| Hair color correction is a big money maker in | | | | hair color (reds and warm browns) if you look |
| salons nationwide. The reason: | | | | best in warm-colored clothing such as reds, |
| over-the-counter hair coloring products have | | | | pinks and oranges. Choose a cool shade |
| given consumers the impression that hair | | | | (beige, pale blonde highlights and neutral |
| color is easy and extremely affordable. One | | | | colors) if you look best in blues and greens. |
| look at a professionally-colored model on a | | | | |
| commercial or glossy magazine page, and many | | | | As you can see, just a little bid of planning |
| people clamor to the closest drug store to | | | | and knowledge can save you from costly hair |
| purchase a $5 box of color with the hopes of | | | | coloring disasters. And by making an informed |
| receiving a $50 salon look. | | | | decision before you purchase hair color, you |
| | | | will not only save money, you will also save |
| The results are often disastrous, and it can | | | | your hair from needless damage. |
| take hundreds of dollars to correct a hair | | | | |
| color problem that could have been prevented | | | | Hair color is a chemical, and every time you |
| with just a tiny bit of knowledge and | | | | chemically process your hair, you damage it |
| planning. | | | | to some extent. The damage can be minimal, as |
| | | | is usually the case with high-end |
| The most common problem seen with hair | | | | professional hair coloring systems, or can be |
| coloring at home and in salons is choosing a | | | | extreme. And each time you use hair color to |
| hair color that is too light for the natural | | | | correct a problem, you are damaging your hair |
| shade of hair. Realistically, color can only | | | | even more. |
| lighten hair beautifully by a few shades. If | | | | |
| you go any lighter than a few shades, you | | | | Here are just a few tell-tale signs that your |
| need to choose a high-lift product such as | | | | hair has been over processed with hair color |
| bleach or a professional highlighting system. | | | | and other chemicals. |
| Failure to do this often results in hair | | | | |
| color that is much too brassy or even orange. | | | | " The hair is limp and dull, and no amount of |
| | | | styling can bring back its luster and bounce. |
| Word to the wise: high-lift hair coloring | | | | |
| should only be performed by professionals. | | | | " The hair color has faded dramatically, and |
| The controlled chemicals used in the process, | | | | you are left with brassy and banded hair |
| if used incorrectly, can result in | | | | color. (Banded hair color is evident by the |
| irreparable damage and/or chemical burns on | | | | sudden change of hair color along the hair |
| the scalp and skin. | | | | shaft. For example: the hair may be dark |
| | | | until about 2" from the scalp where it turns |
| Another hair color mistake that is seen quite | | | | a brassy orange.) |
| often is choosing a color that is too dark. | | | | |
| Extremely dark hair color can be the most | | | | " The hair is extremely dry and brittle. When |
| challenging to correct because dark color can | | | | it is wet, it is almost impossible to comb it |
| actually stain the cortex (inner layer) of | | | | without causing breakage. |
| the hair, making it almost impossible to | | | | |
| lighten. Again, avoid choosing hair colors | | | | You can avoid damage to your hair caused by |
| that are more than a few shades darker than | | | | hair coloring by taking the same precautions |
| your own to prevent a costly cortex stain. | | | | recommended for choosing the right hair |
| | | | color. Choosing the right hair color reduces |
| When it comes to choosing the right shade of | | | | the amount of color applications, therefore, |
| hair color to use, pick tones and shades that | | | | reducing the chances of your hair becoming |
| flatter your skin tone. Choose warm shade of | | | | over processed. |