Thursday, September 18, 2008

SO YOU WANNA DYE YOUR OWN HAIR?

To dye or not dye? It is an old issue. Bleach-happy Ancient Greek heroes his reddish hair in a fiery symbol of courage, while their counterparts Romans natural dyes used to darken their locks. During 1700, French women powder used to dye his braids shades of blue, yellow, pink and white (punk rock pioneers). Today, about half of all women color their hair and men are getting into the game in record numbers.

Because of the high prices lounge (or temporary episodes of creativity), more and more people are dyeing their hair. You've seen these people walk-around that can usually be identified by tufts of fried orange hair peeking out beneath large hats. But a home hair-colorist best weapon against hair dyes accidents are careful planning and knowledge. So if you're trying to bring back the color of their youth or simply interested in trying something new, SoYouWanna.com is happy to help dye their own hair.

1. Ensure that you should not go to a professional stylist

We understand that home hair coloring is much less expensive than going to a professional colorist (a box of hair dyes are usually ranges from $ 5 to $ 10, while a salon coloring normally costs $ 40 and, depending on the method used and the length of his hair). However, if you screw up, you end up paying for the cost of home coloring and the cost of the salon (which is usually much larger and setting hair botched ... Ouch, says the pocketbook ). While companies are constantly improving their home hair coloring products and making them easier to use, the following list describes the times that you should go to a salon and let your hair in the hands of a professional:
  1. Your hair is severely damaged. It breaks easily, and his brush bathroom floor and have more hair on his head that makes them. The damage can come from many different things, including: -Over-brushing and tearing of hair (that can also come from constantly pulling it back to rubber bands). The excess heat. You have heard before drilling. Keep your use of the dryer and curling iron to a minimum. Sun damage. The skin is not the only part of your body that needs protection from UV rays. Worship of the summer sun are especially at risk of damage to the hair, but UV rays damage your hair every time you step outside in daylight-even in winter. There is no need to wear a hat wherever you go, but be aware of the sun's rays and cover up if you are going to be outdoors in the sun for a while. Excess perming. You should never return to perm hair until the original perm has grown all the way. A normal perm hair damage, so a perm at the top of a perm is a double Whammy. During the wash. Yes, wash your hair too much can dry the scalp, flakes cause, and reduce the natural oils in your head that protect the hair roots.
  2. You want to clarify their hair more than three shades. If you are a brunette and want to go blonde, you get to a salon. Even if your hair does not seem to have any in shades of red, all dark hair contains some red pigment. Therefore, to clarify their hair in one step most likely to turn his hair a little shade of orange that has not been popular since the days of Queen Elizabeth I. In this case, will have to undergo what is known as "dual process". The first step is to "strip" the hair of his pigment. The second step is to "add" the new color of choice. It sounds complicated, because it is complicated - there is a high probability of orange-and results. A professional colorist can prevent this by using a toner to cancel redness, thus providing a more attractive golden hue.
  3. You're feeling dramatic and you want to do something crazy, like going from black to blonde. At least go to the hairdresser to a query about what colors are good with their skin tones. You can save some anguish if you know beforehand that burgundy color is best reserved for its wine for your hair.
  4. It has already colored your hair, you screwed, and you want to fix it. Do not stay in hiding, trying again and again to correct its own mistake. The chemicals rather than put in your hair, will get worse, and will be more expensive for a stylist to return to his beautiful car. We hope that none of these apply to you. You just want to make a nice, subtle changes in your hair healthy. You have reached the right place, so keep reading.

2. Choosing the commitment, colour and the brand

There are three different variables to consider before buying a home hair coloring product: color commitment, the royal colour, and the mark.

Commitment

If this is your first time to color their hair, it's probably better to start with a low level of commitment, and then (if you're satisfied with the results) are able to work their way up the ladder. The following are the most common commitment levels used by most major product lines, ranked in order of the least committed to the majority:

