A delicious caramel balayage, an out-and-out red or, a striking ombre — when it comes to colouring your hair, you’re spoilt for choice with a gazillion shades and styles, each one better than the other. And as we plan and imagine different hair colours on ourselves, we also get jittery about it, what with all the aftercare and maintenance that needs to be followed. So, ladies, if you’re the experimental kind and want a mane makeover in time for the new year, you’re in the right place. Here, we give you all the informationa complete hair colour guide that you need before getting your hair coloured, so that you make an informed choice and have a mane more stunning than ever!
Make Your Hair Colour Last Longer
Keep These Points In Mind Before Getting Your Hair Coloured.
Identify Your Natural Colour And Choose A Shade That Is Flattering
Your natural hair colour will determine what your hair will look like after you dye it. Take into consideration your skin and eye colour to see what would work for you best. Warm tones like browns, reds, mahogany, copper and gold suit the Indian skin tone best.
Ignore The Picture Of The Model On The Packaging
Also Read Types of Hair Colour & Products
The worst way you can go about choosing your colour is by looking at the model on the box. Although the model may have the perfect shade of brown, we don’t know what her original hair colour was. There is a chance of it looking completely different on your hair.
Instead, consult the numbers and letters on the package to determine the exact colour and desired tone. What a colour will look like depends on how light/dark your natural hair colour is and its underlying tone. Hair dye always comes out darker than the image on the box so go ahead and buy a colour that’s one or two shades lighter than your desired colour. So, if you like a particular colour on someone else, it may not give you the exact same shade on your own strands.
‘Virgin Hair’ Is The Best For Colouring
How great your colour will look depends on the state of your strands. The healthier they are, the better the colour will look. The less you’ve coloured it or chemically treated it, the less it’s actually damaged, so it’s easier for your stylist to make it look good. In the weeks leading up to your colouring appointment, oil your mane and deep condition it regularly to get it in the best possible shape.
Don’T Forget To Do A Patch Test
Before applying the colour onto your entire head, make sure to test it on a small patch of hair first. This way, you can see if it is the right colour for you and also make sure that it doesn’t cause a scalp reaction and your skin can tolerate the chemicals.
Also Read About Hair Colour For Women
Do Some Damage Control Beforehand
Use a clarifying shampoo a day before your colouring appointment to get rid of any product build-up. Also, deep condition your strands to make-up for the moisture you will lose thanks to the colour.
Don’t shampoo your mane on the day of your appointment. This way, the natural oils in your scalp will protect you from any irritation caused by the chemicals in the dye.
Schwarzkopf Supreme Kertain 01 Deep Clarifying Shampoo (Rs 2,000) will cleanse your hair thoroughly and prep it for colouring.
Stock Up On Colour-Protective Products
Yes, all those shampoos, conditioners and styling products that claim to protect your colour actually help. Listen to your stylist when they recommend products for your aftercare. They are gentle on your locks, stop your colour from fading and help make it last longer. Regular hair care products could have surfactants or sulphates that might strip colour or sebum, so it’s important to use products specifically designed for coloured tresses.
Use the L’Oreal Paris Colour Protect Shampoo (Rs 155) to make your colour last longer.
Retouching Will Be Needed Often
If you have grey roots or your hair loses colour fast, you will need to retouch your hair. Make sure to keep a stock of your fabulous shade in your bathroom cabinet or keep a regular appointment with your stylist. Retouch your hair once every 4-6 weeks.
The Sun And Pool Water Will Change Your Hair Color
The sun rays tend to lighten blonde or highlighted hair. It’s important to invest in a UV-protectant spray to shield your tresses from too much sun exposure. If you love to go swimming, you might need to take a few precautions because chlorine being a bleaching agent, strips away the hair colour leaving it dry and dull. Avoid colouring your hair before a vacation and don’t swim for at least 2 weeks after you get it coloured.
