color, formulated by a colorist specifically for you and your hair.
You fill out an online questionaire about your hair- length, texture, style, coloring preferences, coloring history, upload a recent photo, and they formulate a color specifically for you.
And mail it to you with specific instructions for your shade.

"Customized color by experts based on your hair profile

The process starts with our online hair profile. It is a custom built set of questions formulated by our colorists based on their years of expertise working at salons in Beverly Hills, New York and Paris. In just a few minutes, you will complete the online hair profile providing us all the information needed to prepare a formula that is matched to your hair characteristics. Whether youre looking to completely disguise your roots or go for a new look altogether, eSalon will create the right formulation just for you.

Each order is individually formulated, bottled, and shipped from our Los Angeles color lab within two to three business days of your order. With eSalon you can achieve your envisioned haircolor at minimal cost and maximum convenience. "

They use the same professional grade dyes you get at salons,
and you can get demi- permanent or permanent haircolor.
You also get stain remover, stain guard, leave in conditioner, gloves and a hair color brush.

About a week after my color arrives they email me to see if I am pleased with the results, and they take your feedback to tweak your color for the next time.

You can choose to have color delivered every 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 weeks.
And they email you about 5 days before they plan to formulate your next application to be sure you don't want to make any changes, so you can cancel the order if you want or continue if you like.

They have How-To Videos that are a great help with doing the coloring process correctly: https://www.esalon.com/how_to_videos

I LOVE MY ESALON HAIRCOLOR.

For me, it is a great compromise- salon quality fantastic hair color
at a fraction of the price- only $20.

My hair never looked so good

 

[FlyingBelle]

I love the L'oreal preference with the highlighting in the box. It is a pain to rinse my hair twice (once for color and once for highlights) but I figure the salon would take just as long and this way I at least get to come hang out on the DIS while the color sets!

I love it too! I usually section off the very top layer of my hair and then do the highlights underneath (I have pretty thin, fine hair). That way it's less noticeable if I make a "mistake" or as the hair starts to grow out.

I've saved a ton of money this way. I also go to a student salon down the street - it's only $11 for a hair cut - I've had a few, should I say "unexpected" results, but the instructor has to fix anything before you leave. I'm not that picky about the length anyway. The only downside is sometimes it takes 2+ hours for just the haircut, depending on how new the students are.

 

[pooh2001]

I am still a bit nervous - but this thread is helping me.

My hair was professionally colored a week ago.

Do I have to wait till the professional hair color is gone from my hair and my hair is back to it's natural color with the gray strands, before I color my own hair?

I do not want chemicals to react with one another.

What should I do ?

I do not know actually how gray my hair is.
I have been coloring my hair at the salon for the last 5 years.


So - in 4 weeks - can I try to color my own hair, even if some of the hair still has the salon hair color on it ?

Thanks

 

[njmom47]

I have been graying since I was in my early 30s (and would be completely silver if I didn't color my hair).
I prefer Fruictus or Colorsilk (that seems to have a little more product in the bottle), although I have used others.
I too wash my hair the day before, and wait a day or 2 afterwards to wash.
I don't do the ends (some products come with a tube of cream to put on your ends so they don't absorb the color).
I use dark brown, and find that if I use a new color and it's not dark enough, my roots show up orangey. Yikes!
I have also started using black powder eye shadow on my roots when they get too bad until I color my hair again. (Really, it's more because it makes me look like I'm balding but it's just because my roots are silver!)

 

[1dorseer]

I don't buy any hair color at the grocery stores. I go to Sallys and buy developer and the shade of color I need. Much better for you!

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

I do not wash my hair for a day or 2 before coloring. Then I wait at least 48 hours after coloring to wash again. I feel this keeps the color brighter.

I use Loreal preference from Sally. I buy a bottle of 20 developer since I have light brown hair and I dye it dark blonde because I am going gray.
I used to do my whole head because my hair is rather short but not I just do the roots and do the whole head every 3 months or so.

I bought rubber gloves at Sally and use them over and over. I wear an old shirt, use a shower curtain to cover my bathroom carpet and old towels.

I figure it costs about $4-5 to do my hair. I do use a good conditioner after I rinse the color and I get that at Sally also. My stylist has complimented me on my color and has remarked that my hair is in good condition.

Good Luck!

 

[Conway733]

Hmmm. You have me thinking about the dyes sold at Sally's. Most times when I tried the box, I refer to my hair as "hay" because it feels so dried out. But the dye on the Sally's website looks more professional. I have dark brown hair (it looks black, but it is dark brown) and I have some grays to cover. Anyone ever try the Ion color brilliance? I started back at the salon again, but every time I do that, I think of the money I could be saving for Disney.

 

[Kae]

I am still a bit nervous - but this thread is helping me.

My hair was professionally colored a week ago.

Do I have to wait till the professional hair color is gone from my hair and my hair is back to it's natural color with the gray strands, before I color my own hair?

I do not want chemicals to react with one another.

What should I do ?

I do not know actually how gray my hair is.
I have been coloring my hair at the salon for the last 5 years.


So - in 4 weeks - can I try to color my own hair, even if some of the hair still has the salon hair color on it ?

Thanks

You can color your hair in 4 weeks. just try to match your roots & you don't need to pull the color thru. do you go lighter or darker than your natural color

Kae

 

[sayheyrenee]

Salon overhead is what is killer. I have a good friend who does hair on the side. She uses Wella products from Sallys.

For me, total gray!!! since early 20's and my natural was dark brown, I have to use a Neutral color with 20 developer.

Here is an awesome guide that can teach you a lot.

http://wella.com/pdf/Color_charm_education/WEP_NA_R066_11 WCC_Jewel_Education_Book_V4c_CAN_LR.pdf

Hope to help

 

[pooh2001]

I am torn between ordering from eSalon
http://www.esalon.com/invite/jthurston#sthash.yqyBgQJb.dpuf
and
Buying a coloring product like John Frieda foam color or Clairol Nice and Easy foam color from our local CVS or Walgreens.

Everyone has been so helpful with advice.
Thank you