  1. Highlighting. The most prominent are usually permanent, and are a great way to add texture and subtle color to your hair-if you're blond or red or blue, without dramatic changes. Note that highlights often takes a long time, usually have to use a rebound to pull her hair through tiny holes in a plastic lid. The more you pull the hair through the holes, the most dramatic results. You can also choose a non-permanent stress kit, which includes painting streaks of color in your hair with a fine brush. You can find cute for a few days, but the results tend to be too subtle and short-lived.
  2. Semi-Permanent color. Also called "spots" or "washed" semi-permanent product coat with hair color that washes out after about 6 to 12 shampoos. You do not have any concern about their roots, because the color is washed before roots can really show. However, since semi-permanent products do not contain peroxide or ammonia, you will not be able to lighten their hair any tones, you can only add color.
  3. Demi-Permanent color. Demi permanent products last longer (approximately 24 to 26 shampoos) and also contain no ammonia, so once again, you will not be able to lighten their hair. However, a small level of peroxide allows you to create a world that is more noticeable color change.
  4. Color permanent. Permanent colour used ammonia and peroxide, which fall within the crust of the hair and create a change that can not be washed. Note that the end result is always a combination of pigment added and the original pigment of your hair, so that the dye can be seen in different that you, your friend, the model in the box, or Julia Roberts. But as its name suggests, when you wash with permanent color, if you do not like, your only options are to wait for the color to grow or to stain it (which, once again, definitely requires a pro).

Color

Shades are basically broken down into two categories: hot and cold. People with warm eyes, hair, skin tones and must choose a warm hair color, and people with fresh shades should choose a cool hair color. What are you? We do not know. . . we've never seen that before! In general, "hot" people have golden or reddish tones, whether in your skin, hair or eyes, and "cool" and people have bluish skin tones and hair without a pinch gold. This cold / hot separation can be complicated, especially if you have both hot and cool features, it's best to get a professional opinion. Everything in an aesthetic makeup counter in a department store will be happy to help you find out if you are a "cool" or "hot" (and if you're a Jet or a shark, and if you're a jean or khaki). Just pretend that you're buying something.

After deciding which group to which it belongs, you can choose your best color. "Cool" people should stay away from reddish hair with colors or shades of gold and look cooler colors, ranging from platinum to blue-black. "Hot" people should choose colors with gold and red highlights, dark strawberry blond to Auburn. Remember, unless you're ready to disastrous results, staying within a few shades of your natural color.

Brand

Finally, it's time to choose the mark. There are simply too many brands on the market to go into the pros and cons of each, professional stylists, but suggest that you use a popular brand name. Why? Two reasons:

  1. Popular brands are usually popular for a reason. If the hair L'oreal's products were known to turn green hair, you know. But if you use the dark "bomb in a bottle," you might turn on more than one bomb a bomb.
  2. Popular brands tend to have a helpline set out right in the box. Despite the fact that you're most likely not going to get hair experts call when you get answers to common problems you may encounter during the dyeing their hair.

Your best bet is to go with a brand that a friend has recommended. However, do not go with a brand simply because you like your friend's hair color (which does not look the same in you). Go with it because she said that does not smell like rotten eggs, is relatively easy to use, not fade quickly, Yada Yada Yada.

There is an increasing number of hair dyes made especially for men in the market, although most of them are gray-reducers. L'Oreal, for example, makes "fair men" in a wide range of colors. "Tipping" has become a common request in male salons, and this implies the ends of hair discoloration (I * NSYNC). The same effect can be created in his house across the discoloration of his head and let the dark hair grow back in. On the other hand, if you do not like the look, you can shave off all his hair, carry a tambourine, and to borrow money at the airport.

3. Dye your hair

Now you are ready to receive the dye. There are two very important evidence that you must carry out with each and every hair coloring product use: the allergy test and the test line.

Allergy test

The allergy test will make sure you do not get a nasty rash all over the scalp after his hair dye. Perform allergy test at least two days before dyeing their hair. In a small plastic cup, mix about a teaspoon worth all the ingredients that will have to mix hair dyes. Dermatologists suggest that the concoction smear on the inside of his elbow (which is one of the most sensitive parts of your skin). Leave the goop in at least 48 hours (covering it with a banda aid when shower). If nothing terrible happens, you're good to go.

Strand test

The chapter of evidence is exactly what it sounds, and can do so either in carrying out the test or allergy can do the day when his hair dye. With the teaspoon of dye (and a gloved hand), choose a chapter of hair, and completely saturated with the dye. Stopping in the amount of time will leave the dye in the rest of his head later, and then wash their hair. Take a look at the Strand. If it turns green or purple, get a new product for hair coloring and sue the pants off the manufacturer emotional distress. If the result is what is happening, and then find someone else to sue and dyeing.

