Colouring your hair can either be really exciting or really scary, depending on how brave you are. Whether you want to go natural or stand out in a crowd, here’s your guide to getting the colour you want – and to keep it.
Getting a Consultation
If you decide to go to a salon, consultation is the key to getting the colour you’re looking for. Give as much information to your colourist as you can about your lifestyle and hair routine so that they can advise you correctly. This is also your time to ask questions. Ask what the cost will be, what kind of maintenance you will require, when to book your next appointment, and so on.
Do Your Research Beforehand
Today, the world is at your fingertips, so be sure to do your homework before your appointment. I love it when a client comes in with reference images as it helps me to get an idea of what she wants. Generally, five photos are enough. Photos of models can be great, too, but it can also lead to high expectations that may not be achievable in one visit. Ideally, your colourist should give you a realistic option on how to achieve your hair goal.
Prepare Your Hair
One common myth I’ve heard is that dirty hair grabs hair colour better. This is simply not true! It’s best to wash your hair one to two days before your appointment. Light, natural oils will help prevent your scalp from feeling itchy or too tingly when colour touches it. You should also prepare your hair by doing a treatment – like the mariadowling Hair & Scalp Detox treatment – as this will gently cleanse your hair of overloaded products or just everyday dust and dirt, thereby creating a better colour result.
To DIY or Not
As a colourist, I wouldn’t recommend tinting your own hair at home, but if you do decide to take the plunge, here are a few tips to remember.
- When choosing your colour, pick a shade lighter than what you’re looking for. Be very careful as overlapping colour can lead to your hair becoming darker than the chosen colour.
- Wear disposable gloves to protect your hands.
- Before you get started, apply Vaseline on the skin around your forehead, ears, and the back of your neck to protect it from getting stained by the hair dye. Do not get the Vaseline on your hair as it can act as a barrier to the tint.
- If your scalp is sensitive, you can add in some Sweet’n Low to the tint before applying.
- Don’t wear your favourite clothes as it can get messy when dying your hair at home.
- If you’re doing fashion colours like blues, green, or reds, be careful with the first few washes as the colour can continue to come out. So, use dark-coloured towels and pillowcases.
- Finally, I don’t recommend using hair bleach at home as this can easily go wrong with very bad consequences.
Getting the Right Products
If you’re investing in your colour, invest in keeping your colour looking as gorgeous as it can be! Use a shampoo and conditioner that’s meant for coloured hair. This combo will ensure hydration and longevity of your colour. As a hair colourist, I also recommend the Olaplex range for making the hair stronger. This makes your hairdresser’s life easier when colouring as the hair’s condition will be better, and the colour will last longer.
The Pulling-Out-Grey-Hair Myth
I believe this is an important myth to bust when talking about hair colour. Plucking a grey hair will only get you a new grey hair in its place because only one hair can grow per follicle. Your surrounding hairs will also not turn grey until their own follicles’ pigment cells die.
Permanent or Semi-Permanent Colour?
The main difference between semi-permanent and permanent hair colour is how long it lasts. Another major factor that differentiates them is that semi-permanent hair tint does not include any ammonia or peroxide, unlike permanent hair dye. In general, tints are now a lot kinder to the hair than they were before.
Does Colouring Your Hair Damage It?
The answer is both yes and no. Colours can be quite drastic these days (like dark hair going light platinum). This can be damaging as you are pulling out colour from the hair with bleach whilst lifting – and you simply can’t avoid bleach to achieve the end result you need either. But as I said, by using Olaplex, we can achieve more than we ever could before whilst keeping the hair in good condition. At the end of the day, the extent of damage just depends on how natural or dramatic you want the result to be.
Hair Colour and the Sun
Like your skin needing protective sun products, your hair needs to be protected, too. If you live in a place with a hot climate, like Dubai, you will need to keep your hair covered or use the Kerastase sun range – even while walking around as the sun is so intense that it will lift out your colour very quickly. If you have long hair, I recommend wearing it in a top knot with all the ends tucked in.
