Nowadays the range of hair colour options—from icy blonde hair to luscious “bronde” to lively unicorn hair colour shades—makes it so tempting to experiment with your hair colour.
And why not? Professional hair colour is healthier and safer than ever. But before you decide to dive in and completely change up your look, ask yourself these 10 important hair colour questions.
1. How much hair colour can my hair handle?
Integrity is the buzzword when it comes to assessing the degree of hair colour your hair can handle safely, as in the integrity or health of your hair. Every hair colour process alters the structure of your hair, and the basic condition of your hair determines how quickly it will bounce back from the hair colour service. Your hair stylist will assess hair health factors like moisture level (is it super dry?), hair elasticity (does it return to its normal shape when stretched?) and hair damage (split ends anyone?) If these factors don’t check out, it’s best to opt for a more low-impact hair colour option, like a low-ammonia hair colour gloss or hair colour glaze. Balayage or ombré style highlights could also be more ideal since they require infrequent lightening hair touch-ups.
2. How much can my budget handle?
The degree to which you change your hair colour will determine how much you will have to spend for the initial colour process, and to maintain your new hair colour hue. If the hair colour change is substantial—say you’re going from dark brown hair colour to platinum blonde hair colour—you will probably need several processes to achieve the exact shade you require, and then you could be required to visit the salon every two-to-three weeks to touch up the new, dark hair growth. A subtler hair colour change that is one or two shades lighter or darker than your natural hair colour will require less frequent hair touch ups and therefore less of an investment.
3. How often do I want to be in the hair salon?
Hair colour equals money + time, so you’ll also have to factor the latter into the overall equation. A hair colour appointment that needs frequent retouching also means you’ll be spending more time in the hair salon.
4. Do I have grey hair to cover up?
If your natural hair colour is dark, the addition of grey hair into the hair colour mix can be like adding another process to the equation. That’s because different formulas will be needed to colour the grey hair. Certain hair colour shades are also more difficult to achieve on grey hair since it can be coarse, wiry and more resistant to hair colour formulas. You and your Samuel Chapman Stylist should take your grey hair into consideration when formulating your new hair colour and come up with a hair colour shade that won’t require more maintenance than your budget or schedule will allow.
5. How committed am I to this hair colour?
Different types of hair colour—permanent hair colour, demi-permanent hair colour, semi-permanent hair colour—last for different lengths of time. Permanent hair colour is just that—it stays in your hair permanently. Demi-permanent hair colour lasts for about six to eight weeks, and then gradually fades away. Semi-permanent hair colour lasts usually lasts up to eight or ten shampoos before it fades away. The latter is a good choice if you’re experimenting with a new hair colour for the first time, or if you aren’t sure if the hair colour shade you want is right for you for the long haul.
6. Am I on the same page with my hair stylist?
The rose gold hair colour you’re envisioning may be completely different from the rose gold your hair stylist sees in their mind’s eye. So pictures are everything. Bring photographs of the precise hair colour shade you have in mind, as well as pictures of hair colours you absolutely don’t want. Then be ready for a give and take. For example, your hair stylist may point out that the hair colour shade in the front section on the picture of the model you love would be better than the hair colour shade on another part of her head.
7. Am I clear about the best way to take care of my new hair colour?
Once you’ve invested your time and money in your new hair colour, go the extra mile and invest in good shampoos and conditioners to care for it. After all, you wouldn’t wash your beautiful silk lingerie the same way you wash your sheets and towels, right? Show your hair colour the right amount of TLC with cleansing and conditioning formulas created to best look after your colour-treated hair. And the more radical the hair colour shift, the more you will need to replace hair moisture. Weekly or bi-weekly hair masks for damaged or dry hair will bring thirsty hair strands back to life.
8. Am I willing to swim, sun and style with care?
Before you dive in, lay out or power up the dryers and irons, practice prevention. Protect your hair colour from salt water, chlorine and UV rays—all of which can strip the hair colour away or shift the colour to something truly undesirable—with a hair mask that coats your hair and/or a hat or cap. Set your thermal styling tools to the lowest temperature possible for your hair type, and always use heat protection hair products.
9. Have I chosen a flattering hair colour shade for my complexion?
Every hair colour—whether it’s brown, green or purple—can be created in a tone that suits you. Cool hair colour flatters cool complexions, so opt for mahogany brown, emerald green or aubergine if you’re going for one of those hair colour shades. Warmer shades of any hair colour, on the other hand, are beautiful on warm skin tones. Neutral skin can go in any direction.
One quick way to determine if your skin is warm, cool or neutral is to look at the veins on the underside of your arm. If they’re predominantly blue, you’re cool. If they’re predominantly green, you’re warm. If they’re blue-green, you’re neutral.
10. Have I chosen a hair colour shade that sends the right message?
People form an impression of you within seconds of meeting you, long before you ever open your mouth. So your hair colour will play a huge part in how you’re perceived. Think, therefore about how your new hair colour will affect those perceptions.
Your burgundy hair tells the world you’re an out-of-the-box sort who loves to shake things up. Your power-blonde highlights transmit a message of assurance and high standards. One look at your spicy red hair colour and people could assume you’re the life of the party.
So before you settle in for a hair colour switch, be sure your hair colour is a true reflection of the real you!
Still unsure as to what hair colour will suit you best?
Book your FREE consultation with one of our Samuel Chapman Stylists. They will sit and listen to your questions and concerns and come up with a plan to achieve the hair colour that will best suit you, your lifestyle and your budget.
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