Try the John Frieda Frizz Ease Hair Serum Original Formula (Rs 900) to protect your hair from UV damage and Ultraswim Chlorine Removal Shampoo (Rs 1,298) to combat the effects of chlorine on your coloured mane.
Also Read Everything About Demi-Permanent Hair Colour
Stay Within Two Shades Of Your Natural Hair Colour
When dyeing your hair yourself, don’t go more than two shades lighter or darker. Your at-home colour kits don’t contain the strong chemicals that are needed to radically change your colour. If you’re going for an out-and-out hair colour transformation, you should head to a salon to get a professional stylist to work on your hair to avoid any disasters.
Hair Colour Trends That Are Hot All Year Round!
1. The Dirty Blonde
While a typical blonde hair colour would be a pale yellow, combining it with a dirty shade like a brown makes for a wonderful dirty blonde shade like Esha Gupta’s hairstreaks here. If you want to go light but not too OTT, this is the colour for you. It will look trendy and oh-so-chic!
Also Read: Best Global Hair Colour Brands
2. A Sobre Ombre = Sombre
Image: Shutterstock
Till recently, we saw a number of ombre looks that showed a huge contrast between the upper and lower part of the hair. And in 2017, we welcome the sober ombre or sombre, with open arms. It looks subtle and stylish and has quite a natural feel at the same time. We love the look, ladies. How about you?
Also Read Best Haircare Products For Coloured Hair
3. Caramel Charisma
Going for caramel highlights is sure to lend a very chic vibe to your look. And, ladies, contrary to popular belief, no matter what your original hair colour, it will accept a pop of caramel and actually end up looking stunning. Try that caramel hue, we say.
4. Balayage Bounce
The balayage technique, wherein a colour lighter than your base colour is applied free-hand onto the hair, has been popular for a while now. And why not – it gives a soft and natural finish to the hair, and looks fabulous no matter what shade you go for.
Also Read The Best Hair Colour Ideas For Your Skin Tone!
5. Call It Crimson
An oldie, but goody! Going for red hair colour or just some streaks of the shade has always looked stylish and continues to be one of the hottest hair colours out there. Go the red way, and look super elegant and glamorous, ladies.
6. Grey And Gorgeous
Whoever said greys need to be covered up…check out Hailey Baldwin here rocking the platinum grey hair look and how! This may be a bold choice, but if you do go for it, you sure are on trend.
7. Like It Light
Embrace an effortlessly chic vibe by opting for light global hair colour and even lighter streaks along with that. Get this done just before your beach vacay and you’re all set! Who that beach babe?! *Wink*
8. Raven Black
Image: Shutterstock
Black never gets boring. At a time when everyone’s getting different light and striking shades on their hair, go for a pitch black shade and you’re sure to charm many. It looks extremely elegant and will definitely make you stand out.
9. Ravishing Rose Gold
Now that’s a shade you thought will never make it to this list, right? Well, once we stumbled upon this picture of Kylie Jenner, we couldn’t help but ogle at it. She’s pulling off that rose gold hair beautifully and giving us some serious hair colour goals. What do you think?
10. Chocolate Charm
Glamorous is the one word that comes to mind when we see that chocolate shade on PeeCee’s hair. This is definitely a hair colour style that will be big for a while! So, take some inspiration from this picture and book your hair appointment already!
How To Make Your Hair Colour Last Longer.
Do Not Wash Your Hair For At Least Three Days After Colouring It
When your hair is coloured, the cuticle layer is opened for the colour to get absorbed properly. That layer takes at least three days to fully close. If you wash your hair before that, the hair colour will just wash off and go down the drain (literally!). So, give the colour some time to get soaked into your hair shaft to make it last longer.
The BBlunt range is what you should pick from for superb colour payoff! We totally love this BBLUNT Mini Salon Secret High Shine Creme Hair Colour – Wine Deep Burgundy 4.20 (Rs 89)!
