I’m no stranger to coloring my hair, sometimes by a professional and sometimes by myself. For the record, I 10/10 do not recommend coloring your hair at home but I digress. With each coloring experience, l have learned more about my hair and how to take care of it, and feel I have a pretty good understanding of how to keep my strands as healthy as possible. Now of course, anytime that you apply color you will experience some damage (i.e. alter the integrity of your hair) and this is a necessary evil because you are chemically altering your hair. However, if you go to a professional who really understands color and you take care of your hair at home the damage should be fairly minimal.
Today I will be sharing some tips that I have picked up along the way from color professionals and through trial and error. Check them out below:
- Go to a professional– This one is pretty self-explanatory but when searching for a professional ensure that you do your research before scheduling. If they have a website, take a look at it and see if they mention their experience or additional training or certifications that they possess. Also, read their reviews and see what former or current clients have to say. Nowadays everyone has social media so also be sure to check out their social media page(s). If available, book a consult before scheduling to discuss your desired look. And last but not least, ask friends for recommendations if they have had a good color experience.
- Find inspo- When I showed up to my most recent hair appointment with an inspo picture my stylist said, “Immediately no.” I showed her a picture of the color I wanted on straight hair. As you know I wear my hair in its naturally curly state and rarely wear my hair straight. My stylist quickly informed me I needed to find pictures of the color that I wanted on curly/textured hair. Color looks very different on straight hair than it does on curly hair and she wanted to be sure that I was satisfied with how the color looked on curly hair before we proceeded. Together we were able to find pictures of the ginger color that I wanted on curly hair and I was still happy with the color so we proceeded.
- Use the right products- Obtaining knowledge on the right products to use is another reason why it’s important to go to a professional. Your stylist will suggest products that you can use at home and you should definitely take the advice. You may even be able to buy the products directly from them which saves you a trip to the store. My stylist suggested I use Pureology’s Strength Cure line for my hair and I love it! Another tip my stylist gave me is to use products from the same line when it comes to my shampoo, conditioner, and deep conditioner. The products are made to work with each other so for optimal results use as directed.
- Develop a solid routine– What good are all of those products you purchased if you don’t actually use them regularly? My stylist recommended that I skip the regular conditioner and use a hair mask (i.e. deep conditioner) on a weekly basis. I wash my hair once a week using the Pureology Strength Cure Shampoo followed by the Pureology Strength Cure Mask. She left it up to me regarding the stylers that I used so I opted for Curl Smith’s leave-in conditioner and gel. I used to be somewhat of a product junkie but have learned that less is more and that I should stick with a solid routine using the same products.
