Coloring your hair can be a fun way to express your personal style and enhance your overall look. But from choosing the right shade to maintaining its health and vibrancy, switching up your shade can also mean some serious research and decisions — or some help from a stylist!
Even if you let a stylist steer the process, though, it’s good to have some knowledge about the process, some idea of what you want and a clue of how to care for it afterward. So kudos to you for coming here! We’ll cover all of that (and a little bit more) down below, so read on to prepare yourself for an experience that’s as awesome as the color itself!
Minimizing the Damage
Your virgin hair is probably in stellar shape, and you want to be sure that you’re combating any harmful effects of the process as much as possible! The process of coloring your hair will involve introducing chemicals to the hair shaft, which are likely to cause at least a little damage. To minimize the impact, our best suggestion is to go to a professional to benefit from the highest quality products and professional hair color only for salons! Their products tend to be ammonia-free or low in ammonia and applied with expert skills. Additionally, application techniques like balayage or highlights that require less overall color generally do less noticeable damage. So if minimizing the damage done is your goal, then a combination of quality products and clever techniques like these will do the trick!
Choosing a Reputable Salon
Selecting a reputable salon with experienced colorists is crucial. Along with this, getting a feel for what types of colors or styles each of those reputable salons specializes in is important. So ask for recommendations from friends and family, and check online reviews to find a salon known for their expertise in hair coloring — preferably, hair coloring in the capacity you desire!
Choosing the Right Shade
The right hair color (and shade of said color) can enhance your features and flatter your overall look. When selecting a hair color, then, it’s important to consider factors such as:
- Your skin tone
- Your eye color
- Your personal style
- Your professional image
If you’re unsure about which color will suit you best, be sure to set a consultation with your stylist/colorist before settling on a shade. They’ll be able to provide you with expert guidance based on your unique characteristics! Along with asking yourself or your stylist what colors will suit the factors above best, finding inspiration photos of shades you like (on people with similar complexions to yourself) will help you choose a hair color that will love you as much as you love it!
Communicating Clearly
During your consultation and your color appointment, be sure to communicate openly and clearly with your colorist about your expectations, concerns and any specific requests you may have. Give them as much information as possible about the colors you like or dislike, and always be open to their professional suggestions. Clear communication can be a challenge, but it will help your colorist understand your vision and work towards achieving your desired results!
Managing Your Expectations
Achieving your hair goals isn’t always (or generally, ever) a one-and-done process. You’ll likely need to attend a couple of appointments to create your dream hair. A slow and steady approach to the coloring process is a good thing, though, as that makes it possible to get a feel for the color before you go too far, preserve the integrity of the hair (though hair texture is something that tends to be affected by the process regardless) and ensure perfect results! Keeping these possible changes and challenges in mind when switching up your shade will help you manage your expectations and ensure you’re prepared for any outcome.
Preparing Your Hair
To achieve the best results, it’s important to prepare your hair before coloring. As a rule of thumb, this will mean coming with relatively clean hair, so there isn’t too much product buildup from days-old hair. When you do wash, deep conditioning treatments in the weeks leading up to your appointment will improve the health and strength of your hair. This is crucial, as healthy hair is easier to lift and more likely to hold color well — or, in other words, result in a way better outcome! With that in mind, you’ll also want to limit the use of heat tools and avoid harsh chemical treatments or drastic changes in hair care routines leading up to your appointment.
In combination with the best salon hair lightener and colors, preparing your hair in this way could allow your colorist to lighten your locks a level or two lighter than might have been anticipated initially!
Caring for Your Hair Post-Color
Once you’ve reached your hair goals, maintaining the health and vibrancy of your hair and restoring its integrity becomes crucial. Limit the use of heat styling tools, as excessive heat can cause color fading and damage. Depending on what treatments you’ve opted for, invest in the following to minimize color fading:
- If you’ve opted for a full all-over change in base color or a gloss, you’ll want to invest in a quality shampoo and conditioner for color-treated hair that’s sulfate-free, gentle and lightweight.
- If you’ve opted for a lightening service like balayage or highlights, you’ll want to invest in a quality hydrating shampoo and conditioner to boost moisture and shine in your newly lightened locks.
- If you’ve opted for a color with an ashy base tone like ash brown or gray, you’ll want to invest in a quality purple or blue shampoo and conditioner to eliminate any looming brassiness!
An Experience as Awesome as Your New Hair Color
While DIY hair coloring can be fun, we want your first time to be good! So when it comes to virgin hair, it’s our best advice to find a stylist who feels like the right fit for you. Professional stylists and colorists are well-versed in color theory and will be able to help you achieve your desired aesthetic easily while avoiding damage to your amazing virgin hair!