Before you start with all your head, make sure you have everything you need together before you dye your hair. Time is essential, and you do not want to be fumbling around a towel while goop dripping down his face. You will need:

  1. Rubber gloves. Most coloring kits come with a pair of gloves, but you can always buy a few pair at any beauty shop.
  2. A comb. There is usually used.
  3. Crappy clothes. Do not dye your hair without having as much of your skin covered as possible. These things are not exactly gentle on the skin, and although you might be tempted to do this au natural way that does not ruin any clothes, keep in mind that it is better to harm an old shirt from his skin.
  4. An old towel to clean the gunk off his forehead, neck and ears.
  5. A large plastic bag and hair clip.
  6. A stopwatch.

Very important: read the instructions in the box at least twice before you start. Just in case you missed our cries, you say that again in another typeface: read the instructions in the box at least twice before you start. Different products have very different directions. For example, some require for your hair is dry, wet and others. You do not want to be fumbling around with the instructions when you've already poured a bottle of goop on her head.

So here we go:

Depending on the product, you may need to mix some bottles to each other (or shake up a bottle). So mix your bottle under the instructions exactly as they are written.

After the bottle is well mixed, work the dye from the roots, making sure his hair is ultimately completely saturated and evenly.

You may want to use a comb to help you spread the gunk through his hair and to pave the way for the groups.

Place the plastic bag over his hair (but not on his entire head, or you will die and dye at the same time). Turn the bag tightly, and secure with a hair clip. The heat will help the chemicals react better.

Set your timer for the amount of time indicated in the instructions. Do not leave the dye in the hair longer than the time suggested. Remember, these chemicals are not great for your skin, and there is a reason why there is a time listed in the instructions. If you want stronger results, use a hair dryer over the plastic bag.

During the next thirty minutes or so, breathe deeply. Read a book. Listen to music. You're going to be. Remember: it's only hair, and even if it does not come out exactly as he would have liked, usually hair can be easily altered (or at least hidden).

When the timer rings, take off the bag, hop in the shower, and follow the instructions in the box. Usually, it is assumed that is to wash your hair with shampoo until water runs clear, then always with a tinge after-conditioner that should come in the box. Ah, the moment of truth. You are well prepared to face the world singing "You make me feel like Natural Woman (or Man)", or willing to invest in head-sized paper bags.

Never try to dye their eyebrows or eyelashes. The FDA prohibits salons do, and that can cause inflammation around the eyes and even blindness, so certainly do not try it on their own.

4. To correct their mistakes

Most problems arise because the dye has no partner, and the reason is because his hair damaged accepts the color much faster than his hair in good condition (for example, often blown-dry-bangs will have to dye the fastest ). The result can leave a streaky result, it might be desirable. . . or not so desirable. Many products on the market let you reuse the mix if this happens streakiness. Others do not, because the mixture becomes useless thirty minutes after mixing for the first time. If you're worried about the possible slopes, be sure to buy a product that allows you to reuse the dye. Then all you have to do is "color" the parties not be taken as well. Place the plastic bag on his back hair again and set the timer for the amount of time is relative to how much hair does not. For example, if the hair is not about one third lighter than the rest of his hair and the original time was thirty minutes, set the timer for ten minutes. Do not worry about that matching exactly. No dyed hair has never perfectly even color. It's like having a nose job that is too perfect. . . imperfections make it look natural.

Another potential problem: that somehow screwed and now they have orange hair. You have two options:

  1. If your hair is only slightly orange, you can try using a very, very low peroxide semi-permanent color in a cool dark brown or blond.
  2. If that does not work or if you already see as Ronald McDonald, go to a professional colorist. He or she may try to get you back to its original color with minimal damage to your hair. Chalk whole thing as a learning experience and a fun story for the grandkids.

5. Keeping the color

The golden rule of maintaining the color is to take care of your hair. Be sure to avoid the common enemies of hair contained in Step 1. Remember that chlorine in pools can strip color or dull, so pouring bottled water (which can diminish the effects of chlorine) in your hair before you swim, and consider the use of a swimming cap. You should also use a quality shampoo and conditioner specially formulated to treat hair color. Most companies that make hair dyes also make this type of shampoos and conditioners. If you have used permanent dyes and have to worry about the roots, you will most likely have to dye your roots every 4 to 6 weeks. This process is slightly different, and instructions for a root job must also be in the box. Note that this process can be longer than the original dye job, because you have to work only in the dye of the root zone, which is much more complicated than covers his entire head. Do not dye his hair longer than necessary, as there have been studies suggesting that long-term use of hair dyes can cause certain cancers. As with cancer warning, you can take it or leave it, but at least re-dye and only when necessary to take great precautions to avoid contact with skin dyes.

