It seems easy to do a coloring at home...
However, between the desired color and the color obtained, there is sometimes a whole world of difference.
In fact, it's best to have some prior knowledge; there are few people who have never had a bad experience with home coloring!
However, when you make the right choices and use the products correctly, it is possible to achieve excellent results.
- How to choose the right color and how to apply it?
- How to maintain your color?
- Should I bleach my hair?
The more you know about coloring, the better equipped you will be to make the right choices.
In this article:
- 3 types of coloring
- Before proceeding
- Drugstore hair dyes
- Little tips
- Three unique products for your hair
This way, those who want to experiment with coloring at home can do so without fear, while those who prefer to leave it to a professional can better understand the colorist's work and become familiar with their vocabulary.
Since professional hair color products are now sold in many salons, they will be included in my presentation, alongside hair color products sold in pharmacies. It's up to you to make the choice that suits you best.
Trying a new color is like embarking on a new experience. That's why, before you take the risk, whether you opt for at-home or salon coloring, with homemade or commercial products,
You need to know certain details to make yourself better understood at the hairdresser's or to be more successful in your experiments at home.
Your personality characteristics and the desired effect are among the first factors to define when making your choice.
Next comes your skin tone and, finally, your current hair color.
These factors will help you determine whether you can achieve the desired color in one step and what the risks will be.
2- Types of coloring
1 - Dark colors
Very dark colors accentuate facial features, wrinkles, pale skin, acne and rosehips.
Before you venture into a dark color like black, think carefully and remember that going back is difficult.
You may even need professional help to do this and it may cost you a lot of money for chemical hair removal treatments.
And as if that wasn't enough, your hair is also at risk of serious damage!
And as if that wasn't enough, your hair is also at risk of serious damage!
Want to darken your hair?
Start with a lighter color than you want.
Check the effect, then, if you think you can go darker, just do it within 48 hours of your first coloring or, preferably, when the time comes for your next coloring treatment.
2 - Light colors
Before we begin this section on pale or very pale colors, let us recall the most important law of coloring:
NO COLOR CAN PALE ANOTHER.
This means that you cannot lighten your hair by applying a light color over your dark color, even after several weeks or months!
As long as a hair remains darkly colored, it will not fade.
Only the new growth will accept the new coloring,
which will give levels of different colors. You will therefore need to first apply a makeup remover or bleach to the sections of your hair that still have the old color, or even cut them if you agree.
You will need to choose between these two possibilities before applying the new color.
If you have medium brown or even dark blonde hair, try not to get carried away with your desire to dye it pale or very pale blonde.
A drastic change could damage your hair, especially if it's already colored.
Instead, go gradually,
from month to month, two shades lighter at a time. This will make it easier for you to adapt to this new color and your hair will thank you for it.
For a significantly lighter color change, it is suggested to use protein hair treatments before and after, once or twice a week.
3 - Colors based on red or copper
Before venturing into flamboyant colors, it's important to know that wearing red draws attention to yourself.
On the other hand, red, due to the nature of its pigment, is the most unstable of colors.
Hair depigmentation (bleaching) is therefore faster with intense reds after a few shampoos, and even faster with porous hair.
It follows that red requires rigorous maintenance . It should also be noted that red highlights problems of rosacea and couperose and requires heavy makeup in the case of milky or white skin.
Obviously, freckles are accentuated, which can, however, in many cases, turn out to be quite charming!
To remember
- Very dark colors accentuate facial features, wrinkles, pale skin, acne and rosehips.
- Start with a lighter color than you want.
- Only new growth will accept the new coloring
- A drastic change could damage your hair, especially if it's already colored.
3- Before proceeding
To find out if your color will match your skin tone or produce the effect you want, here's an easy method to follow.
- Find a piece of fabric or paper that is close to the desired color.
- Smooth your hair back (while removing your makeup) and cover it well with a white cloth or towel.
- Standing in front of a mirror, hold the fabric or paper close to your face. This will give you a good idea of your choice.
For a simple, natural, and risk-free effect, remember that pale skin tones pair best with warm, golden, and coppery colors. Using them will create a warmer complexion. Dark skin, on the other hand, pairs more or less well with light colors.
To find out if you have a warm or cool skin tone, stand in front of a mirror and place a sheet of aluminum foil on one side of your face (cool skin tone) and a piece of gold cloth or paper on the other (warm skin tone). You will then see which one suits you best.
The eyebrows
Remember that in some cases, your eyebrows should be colored a color that is close to your hair color.
If you have naturally dark eyebrows and are going blonde, a light brown shade would be enough to give them a natural effect. For red or copper hair, stick to the same tones, but don't necessarily go as far as red or copper highlights for your eyebrows.
Since eyebrow coloring can present certain risks, it is best to seek the services of a specialist.
Manufacturers of pharmacy hair dyes contraindicate their use on eyebrows and, especially, on eyelashes, which could cause blindness.
4- Pharmacy hair dyes
For a long time, pharmacy coloring products were discredited by many people, especially hairdressers, who considered them to be of poor quality.
Perhaps they were right at one time, but nowadays there is no reason to complain, since the manufacturers are the same for professional dyes as for those from pharmacies.
Of course, the shades of highlights and colors are less varied in pharmacies than in salons. On the other hand, the risks of errors, or even disasters, are higher...
Remember that to err is simply human and not the product's fault.
First, you have to read!
Read the instructions on the box and on the booklet inside.
Not all products work the same way and application times are different for many.
For these reasons, packages often provide a small color chart that tells you what your initial color will become after application.
