Coloring Hair

Hi, L.! I started coloring my hair (believe it or not) at 14, to cover up the results of using the wrong Sun-In product (I'm a brunette, and it was supposed to be for blondes; basically turned my hair orange!).
One of the best OTC color products is Revlon's ColorSilk; it doesn't take quite as long to set and is a great price! Most of these products will go on darker than you think, so go just a shade lighter, and you can always go darker the next time if it wasn't what you wanted. Herbal Essence also makes a great semi-permanent hair color, which smells great, so you don't notice the chemical smell so much.
Also, there is a brand (Revlon?) that makes a hair color that lasts 6-8 shampoos, so you can test a color that way. Oh, and all of the brands include a "coloring help line" where you can call in and ask questions from color experts.
I, too, just had my hair colored professionally a few weeks ago, and while it was great, it's not something I can do all the time! Hope this helps you some!

I was a hair dresser for 26 yrs. You don't need instructions. The stuff at Wal Mart is not going to be as strong or as good as what you will get at the salon, but it will work just fine. Pick out a color that you like. If you said they put a dark brown on you then it was probably something like a medium brown that you want to get in Wal Mart. Just take it out of the box, add the processing lotion to the bottle, shake it up and have your husband or your mother or a friend squirt a streak down the middle of your head and wear gloves and then take your thumb and distribute the color at the roots only covering all of the white. Then tell them to start at the nape of the neck and make partings and do the same thing and work their way up till the entire head is covered. Let it stand the alotted time which is about 25 minutes and then rinse it off. Make sure you put the conditioner on there that is in the box otherwise it will feel like straw. This is where the difference in salon color and Wal Mart color will come in.
Then you are done.
Also if you have a Sally's beauty supply where you live, you should be able to go in there and get some Clairol and you can chose your color by the samples hanging on the shelves in front of the color. I think that the let people buy color in there. I have seen it done and don't think that they even ask for anything except a card and you can get a card without having a license. The only difference in having a license and a non license is about 5 Cents. A hair dresser gets a little bit better price but it isn't much better.
Good luck and if you need any help just write to me.

My sweet husband colors my hair for me. I get the color I want (always a shade of red) and he does the work! The salon was just getting too expensive. There were brands that I was not happy with, but there are others that I go to over and over (Loreal Preference, and other Loreal products and one particular one by Garnier) Also, I have my colorists "formula" so I can get the color I need from Sally Beauty Supply. If I want more "facets" to my color or to have highlights, I will go to a salon, but for covering the grey, keeping my red looking healthy, the home products have worked for me. My hairdresser actually advises me on what products to get, what to stay away from.

Absolutely try the Feria line, at any drugstore. I had GREAT luck with the color. Cheap, easy and looks great. It claims to be 'multi-faceted', meaning it's not a monotone color but has very subtle highlighting in the same hue. Good luck!

I love Preference by Loreal color or cream. I get my mom, sister or a friend to help me apply it. I use the light ash brown and have for years. Love it and it is not expensive at all.

Hi L.
I use color on my hair & it is long long long. One thing you need to be very carful with is to make sure it is "NOT" a permanent color dye, unless you wan t that. I use the one that has no peroxide. Also make sure when you find that best color that you get the same brand & dye number every time. If you try different brands & colors you will get very different results & some could be horrible. That is why you should try the ones that have no peroxide. You might want to go to the person who colored your hair & get some advice from them. Ask what color they used & could they recomment an over the counter color for you. Also ask if they used a permanent color dye. You should not mix permenent colors with non permanent colors. Hope this helps

ShannonB

I have been coloring my hair at home for over 10 years. I use Loreal Excellence Creme. It is easy and pretty much fool proof. I've never had a problem and there is even a number you can call if you need help. It works well and costs under $10. I think you'll be happy with the results. My hair looks great.

I use a product called "Perfect 10". I'm not sure who makes it but it's over the counter and idiot proof. Covers the grey really well. I would never pay to have my hair coloured - it's too easy to do at home.

Hi L.,

I have been coloring my hair for years. I do use the salons or highlights and other color (foil) treatments though. It is easy. I go to Sally's Beauty supply. Buy the correct color and the processor (it goes a long way) that goes with it along with the gloves (reusable) and the application bottle(reusable), mix up the proper amount (never have leftoevers again this way as you can make as much or as little as you need), apply to my head and wash out. If you are applying just the roots, don't soak your whole hair, it will just damage your hair. Good luck.