A great trick to give permanent dyes to exit when you're finally sick of it is to use a kit of relief. Among the highlights will break up the solid color with streaks soft and do their roots less noticeable. In addition, this method is infinitely easier than trying to dye your hair back to its original color, which is virtually impossible if not done in the classroom.

You are now ready to begin their love / hate relationship with hair dyes. Follow the instructions, take precautions, and have fun! Dye with a friend so you can hold or compadezco. And if you look disastrous, recalls that the hair grows back into its original color. You are not stuck with him for a lifetime, so feel free to experiment. Anyway, the hair is already dead, so you can not kill it. Let's cross our fingers for you, and in the meantime, we are working on "SoYouWanna find the perfect hat?"

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Hair color aspects- what you have to know before coloring


If you know the color wheel color becomes easy ...


It may sound a bit strange, but your hair is a mixture of 3 colors, red yellow and blue. These are the primary colors. Secondary colors are orange, green and violet. If we look at the "wheel" of a color opposite (opposite) "deny" that color. This means that if your hair is an orange - blue will be a brown / black color. If hair is a shade of yellow, violet, is canceled out.


One of the most important elements of haircoloring is the determination of the hairs' "pigmet underlying" (natural hair color.) Where has opted for a color in a sample of books, your hair can not leave because of that color pigments of his hair. Behind colour + colour = Artifcial final


Levels of hair color


  1. Black

  2. Very Dark Brown

  3. Dark Brown

  4. Brown

  5. Medium Brown

  6. Light Brown

  7. Dark Blonde

  8. Light Blonde

  9. Very Light Blonde

  10. Light Blonde Platium

Types of Haircolor



  • Temporary - color lasts a shampoo for the next and is deposited on the outside of the hair shaft.

  • Semi-temporary - color lasts until 4-6 shampoos. In general, do not contain ammonia and has no developer.

  • Demi Permanent - color usually contains little or no ammonia and uses a little peroxide developer (under 10 vol.) The color lasts about 6 weeks and gradually fades in the shadow of nature.

  • Semi-Permanent - color usually contains ammonia and uses a deloper of 10 to 20 vol. Standing - color formulas change the color of natural hair. They require maintenance for the growth of hair again after 4 to 6 weeks. (For the purposes of this guide we will discuss

  • Permanent colors and processing methods.)

How it works


Before any permanent colour can be deposited in the hair shaft, the cuticle or outer layer, to be opened. The formula then insoluble reacts with the crust, or middle layer, to deposit or withdraw the color. The color is available in a variety of forms, creams, gels or tubes, or shampoos. They do not change your hair color until they are part of a chemical reaction oxidation.


The oxidizing agent is the developer or hydrogen peroxide in one of various forms and strengths. lt is the catalyst or cause of the chemical reaction that allows the formula to permanently alter the color of hair. The strength of developers - is determined by the desired results and the manufacturer's instructions.


Volume 10 - Color reservoir with only mild lightning.


Volume 20 - a maximum deposit as gray or white hair with lightning


Volume 30 -. Strong glimmer of action with less color tank.


Bleaching Boosters - can be added to enhance the action of elevation. Consult the manufacturer's instructions. Too much developer and the color can not have good highlights, poorly covered, not to lift the correct level and fade faster.


Color and emphasize care tips and techniques


Hair Color treaty has special needs and proper care is essential for any type of hair. Follow these tips to keep your hair professional looking fantastic!