Avoid Hot Showers
Let’s just say that this is necessary not just when you have coloured hair, but otherwise too. Very hot water opens up your cuticle, giving way to your pretty colour. You should always use room temperature water to wash your hair. The next step is to apply conditioner and then wash it with cold water to seal the cuticle ends. This will help lock in the colour and thus make it last longer. Hot water is not just bad for the hair, but it also makes your skin dry. So, it’s best avoided, isn’t it?
Use Sulphate-Free Shampoos And Conditioners
Sulphate is an ingredient used in many personal care products like shampoos, conditioners, body wash and face wash. But just because it’s a part of all these products doesn’t mean it’s good for your skin or hair. The only reason it makes it to the ingredient list is because it gives the product a foaming effect. By using sulphate-laden shampoos, you don’t just strip your hair of natural oils and moisture, but also the colour. Instead, use a sulphate free shampoo and conditioner to show your precious locks some love.
Want an awesome sulphate-free shampoo? Go for The Body Shop Rainforest Radiance Shampoo (Rs 795).
Use A Dry Shampoo When Possible!
The lesser you wash your hair, the better it is for your colour. Washing your mane too often not only strips it of the natural oils, it also makes your hair dye fade away. Wash your hair 2-3 times a week depending on how oily your scalp is. You can use a colour-safe dry shampoo on off days, which will give your hair a refreshed look without causing any damage to your hair colour.
Get this BBLUNT Back To Life Dry Shampoo For Instant Freshness Spring Fling (Rs 550) to give your hair a freshly washed look.
Leave Your Hair Loose
Also Read Best Hair Oils For Regrowth, Shiny, Silky Hair
No more super tight pony tails or buns that put stress on the hair, causing a myriad of problems including split ends and hair breakage. Make sure your hair ties/clips aren’t snapping your hair and aren’t fastened too tight.
Protect Your Hair From The Sun
We wear sunscreen regularly but often forget to extend the same courtesy to our hair. And coloured hair is more prone to damage by the harsh sun. It fades away the hair dye and your hair loses its sheen. UVA and UVB rays damage the hair, causing it to break and become dry. Shield your hair from the sun by incorporating a hair sunscreen in the form of balms, sprays and conditioners that contain a sun protection factor.
Regular Hair Spa Treatments
Treating your hair to regular hair spa treatments can recharge the moisture levels in your hair and undo at least some of the damage caused by pollution, dust and sun exposure. While most salons offer hair spas, they can often be on the pricier side. Opt for home hair spa kits or deep conditioning masks once a week to keep up hair health in between professional care sessions. Various reputed brands such as L’oreal, Schwarzkopf etc. offer a variety of home hair spa kits targeting issues such as hair damage, dandruff, dry hair etc., for a fraction of the cost of what salons usually charge.
Avoid Heat Styling
Ideally, since your hair has been chemically treated to your liking, you shouldn’t have to use any heat to style it on a day to day basis. However, should you decide to heat style still, make sure to keep it to the minimum and use a heat protectant spray/ serum to negate any harmful effects.
Spray on the Toni&Guy SIBLING London London Limited Edition Heat Protection Hair Mist (Rs 638) and style away!
Hair colour products to try at home
Truth be told, many of us don’t want to book that salon appointment for getting our hair coloured because…well, we know that means a few thousands from our wallet, gone! An awesome alternative to this is doing the job in the comfort of your home. And why not do that when you have so many amazing hair colouring products in stores now?! So, we did some research for you, and here are some of the best hair colour products to give your mane a makeover at home!
Biotique Bio Henna Fresh Powder Hair Colour
If you want to stay away from the harsh chemicals that are present in almost all hair colouring products, this one by Biotique is the product for you. It is infused with the goodness of henna leaves, mango kernel and the bark of Arjun tree. It will not only give your hair a rich brown colour, but also a boost of shine and nourishment.