Lorelle (sp?) products are good. Clairol has good temporary products (washes out in about 6-8 wks). I'd start with a temporary hair color to get the hang of doing it yourself. It's more forgiving of any uneven tones and fades out over time. It's also great for the times when you really need to color again but can't get a moment to yourself to do it.
All of the over the counter items have great instructions. I'd add just one to their list:
When you have completely saturated your hair with coloring, pull a wide tooth comb through your hair starting at the root and going all the way to the end. Allow the ends to fall through the comb so you don't stop short. This evens out the hair coloring and allows for a natural sun streaked look.
A beautician friend of mine taught me this technique and it has been awesome! Only my daughters know I color my own hair.
It's not a hard job doing it yourself.

A few things you'll want to keep handy:
A wide tooth comb (as mentioned above)

an old towel- one you don't mind getting stain on

a wet wash cloth - to clean off any excess hair dye that gets onto your face, ears or neck.

A minute timer (I use the one on my stove or cell phone)

I'm sure you'll be proud of the outcome and get hooked on the do-it- yourself coloring.
Good luck!
L. C.

I have been using Garnier Nutriesse for years now and love it. It's easy takes only 20 minutes and even covers gray if you need it to (which I do.) I make sure that I don't have anything under me that can't be wiped off because I have been known to spill a bit and don't want to ruin any carpet or anything. If you clean it off of other stuff right away there is no issue. I also have a special dark towel I put around my neck so I don't drip on whatever I am wearing and then use it for the first few washes just in case I didn't get all the color back out and there is some residue. I can't afford to pay to have my hair colored so this has been a good solution for me. I am sure you can find a good color as there are many. The lower the # the lighter the color. Let me know if there is any other questions you have.

Hi, L.- -The REAL challenge is finding 20-40 minutes you can shut yourself in the bathroom without SOMEONE needing you to refill a sippy-cup, change a poopy-diaper blowout, or look at the inside of a pinecone RIGHT NOW. I also have brownish-red hair that has gotten darker and duller with each pregnancy (or it could be age. . .but I won't go there.) The Natural Instincts line has a semi-permanent color that "washes" out in about 6-12 weeks, so you can't screw up too badly. You also should not have roots if you match the color closely. The Loving Care temporary colors (I think made to cover grey rather than change the color) can give some shine, but they wash out quickly, and I sure don't have the time to do this every 2 weeks. I think the red-brown shade of Natural Instincts I like is desert sunrise (not too bold of a red, but just enough to give me a lift from the daily dulls). I found this at Big Lots yesterday for $6.50. If only I could buy 20 minutes of time to wash this into my hair! BTY, this is my FIRST Mamasource response. Where do I post the "little about me?" Kate

A friend of mine with brownish reddish hair colors hers every 6-8 weeks with a wash-in product. Sometimes she uses a more brown one and sometimes a more reddish one, but it always looks good. Her hair is short and layered all over, so she doesn't worry about damaging it because it gets cut off so soon. But if your hair is longer, I'd use something only on the roots and not do the whole head everytime. Good luck! And thanks to your husband for serving our country and you for supporting him.

you can go to the place that sell berty supply and askwhat they recmend .

L., I would not recommend going to Sallee Beauty Supply. Although the process and solutions are the same in an OTC product and at the salon, the products are sold separately (color, developer, etc.) at the beauty supply store and, if you don't know what you are doing, you can ruin your hair. It can be a complex process and you had better know what you are doing before you get into... no quick and easy instructions for this one. Once you get used to doing your hair yourself, you may find that you prefer to go to the beauty supply house for your chemicals. This way, you can mix and blend to create the hair color you want and that is unique and complimentary to your skin tones.

You asked for something simple and quick and most of the responders offered several practical solutions. Despite what the adds on tv tell you, most hair colorants of the same class are basically the same, regardless of the price. The pivotal factor is how it reacts with your hair.

There are three types of hair colorants:
1) The rinse or spray-in group are good until you wash your hair the next time. These are not intended for long-term hair color change or grey control.
2) The temporary/semi-permanent hair color. These will last for six to ten washings, gradually getting lighter with each shampooing until it has pretty much faded completely.
3)Permanent hair colors. These will fade gradually but will not complete wash out and, thus, will leave that tell-tale root line.

I would suggest starting with a temporary hair color if only to get used to doing it yourself. You may even find that you prefer this method to any permanent hair color solution.