The wet hair with bottled spring water before reaching chlorine in a pool, are diluted chemicals Be careful with the sun. making use of hats, scarves or products with sunscreens to help protect against color fade and the effects of sun-dried. Ideal for the beach, leaving at large, conditioners contain sunscreens to protect against color fade. Shampoo gently with a shampoo specially created for hair color treaty. Rough shampoo can strip color or dry hair. Condition regularly with an intensive air-conditioner to restore vital moisture and shine to hair color treaty. Use color as improving conditioners color grows out to help root mixture. Do not wrap in a towel turban when you leave the shower with wet hair. The added friction knot and can damage your hair wet vulnerable. Instead, carefully blot dry hair. Do not brush their hair when wet. Comb with a large tooth comb, tangles of work as you move from the ends toward the scalp. Do not overdry. When dry, dry hair until it is almost but not completely dry. Leave some moisture to prevent static. Be careful about style. When using aircraft-style, use protective heat for maximum protection. Avoid handling aggressive hair. Wear your hair or spritzer with moisturizers and sunscreens to finish their hair. These products provide continuous protection throughout the day. Do not spray lighten agents or put lemon juice in your hair. Support your style with a perm. Just because you have tried your hair color does not mean you can not get a perm. In fact, a perm specially formulated for color-treated hair can add wonderful body, fullness and texture to complement your color.


Whenever your best source, its chapters stylist can answer any questions you may have and recommend products ideal for professional hair color treaty.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

a beginner's guide to highlighting

Highlighting can seem like a difficult procedure, but it is actually quite easy and straightforward.

If you highlighted your hair today, you certainly would not be the first. In fact, it's far more likely that you're the last with un-highlighted hair, as the cosmetic trend has become more and more popular both stateside and abroad. It makes sense that we would find it attractive: highlights lend variation and depth (and even volume) to hair that perhaps has been looking a bit boring in monotone.

The question that remains, of course, is how you get started. You have the option of seeking professional help with your first highlights, which would be recommended given the strategy required of good-looking highlights. Furthermore, there are all types of highlights, some which only occur right around your face, those that cluster at the crown, and others that split evenly across your part. A hairdresser or colorist will be far more knowledgeable than you are as to what type and color of highlights would be most appropriate for you. Seeking professional help, however, does come at a cost. Highlights themselves can drain you of anywhere from $ 30 (this would be truly extraordinary and is rarely found outside of basement-based businesses) to $ 150.

Obviously, administering the highlights yourself would be much cheaper. You can purchase a kit (several are made by the big brands-L'Oreal, Herbal Essence, etc..) For under $ 10. For the current application, it might be wise to solicit the aid of a particularly beauty-savvy friend. Nearly all the highlighting kits consist of a "cap" (this is a plastic bonnet with holes for the hair-to-be-highlighted to emerge from), highlighting "pick" (a tool reminiscent of a knitting needle that you use gingerly to pull hair through the holes highlighting cap), the actual coloring materials, and instructions. The more "modern" highlighting kits may opt for a different means of giving you highlights, such as one offered by Fair that includes a comb rather than a pick and no cap. Keep in mind that though this type of highlighting may be considered more dramatic and cutting-edge, it also has a higher potential to smear and color the hair surrounding the highlight. Another advantage, in general, of using kits is that they will (or at least should) provide a detailed explanation on the outside of the box of what type of highlights for which that particular product has been designed. For example, some kits are touted as "subtle" and "natural," while others described themselves as "bold" and "adventurous."

Highlighting is a permanent process, so whatever route you decide to take, you should spend plenty of time contemplating whether or not you truly want them. Like any other fad of the hair world, highlights (despite their enduring popularity) will eventually fall out of fashion. Also, highlights can be painfully obvious during their growing out stage. You can either pretend not to notice that you have six-inch dark roots connecting your blonde, "sun" streaks to your scalp, or you will have to get them retouched. In the case of the latter, you're making a fairly long-term commitment that will require maintenance and attention. But, then again, for the GList and dimension of hair that purrs Hollywood, who would put in a little extra work?

Sunday, July 20, 2008

How to Pick the Right Hair Color: 10 Tips

When you color your own hair, picking the perfect new shade or color for your hair can be daunting, but here are a few tips and tricks to make it easier:

Tip 1: Coloring newbie? Start with a semipermanent color.

Semipermanent colors wash out after a few washes, whereas permanent colors never wash out. If you are new to coloring your hair, you might start with a semipermanent hue UNLESS you want to cover gray hair or go two or more shades lighter or darker.

Tip 2: Don't go by the picture on the box

Pictures on hair color boxes can be deceiving. Your better off going by the color swatches on the box and the descriptions. According to the February 2006 issue of Ladies Home Journal, most boxes will call out the color (blonde, brown, black and red) and the shade of that color (light, medium and dark). There might also be mention of the tone (golden or ashy).

Tip 3: Is your skin color warm or cool?

