Grey Hair Considerations

Grey Hair Considerations

PREPARE YOUR HAIR
For best results (and to avoid common color mishaps), make sure your hair is ready for the color.

Minerals from water, chlorine from swimming pools, and build-up from styling products can all impede the haircolor formula's ability to do it's thing.


Use before coloring to help eliminate these impurities.

Loss of Pigment
As we mature, pigment diminishes from both our hair and skin. This affects hair coloring in two ways. First, because there is little or no pigment remaining in the hair, the color you choose must contain some degree of gold (or warm) pigment. Not so much that the color is brassy, but definitely avoid ash tones.

Because the skin also loses pigment, choose a hair color that is lighter than your previous natural color. A very dark shade on paler skin can appear harsh. Darker shades also show re-growth sooner and the contrast between hair and scalp can make hair appear thinner.

Tenacity/Change of Hair Texture
You've likely noticed that grey hair is of a coarser texture than your original strands. And the tenacious quality not only affects the way your hair behaves (or doesn't), but also the way it takes color.

The outside (cuticle) layer of rebellious grey's is tightly sealed and not at all receptive to the invasion of artificial pigments. If when coloring grey hair, you find it particularly stubborn, treat it before coloring with straight 20 volume peroxide for 5-10 minutes. This will open the cuticle layer and prep it to receive pigment. Rinse the peroxide and proceed with your mission.

Coloring Grey Hair

Techniques and Hair Color Advice

The process of coloring grey hair can be challenging. And as the ratio of grey/natural hair shifts to a majority of grey hair, the challenge increases... or so it seems.

In reality, there are just new factors to consider when choosing and applying your hair color.

This page details the critical elements, as well as a few "insider tips" for success.

Hair Bleaching

Tips for Creating Great Blonde Hair Color

This page offers advice on hair bleaching safely and effectively to get a true blonde hair color.

This process requires alot of maintenance as the regrowth begins to show within only a few weeks.

If you want a blonde color with a bit less coloring frequency, try to add blonde highlights.

Hair Bleaching Tips

Stick with no higher than 20 Volume peroxide for on-scalp bleaching. If you are foiling hair, you can use up to 40 volume peroxide with your bleach powder, but not when it's coming in direct contact with your skin. For very dark hair, bleach may need to be applied in two separate sittings, with a fresh batch each time.

Getting an unblemished all over blonde hair color can be tricky. Particularly if you're dealing with existing haircolor from past "experiments". To get a consistent color, you need to start with an even slate...meaning root to end the hair strand should be near the same color level before you apply the hair color or toner.

If there is existing color on the hair, read these tips for before you bleach your hair.

In some cases, a high lift blonde hair color will do the trick, but not if there's already color on the hair...too unpredictable. And some high-lift colors can leave your hair with a brassy hue, making it difficult to achieve a platinum blonde shade. If that's the case, hair bleaching and toning is necessary.

Hair Bleaching Application Tips

Methods for applying bleach to hair vary widely depending on the existing state of the hair and the desired result. A few rules of thumb that apply in every case are...

PREPARE YOUR HAIR
For best results (and to avoid common color mishaps), make sure your hair is ready for the color.

Minerals from water, chlorine from swimming pools, and build-up from styling products can all impede the haircolor formula's ability to do it's thing.


Use before coloring to help eliminate these impurities.

• Don't overlap bleach on previously colored hair. It'll either cause a banding effect or, worst case scenario a "chemical haircut".
  
  
• Apply to the darkest areas first so they process the longest.
  
  
• Clean up any spills promptly, whether on hair, clothing or furniture.
  
  
• Have all supplies on hand and ready before you begin.
  
  
• Work quickly...but carefully! ;o)

Start applying bleach in the back of the head where hair is usually darkest, working you way up to the front in half inch sections. Apply bleach quickly and thoroughly...oh, and carefully too!

If it takes you too long to get through all the hair, let the bleach process until the lightest section is at the right stage, rinse, then re-apply starting from the other side (in the darkest area) and cover only the hair that needs more lightening.

Bleach loses its effectiveness if it dries out, so cover the hair with a plastic cap, and if it's a particularly difficult head of hair to lighten...apply some heat. If you use a blowdryer to apply heat, add a diffuser attachment to spread that warm air around evenly or you could end up with "hot spots". Yes, hair bleaching is finicky, but well worth the effort when done correctly!

Hair Bleach

Cautions and Considerations

Get advice on using hair bleach safely and effectively.

If you're doing an all over blonde hair color, you'll have to apply hair bleach to the scalp, which can cause blistering and chemical burns. That's an extreme possibility, but could happen if you're not careful.

For on-scalp lightening processes, never mix bleach with a peroxide stronger than 20 Volume.

And deep in mind -- bleach just keeps on doin' it's thing until it either dries up or gets washed off.

Hair Color Picture Gallery

Pick A Shade, Any Shade!

Find a hair color picture to help you decide on the shade you really want.

Hair colors can be difficult to describe to your stylist.

The best way to ensure you get the depth and tone you picture in your mind?

Bring in a photo to show your stylist during the consultation.

Punk Hair Color

Tips for Creating Bright, Wild Colors

Punk hair color is fun to experiment with and makes a bold statement to the world about who you are.

This page details the process for bleaching hair and applying your hair color successfully.

The more prepared you are, the better your results will be. Whether it's pink hair, blue hair, green, or purple that you desire, it requires the same simple process.

First pre-lighten, then apply a quality punk hair color in the shade of your choice.

Argan Oil Moroccan Beauty Secret

oil has recently come into the limelight as word of it's benefits for hair, skin and nails gets global attention.

This nutrient rich oil (which is also great for culinary uses) is pressed from the nut of the Argan tree, grown in Morocco.

The popularity of this oil, coupled with the very limited growing area, means the end product is not cheap.

But its effectiveness makes it worth every penny!

Frizzy Hair Products & Tools

Have You Got the Right Stuff?

Tired of frizzy hair product that doesn't live up to it's claims?

This page lists the most effective product choices and the best tools for smoothing hair that tends to frizz.

You'll also find links to specific techniques and general advice for dealing with this troublesome hair texture.

Curly Hair Product and Tools

Get the Right Stuff For the Job!

Using the right curly hair product for your type of hair is critical.

But it's not a simple task to sort out which, out of the masses of products created for curly hair, are the right ones for your needs.

Fine, wavy hair needs a product that will not weigh the hair down but will add some shine and amp up the curl pattern a bit.

Thick, coarse, unruly curls and multi-ethnic hair types need a product that will calm things down a bit and define individual coils.

And if your curls are prone to frizz, protecting those volatile strands from humidity and other environmental factors is a must.

Much to think about. Which is exactly why we've created this page to highlight the BEST of the best products for curly hair and put them into categories so that you can find what you need easily.

Get the right stuff to smooth naturally curly hairstyles into beautiful coils or waves...