L’Oreal Paris Casting Creme Gloss Praline Brown Hair Colour
This L’Oreal hair colouring kit has everything you need for a mane makeover at home. It contains a cream colourant, a bottle of the developer, a conditioner that’ll leaving your hair shiny, and a pair of gloves, so that the colour leaves no stains on your hands. What are you waiting for, ladies?
Kama Ayurveda Organic Hair Colour Kit
This hair colour kit by Kama Ayurveda claims to be 100% organic as it is made from organic henna and indigo plants. It has a great colour payoff, leaves the hair soft and shiny, and it also balances the scalp’s pH balance. For a rich and deep black colour, this should be your pick. Oh, and did we mention this colour also has antifungal and antibacterial properties? Grab it right away!
Radico Colour Me Dark Brown Organic Hair Colour
Henna, methi, amla, hibiscus, bhringraj, coffee and indigo – who thought all these awesome ingredients could be present in hair colour? This one by Radico has absolutely no synthetic ingredients and it nourishes the hair shafts as it colours it. Doesn’t that sound amazing?
Also Read How To Use Hair Chalks
Crazy Color Semi Permanent Hair Color Cream – Coral Red
This coral red is a stunning hair colour and one that you can totally experiment with, since it’s semi-permanent. Try this one briefly, and if you like what you see, you can go for a permanent hair colour in the same shade!
Want to colour your hair temporarily? Here are the products you need:
BBLUNT One Night Stand Temporary Hair Colour – Copper
Go bold, go sexy with this stunning hair spray. Available in 5 fashionable shades, we picked copper because the shade is unique and will bring out the best in any hair type. Designed to cater to Indian hair, and add a dramatic splash of colour to your mood and day. For a change, let your hair do the talking. *Wink*
High Beams Intense Temporary Spray On Hair Colour – Burgundy
Want to make a bold fashion statement using subtle colours? This fabulous hair spray should be your go-to product. We love it because it does not damage your hair, and can be easily washed off using good old shampoo. Bring out your wild side with this baby, we say!
Hair Flairs Color Rub – Pink
This product may look like an eyeshadow, but it’s actually for your hair! It works best for highlights and the colour stays on for a whole day. To avoid messy hands, wear gloves while applying it on your locks, and feel free to play around with different styles. Wearing this shade to a party is bound to make you the center of attention!
Stargazer UV Colour Streak Hair Mascara Magenta – Neon Red
Say what?! You can now colour your hair using a mascara brush? Most definitely! Innovatively designed, this pretty neon red hair mascara is the bomb! Use the magic applicator to streak your hair with splashes of bright red colour. Once you think you’ve had enough, wash it off using shampoo and *poof* just like that, it’s gone!
Saleh Temporary Hot Huez Hair Color
With 4 eye-popping hues to choose from, your hair is going to be in for a real treat. The application is super easy and the colour will stay on your hair for an entire day or two!
OneDor® Professional Waxy Hair Chalk Pens
These non toxic hair chalk pens come in a pack of 6 shimmering shades. They work wonderfully well with every hair type and won’t damage your skin, scalp or hair. These rockstars add the perfect glittery touch to any monotonous outfit. Thus making your look go from drab to FAB!
Greyfree Professional Temporary Hair Color – Medium Brown
Premature greying can be a bummer, but not if you have this superhero by your side. It’s designed like a mascara, but is perfect for minor touchups. You can apply it to your strands or sideburns, it gives your hair a fuller, shinier and voluptuous appearance.
Colorme by Giuliano Professional Temporary Hair Color – Red Rush
Tap into your creative side by using this hair colour. Even though the packaging looks small, the product defines quality. It comes with a magic wand, to help apply a dash of zesty brightness to your locks
BBLUNT B Hive, Volume On Crown Clip-In Hair Extension – Light Brown
Another way to style and add that pop of colour to your hair is going with clip-in hair extensions. This particular one adds volume to your crown area and creates a contrasting shade with your hair natural colour. Depending on your preference and hair colour, you get them in shades of light and dark brown.