Most hair colors fall into either 'warm' or 'cool' families. You're likely a 'warm' if you have golden, olive or dark skin and brown or dark eyes (most Latinas, Asians and African Americans fall into this category). You tan easily and the veins in your inner wrists are green. You're a 'cool' if you have fair skin and blue or green eyes. You burn before you tan and the veins in your wrists run blue. If you're confused because you sometimes burn, sometimes tan, you likely skew warm

Tip 4: Choose the correct shade

If you have warm skin, opt for golden shades such as caramel and bronze in a darker shade than your skin. Avoid jet-black hair which will wash you out and if you do opt for a golden shade, don't go too light or your hair could turn orange. If you have cool shade, avoid colors that will highlight the ruddiness of your skin tone: Gold, auburn and copper. Ash blondes and cool browns work best.

Tip 5: How to tell if you'd make a great blonde

A basic rule of thumb: People who had blonde hair as children have the right skin tone to be blonde adults.

Tip 6: The right shade of blonde

Brassy blonde color or highlights on someone with a warm skin tone can be harsh. Opt for warmer shades instead. If you have brown hair and want to go blonde, you don't want to go too light or you could look washed out. Opt for contrast: Highlights and lowlights. And keep in mind that darker hair will actually complement brown or green eyes better than blonde hair.

Tip 7: When to go red

Almost everyone can go red, what's most important is finding the right shade to complement your skin color. Women with a cool or pink skin tone pull off red best, according to Jennifer J, a stylist quoted in the February 2006 issue of Marie Claire.

Tip 8: How to hide that gray

Gray hair can be hard to color because of its coarse texture. If your hair is less than one-thirds gray, opt for a semi-permanent color that's a shade lighter than your natural color (or matches your color). The gray will blend right in. Semi-permanent color is less damaging than permanent color. If your hair is more gray, colorist Rita Hazan in the November 2004 issue of InStyle magazine, suggests a permanent 'ashy' color, which will help your gray hair appear blonde.

Tip 9: Uh-oh, the color's all wrong

I strongly suggest you seek out professional help if you dye job went wrong. Coloring over color can be tricky and you don't want to overprocess your hair.

Tip 10: Don't go extreme

At-home coloring is best for people looking to go a couple shades lighter or darker or to cover gray. If you have light brown hair, a dark blonde will look beautiful on you. For extreme changes, it's best to seek out the help of a professional rather than trying to dye your dark brown hair light blonde.

written By Julyne Derrick

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

11 Hairdressing Tips Only Your Stylist Knows

Getting your hair color right isn't a science. It's really quite simple: Stick to colors that complement your skin tone, figure out if you're best off with all-over color or highlights and then decide if you're going to pay someone else to do it or do it yourself.

Here are 11 tips and tricks your hairdresser knows, from how to avoid the wrong color to exactly how to do it yourself.

1. Pick the right shade of blonde Some women look good in any color (remember Linda Evangelista?), but most women don't. Some rules of thumb for going blonde, according to Allure's Confessions of a Beauty Editor, which is my favorite beauty book of the moment:Sallow skin with yellow undertones? Deep golds aren't for you. Pink skin? Avoid strawberry shades. Doing it yourself? It's best to go no more than a couple shades lighter than your current shade.

2. The right way to go (or stay) brown Here are more Allure tips for going dark: If you're pale, careful with the super dark tones, you might look ghostly and older. (Eeek). Just as with blonde, it's best to start out just a couple shades from your natural color. In this case, avoid going more than a couple shades darker initially.

3. To color or to highlight, that's the question. We find women with short hair look better with full color rather than highlights. If you have medium-length to long hair, highlights -- especially around the face -- can be very flattering. For the most natural-looking highlights, you can ask your stylist for up to five different shades of color, according to 'Confessions.'
Keep in mind that due to root growth, all-over coloring will need to be touched up every four to eight weeks, while highlights can last up to two or three months.

4. Different types of highlights. There are basically four types of highlights: basic foil highlights, baliage or 'hair painting', chunking or 'piecing' and lowlighting.

5. Doing it yourself? Home-color kits have come a long way in the past few years and are perfect for busy people and those who want cut the cost of professional colorings. (We know of a couple top fashion editors who color their hair themselves!). Some great hair coloring kits include: L'Oreal Natural Match Hair Color Clairol Nice and Easy

6. Coloring newbie? Start with a semipermanent color. Semipermanent colors wash out after a few washes, whereas permanent colors have to grow out. If you are new to coloring your hair, you might start with a semipermanent hue UNLESS you want to cover gray hair or go two or more shades lighter or darker.