As far as price = better quality, this is not necessarily so. But someone mentioned Perfect 10. This is probably the fastest permanent hair color available - ten minutes - hence the product's name. Most of them take 20 - 30 minutes not counting rinsing/washing it out. It is also, however, the most expensive of the hair colors available over the counter. You are paying more for the faster processing. Most hair coloring products are going to run you between $6.00 and $15.00 with a few running a little higher. All temporary and permanent products come with latex gloves and simple step-by-step instructions. Millions of women (and men) use it every day.

A few caveats, if you will. The hair coloring will stain or bleach color out of fabrics and can stain porous walls and floors as well so be careful when applying any product to your hair. Permanent hair coloring can also stain your skin. Sea Breeze astringent/cleanser is recommended to wipe any smudge that may have gotten on your skin, especially if you are using a darker color! If you find a hair coloring product is not suitable for your hair, that does not mean they all are bad. As I said, they are all basically the same regardless of whether you do it yourself or let a beautician do it for you. Just like shampoos, some of them just are not compatible with your hair type. Switch to another brand and see if that's gentler on your hair.

You can spend $2,000 each year at a salon to get your hair colored, or $200 to do it yourself. The results, as someone already reported, are about identical. And while the difference in appearance may be negligible, the difference in your wallet is anything but. You could practically plan a family vacation on that savings alone!

Good luck.

Hi L.,
I am in school for cosmatology. I would suggest going to Paul Mitchell the school and ask for somebody who is in Phase 2, which means that it is pretty much ran like a salon already.
Or I would suggest going to SAlly's and getting a worker to help give you suggestions.
I have not learned color just yet, but that would be my suggestions without having to fork over above 100 dollars just for color correction.
Box color from Wal-mart or a pharmacy is horrible for our hair. The color never comes out correct.
Have a great day.

I go to the local beauty school and it costs me only $9 and they do a fabulous job. I love that it's better quality color and that I get to relax while they do all the work. See if you have a beauty school nearby. It's much more affordable than a salon. I have colored my hair at home in the past in a pinch. I used the clarol nice & easy gray solution. It worked fairly well. Good luck.

I tried to color my own hair for about a year but it just didn't work out with my hair type. It dried it out, even with the conditioner because I couldn't do just the roots. By the time my roots were showing the rest of the color had faded. I went to a pro to get it fixed and ended up paying for 2 different colors to blend everything together. It is true, you get what you pay for. I now have a pro do just my roots and it's a little cheaper than my whole head. I also wait a little longer between appts. and go to a smaller salon. I wish you luck!

Hi L.: I color my hair all the time with over the counter colors... my two faves are garnier fruticious color in reddish brown and garnier 100% color in magahony brown... I colored my hair the same as u with the same colors and my hair is soft and not expensive at all... this will work for u and save u a ton of money... good luck and have anice day...

Hi L.

I had my hair colored went from brown to blonde and it cost me $45 at a salon. Their are teaching salons out there that are less expensive and they do an excellent job. geI am not a fan of over the counter color have had bad experiences so be careful your hair could turn orange.. Good luck!

J.

Hi L.,
I used to go to a salon and paid $125 for hair color and cut. I have used Preference by Loreal and love it. The direction are very easy but I do recommend doing a strand test first then you'll know how your hair will take the color and approximately you'll need to leave it in. My hair colors very easy so I only have to leave it in for about 15 minutes. Good Luck and let me know how things turn out.

L.,

I use Color Silk made by Revlon. It costs less then 5.00/bottle. I personally use #32 Dark Mahogany Brown. It is a deep brown with a slight red cast to it. Most of the others have ammonia which can overwhelm you if you use it in an unvented room. It is really easy but plan on spending about 30 minutes for the entire process.

BTW I have celiac disease too.

T.

I color my hair myself.
I use a lighter color than my hair used to be, now there is a lot of gray. My hair is short, that helps a lot. For the first try, leave it on less time, and use a lighter color. Dark brown will be almost black, and look terrible. Do the roots and top, and then, finally the back. Follow the directions. Do it at night when the kids are asleep. Good luck.