Do not trust the photo on the packaging.
Your own result will not necessarily be the same. (Remember, it all depends on your current color.
On virgin hair
The entire color will be applied. It is important to have an allergy test before coloring your hair for the first time.
It's very simple: prepare a small mixture of the product, using a few drops, and apply it to the skin on the back of the neck, under the hair, or under the armpit. Wait 48 hours, then check for the following reactions:
- Redness
- Swelling
- An intense and constant tingling sensation
- Itching
If you experience any of these signs, you may be allergic to the product. In this case, discontinue use.
Root touch-up
Roots will be touched up in the weeks following coloring. For some people, this can vary from three to six weeks.
It all depends on how fast your hair grows and how quickly gray hair appears. The difference between your hair color and your natural hair color can also be a factor.
The important thing is not to do a full coloring (roots and ends at the same time), because your hair would become saturated with coloring and even, ultimately, damaged by oxidants.
You would then end up with dull, lifeless hair. It is therefore a matter of limiting yourself to the roots, proceeding section by section and from front to back.
Try as much as possible not to encroach on the old color. You will also need to wait the processing time indicated on the box.
If you want to refresh the color on the lengths and ends, you just need to color them as well.
To do this, you will need to first knead the color so that it penetrates better. If you have excess color, you can now apply it (to the lengths and ends).
This step should be carried out in the last third of the exposure time.
When kneading your hair, don't proceed as you would with shampoo; avoid scratching your scalp to avoid irritating it. Note that for white hair, application times are generally longer.
Remember that you cannot play with the shades of pharmacy hair dyes like you would at the hairdresser's, unless the manufacturer mentions this in the instructions.
These dyes are not designed to be mixed like professional dyes. Avoid disaster: DON'T MIX THEM!
To remember
- Read the instructions to avoid unwanted results.
- Perform a home allergy test before applying color
- Do not do full coloring (roots and ends at the same time)
- Do not mix colors.
5- Little tips
Now let me share with you a few tips that will make your experience easier.
These tips apply to both drugstore and professional hair colors.
Reminder of the principle of coloring: ONE COLOR CAN NEVER MAKE ANOTHER LIGHTER.
It follows that a dark color cannot be lightened by another coloring, even if the latter is paler.
It is essential to bleach your hair beforehand using a hair remover, commonly called a stripper.
Sensitive scalp?
If you have a sensitive scalp, before starting the coloring, apply small amounts of vegetable oil or a professional brand to the scalp.
Avoid touching the roots of your hair to avoid altering the color. Ideally, use the applicator from your last color, remembering to rinse it well first.
1- Does the area around your face stain easily?
Being careful not to touch the roots of your hair, apply thin layers of petroleum jelly to the edge of your hair.
For stubborn skin stains, you can use cigarette ash. Soak a damp cloth in the ash and then rub it onto the stained skin.
Repeat as needed and then wash your skin with mild soap. Rubbing alcohol is also very effective at removing dye stains from skin.
The best way to properly cleanse the contours of the face is to use the coloring removal technique.
Let me explain: before rinsing out your coloring, i.e. adding water to it, vigorously rub the contour of your face with your fingers to lift the coloring.
Then, rinse, shampoo, or otherwise follow the instructions that came with your coloring product.
To avoid stains on your clothes when coloring at home, I strongly suggest wearing old clothes.
If you get stains on your clothes, it's best not to dilute them immediately. Instead, cover the stained area with hairspray and let it dry. Then, wash it.
2- Do you want more shine?
For more shine to your coloring, move it by kneading your hair at the same time as you style it.
Then add a little water and mix again.
For the next step, rinsing out the color, start with lukewarm water and, after shampooing, rinse with the coldest water you can tolerate.
The cold will have the effect of closing your cuticles, which will give you a brighter color and, above all, will reduce the risk of your color coming off your hair and staining your pillows, for example.
To remember
- Sensitive scalp: Apply small amounts of vegetable oil to the scalp.
- Protect your face with petroleum jelly to avoid staining the skin.
- Wear old clothes while coloring!
- Stain on clothing: cover the stained area with hairspray and let it dry.
6- Unique products for your colored hair
Always with the aim of innovating, my team of chemists for my Luc Vincent hair care range carried out several tests before finding the ideal formula to preserve the intensity of your hair color with two shampoos so gentle that you can use them daily without weighing your hair down.
Sans Yellow
Designed to eliminate yellow tones on blonde, gray or white hair, Sans Yellow increases shine,
works to prevent hair breakage by improving texture and helps preserve color intensity between services, while replenishing hair health with every use.
With a light fragrance, Sans Yellow does not contain methylisothiazolinone (MI), ammonia, peroxide or paraphenylenediamine (PPD).
Made 100% in Quebec, this shampoo will allow you to control those annoying shades quickly and easily thanks to its purple pigment.
Sans Yellow cleanses gently and can be used regularly without the need to alternate with another shampoo.
No Rouge
People with dark hair have not been forgotten.
No Rouge has been designed to control unwanted copper, orange or red tones.
Its perfectly balanced blue-green color and high concentration of green pigments help neutralize a wide range of these tones while providing hair with shine and body thanks to its moisturizing formula.
Also 100% made in Quebec, No Rouge cleanses gently and can be used regularly without needing to be alternated with another shampoo.
Ultra-gentle vegan shampoo ideal for colored hair!
4 Nature Ultra Gentle Vegan Shampoo: Ideal for natural and color-treated hair and sensitive scalps. Made with 99% natural ingredients, it contains no sulfates, silicones, parabens, PEGs, or dyes.
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