7. How to tell if you'd make a great blonde A basic rule of thumb: People who had blonde hair as children have the right skin tone to be blonde adults.
Some home hair coloring tips:
rub Vaseline around your hairline as a protective measure before applying color.
To remove after coloring, rub a small amount of cream cleanser and wipe off with cotton balls. Always wear gloves and wrap an old dark-colored towel around your shoulders.
Rinse your eyes with water if you get color in your eyes. If you forgot the Vaseline and stained your skin, rub the area with a cotton ball soaked in alcohol-based toner.

8. How to hide that gray Gray hair can be resilient to hair dye because of its coarse texture. If your hair is less than 15 percent gray, opt for a semi-permanent color that's a shade lighter than your natural color (or matches your color). The gray will blend right in. If your hair is more gray, colorist Rita Hazan in the November 2004 issue of InStyle magazine, suggests a permanent 'ashy' color, which will help your gray hair appear blonde. Permanent colors are really the only way to completely cover gray hair, according to InStyle's Getting Gorgeous.

9. Don't like the color? Don't be afraid to go back to the salon and talk to your stylist. There are all sorts of ways to fix color that's just not right.
If you did it yourself with a semi-permanent color, look for a shampoo with 'ammonium laurel sulfate' to wash away the color faster, according to Getting Gorgeous.

10. After care. Once you invest money in a hair color, you should protect your investment with the proper after-color care. Refresh your color by using a color-enhancing shampoo and conditioner once a week. These products deposit miniscule amounts of color into hair.

11. Root rescue. You can expect your color to last about 6 to eight weeks before your roots show. If your hair is colored, you'll want to get your roots touched up or do them yourself with a kit you can buy at the store like Clairol Nice and Easy Root Touch Ups. Be sure and test the color first before applying.
If you have highlights or lowlights, you can avoid having your whole head colored by asking your stylist to do your hairline, crown and part. A word of warning: Foil highlights require precise application and fixing dark roots is nearly impossible. Ask about easier to maintain highlighting techniques.

Monday, June 30, 2008

Conditions affecting hair color

Effects of aging on hair color

Children born with a certain color may find that it gradually darkens as they grow. Many blond, strawberry blond, light brown, or red haired infants experience this.
A change in hair color typically occurs naturally as people age, usually turning their hair to gray and then white. More than 40 percent of Americans have some gray hair by age 40, but white hairs can appear as early as childhood. The age at which graying begins seems to be almost entirely based on genetics. Sometimes people are born with gray hair because they inherit the trait genetically. Some people use hair dye to disguise the amount of gray in their hair.
Two genes appear to be responsible for the process of graying, Bcl2 and Bcl-w. The change in hair color is caused when melanin ceases to be produced in the hair root and new hairs grow in without pigment. The stem cells at the base of hair follicles are responsible for producing melanocytes, the cells that produce and store pigment in hair and skin. The death of the melanocyte stem cells causes the onset of graying

Artificial factors affecting hair color

A 1996 British Medical Journal study conducted by J.G. Mosley, MD found that tobacco smoking may cause premature graying. Smokers were found to be four times more likely to begin graying prematurely, compared to nonsmokers in the study.
Gray hair may temporarily darken after inflammatory processes, after electron-beam-induced alopecia, and after some chemotherapy regimens. Much remains to be learned about the physiology of human graying.
There are no special diets, nutritional supplements, vitamins, nor proteins that have been proven to slow, stop, or in any way affect the graying process, although many have been marketed over the years. This may change in the near future. French scientists treating leukemia patients with a new cancer drug noted an unexpected side effect: some of the patients' hair color was restored to their pre-gray color.

Other medical conditions affecting hair color

Albinism is a genetic abnormality in which no pigment is found in human hair, eyes or skin. This results in gray, blue, or red eyes. The skin is pale and the hair is white or pale blond.
Vitiligo is a patchy loss of hair and skin color that may occur as the result of an auto-immune disease.
Malnutrition is also known to cause hair to become lighter, thinner, and more brittle. Dark hair may thus turn reddish or blondish due to the decreased production of melanin. The condition is reversible with proper nutrition.
Werner syndrome and pernicious anemia can also cause premature graying.
A recent study demonstrated that people 50-70 years of age with dark eyebrows but gray hair are significantly more likely to have type II diabetes than those with both gray eyebrows and hair.