Dear L.,

Don't buy the over the regular otc hair color; it will damage and eventually dry your hair out, and the color won't last as long, requiring the need to touch up or recolor more often.
If you have a beauty supply discount store in your area, such as Sally's Beauty supply, get your color there and DIY. They have a Sally's card that you can get for a discount (the last time I went I saved over $3 off my $17 bill, which include hair color, a comb, and hair conditioner.) The clerks are very helpful and will make suggestions to help you get the "right color" for you. The gloves, activator, and other products are cheaper there too. I've gotten so I go to Sally's for many other beauty products, like conditioner, combs, hairspray, nailcare products, hand cream, etc.
I've tried several brands of hair color and used to swear by L'Oreal, but have been using ION for almost two years and it holds the color better and isn't as drying as Clairol or L'Oreal.
Let us know what you decide and don't be afraid to experiment a little to get the best color for your hair once you've done it yourself a couple times. NOTE: Depending on how much red you have in your hair be VERY CAREFUL about going more than two shades lighter, as most redheads will turn orange or brassy. There are gorgeous shades of brown and auburn, copper that will enhance your hair color and give complete coverage of any grays. Also, most color goes on a little darker than what it shows, and I've had to go a full two or three shades lighter to get the color I want.

I color my hair every 6 weeks and I use Nice & Easy or Natural Instincts. It comes with very easy to read instructions & everything that you will need. A little trick that I have found that keeps my hair looking fresh is I use the provided conditioner everytime that I wash my hair & N & E sells their conditioner separately.

Good Luck!!!

Hi L.,
First of all-THANK YOU to you and your husband for his service to our country!!!
Second, I have dark brown hair that I have always had colored by my hairdresser an auburn(reddish)brown. When my hairdresser had to cancel my appt due to an emergency I did it myself. I was shocked at how great and natural it looked. I really couldn't tell the difference between what I had done and what I've paid my hairdresser to do. I suppose brown and red are the easiest colors to do yourself. I would never attempt to give myself highlights or do any shade of blonde. I used Clairol Nice & Easy shade 112. It was really simple to do and ALOT less than the $150.00 I pay my hairdresser. It won't last as long as the products as salon will use so you will need to color at home more often than going to the salon. The color my hairdresser uses last aboout 6 weeks and the Clairol last about 3 weeks. If you have grey hairs you can use Clairol Root Touch Up Kit in between your colorings to make it last longer. It colors roots and grey hairs really well in about 10 minutes.
Hope all this helps you!!!!

I have colored my hair myself for years after spending $300 for about two years getting it colored. I have always went to Sally's Beauty supply and bought my color and developer myself ( I use 30 developer) It equals 1 part to 1 part (2 oounces of color and then 2 ounces of developer) I have never had any problems with it. I have auburn hair color with Blonde highlights that like to bleed through and this is the only place I can find to make my color look even. Box color fries my hair (like from Wal-Mart)

I have used Nice and Easy and it works great! You might have to do it a little more often but the price is not comparison to the professional job.

its super easy. if you are unsure if you are getting everywhere ask a girl friend to help. ive even had my hunny help me. if a man can do it anyone can lol. another idea is look up hair schools in your area alot of them use walk ins but are always supervised they are good and cheap!

I know that it is expensive but now that you have the whole thing done all you have to pay for is the roots which is generally not as expensive. Be Very Careful about OTC hair products after you have gone to a salon because they all are chemicals and sometimes when you mix different chemicals you don't always get the results you want.(ie orange or purple hair) One solution is if there is a cosmotology (?spl) school near by the students need the people and you get cheap rates. After you get to know someone and if you really like them then you can request them. And before they graduate you can ask them (In your opinion who is a upcoming student that you would trust to do your hair for a special occasion?)

I colored my hair for about 3yrs. with over the counter hair color and it worked just fine. My Aunt gave over $100.00 to get hers done and I paid around $7.00 to get my done and they turned out to be the same exact color and mine sure saved a lot! The hair color has directions and gloves in the box. Everything you heed to do your hair. Just be sure and do the roots first. Have fun and be creative!

Clairol works for me. My hair is normally brownish black and I dye it dark auburn or red. It is easy to apply and I like that it gets more intense when I spend more time in the sun.

I asked my beautician for a recommendation. I have a very busy schedule and couldn't get back in for regular touch ups once I had a lot of gray. She recommended a semi-permanant color so I wouldn't get such a harsh root line. She was able to tell me a specific color that would be consistent with the color she used. This has worked great for the last 5 years.

The only over the counter hair coloring kits I will buy have a 4-6 week conditioner with it. Those help "lock" in the color. They are all relatively easy with the same directions. It is IMPORTANT to remember that you get what you pay for...an extra $5 here is NOT a bad idea!

I'm only 32 and have tons of grey and white. Color those areas first about 5-10 minutes before you start the rest of your hair.

I use Excellence by Loreal too! It's great and not drippy. Pretty self-explanatory, but I have had to try different colors until I found the right one.