Changes in hair color after death

The hair color of mummies or buried bodies can change over large time periods. Hair contains a mixture of black-brown-yellow eumelanin and red pheomelanin. Eumelanin is less chemically stable than pheomelanin and breaks down faster when oxidized. It is for this reason that Egyptian mummies have reddish hair. The color of hair changes faster under extreme conditions. It changes more slowly under dry oxidizing conditions (such as in burials in sand or in ice) than under wet reducing conditions (such as burials in wood or plaster coffins)

article source From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Natural Hair Colors

Natural hair colors
Natural hair color is black, brown, blonde, or red, depending on a person's ethnic origins. Hair color is genetically associated with certain skin tones and eye colors.

Black hair

Black hair is the darkest and most common color of human hair. Black hair is found in people of all backgrounds and ethnicities. It has large amounts of eumelanin and is less dense than other hair colors. It can be a very dark brown. Black hair is known to be the shiniest out of all other hair colors.[1] In English, black hair is usually described as "jet-black", "raven black", rather than "brunette".
Outside of Europe, many humans have black or dark brown hair. [2] This is likely the original hair color of Homo sapiens, and is found in its greatest distribution in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and the pre-Columbian Americas. Among White people, black hair is particularly common in people of Southern European, e.g.: Greek, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian ancestry. Black hair is less prominent in people from Nordic countries. In Africa, many individuals have blond, reddish, brown and black hair colors, as well.
Black hair comes in a variety of textures. Many people of African descent have diverse hair textures ranging from afro-textured hair, to straight, curly or wavy.. Straight black hair is common in Asians and Native Americans, as well. Curly, wavy, straight and coarse hair textures are common among all racialized groups. Within African populations, hair textures vary greatly. This is due to the fact that individuals of African descent have the most ancient alleles (genes responsible for specific physical traits) and the greatest genetic diversity.

Brown hair

Brown hair is the second most common hair color, with black being the most common.
A girl with long brown hair
Brown hair (also referred to as chestnut and cinnamon) varies from light brown to almost black hair. It is characterized by higher levels of the dark pigment eumelanin and lower levels of the pale pigment phaeomelanin. Its strands are thicker than those of fair hair but not as much as those of red hair. People with brown hair are often referred to as brunettes, the feminine form, and brunets (silent t), the masculine term. Brown hair is commonly termed “dark” because of its darker characteristics than that of its blonde or red haired counterparts.

Blond hair

Blond hair ranges from nearly white (platinum blond, tow-haired) to a dark golden blond. Strawberry blond, a mixture of blond and red hair found predominantly in Ireland, is an especially rare type containing the most phaeomelanin. Blond hair can have almost any proportions of phaeomelanin and eumelanin, but both only in small amounts. More phaeomelanin creates a more golden blond color, and more eumelanin creates an ash blond. Blond hair is common in many European peoples, but rare among others. Many children born with blonde hair may develop darker hair as they age.

Red hair

Red hair (also referred to as auburn, ginger or titian) varies from a deep orange-red through burnt orange to bright copper. It is characterized by high levels of the reddish pigment pheomelanin and relatively low levels of the dark pigment eumelanin. People with red hair are often referred to as redheads.[1] Approximately 1% to 2% of the human population has red hair.[2][3] It occurs more frequently (between 2% and 6% of the population) in northern and western Europeans, and their descendants, and at lower frequencies throughout other parts of Europe, Asia and Africa. Red hair appears in people with two copies of a recessive gene on chromosome 16 which causes a change in the MC1R protein. It is associated with fair skin color, freckles, and sensitivity to ultraviolet light, as the mutated MC1R protein is found in the skin and eyes instead of the darker melanin. Cultural reactions have varied from ridicule to admiration; many common stereotypes exist regarding redheads, and they are often portrayed as the “fiery-tempered redhead”.
As well as in humans, red hair can be found in other mammalian species such as orangutans, squirrels, goats, and highland cattle. Red hair or fur can be found in some breeds of dog and cat, and certain species of fox and deer.

Gray and white hair

Gray hair color typically occurs naturally as people age (see "Effects of aging on hair color", below). The same can be said for white hair. In some cases, gray hair may instead be caused by a deficiency of B12 or a thyroid imbalance

article source From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia