Thinking Inside the Box-For Hair Color

Hi J.,

I have been a licensed hairstylist for over 23 years. I understand your plight and can suggest many options for you.

You can go to a beauty supply and ask any questions. They should be able to give you professional answers.

Hair color has two tones...warm and cool. Warm tones have bases that are rich yellow, orange, red and browns. Cool tones have bases that are blue or green. Violet tones are more neutral.

Think of the color wheel and whatever color you want or don't want, go to the opposite of the color wheel and use or don't use that tone. For example: you don't want any red in your hair then you should use a color with a green base to counteract any red.

You must be careful if you already have color on your hair. You should only be coloring your new growth. Leave the rest of your hair alone. If you are wanting to deposit hair color in order to make it all one color then apply to your new groth first and let it sit for about 20-30min. Then comb the rest of the color through your hair and leave it on for th rest of the processing time (about 10min).

Never apply color on top of color every time. This will make the ends of your hair very damaged, porous and darker then the rest of your hair.

This is just a start, let me know if you have other questions.

Good luck,
V.

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My hair tends to go red when I color it so I buy a medium ash brown. It really cuts down on the red.

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I decided the same thing about 3 yrs ago. I wanted to go natural to give my hair a break. I went back to my colorist for one last time to color my hair over my hightlights. I recommend getting professional advice on this. She was able to get the right color that would successfully color the previous color still in my hair so that it would be very close to my natural color. I chose a color somewhat darker after she told me it would fade into the correct color. She was right.

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I've had good results with both Feria and Preference by Loreal. Feria states on the box that it produces "prismatic" highlights, and my hair is always very shiny and healthy-looking. I know Loreal also has a highlighting line which might interest you.

One word of advice: Stay away from the cheaper hair colors. I have friends who use them, and you can really tell the difference. Their hair is dull and frizzy--literally burned from the color. Loreal costs a little more (between $7 and $9 a box), but you can find good coupons in the paper. Also their products come with an EXCELLENT conditioner which they say to use 1/2 when you color your hair and 1/2 a week later. I have fairly short hair, so about a rounded teaspoon of the conditioner has always been enough for me. (And I always get compliments on my healthy-looking hair.)

Hope this helps.

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I think we all know that it is better to go to a professional for hair coloring, but time constraints and budget constraints force us to make the best of things.

I also recommend Feria by Loreal. It works with your natural hi and low lights. I have extremely dry hair naturally, and this did not dry my hair out. It also seemed to fade out in a more natural way than other products I have used.

Another product I love is Natural Instincts, this also works with your natural hair hilights and seems to be pretty easy on your hair.

It's been a few years since I've used either of these, and I actually like the way my natural color grew back in, you may too!

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I did exactly what you are talking about five years ago. I had highlights for years and got tired of keeping them up and of spending the money. I had my hair dyed all over brown at the beauty shop (altho they did it too dark and you could probably do it at home) and then after that I did nothing to it but kept it cut. I now have beautiful shiny brown hair. I am older, (50) and am starting to get a few strands of gray but it still looks fine. Have saved alot of time and money but it takes being secure with who you are and being determined to be more authentic. Good luck.

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Hi J.,

I am a 34 yr old mom of a 19 mo. old son and married to my wonderful husband of 3 yrs. I totally understand wanting to save where you can. But just beware of the hair color in the store. I have been a Hair Stylist for 16 years now. We get a lot of clients with corrective hair color in the salon from the store bought box. You just have to be careful not to get something too dark for you. My advise to you would be to get something meduim brown. If you still have your natural hair color as your base, (or your main color in your hair), and some highlights in it you should be able to put meduim brown in and still see some of your highlight shine through. There is a chance that the box color will not cover your blonde highlights all the way, but it will look very natural with the existing highlights a lighter brown now instead of blonde. Just remember to read the directions very carefully because all color and brands are very different! Good Luck!

C.

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I like Lo'real (sp?) hair dyes. They look really natural and are really easy to use. Going darker than your current hair color usually is really easy. I would start by picking the color you think you want, then going one shade lighter. Sometimes the color on the box is lighter than your hair will be (does that make sense? LOL) If you have red tones in your hair DO NOT use strawberry blonde or bright red dyes! It will turn your hair orange! Same if your natural hair is an ashen tone.
I've used hair dye from the store for the last 8 years and never had any problems =) Just remember if you don't like the color, wait at least 2 or 3 weeks before re-dying it, you don't want to fry your hair! And the first day or 2 after you dye it, the color will be more vibrant/bold and then fade a bit after a few washings. And after you wash the dye out, make sure you condition thoroughly so your hair doesn't dry out (the dyes usually come with a tube of conditioner) and then dry your hair before going to bed (learned the hard way that even if you rinse until the water runs clear, going to bed with wet, freshly-dyed hair will leave stains on your pillow case!) If you get dye on your skin, use a wet washcloth immediately to take it off, and if it still doesn't come off, use a little rubbing alcohol (same if you get it on the bathroom sink or floor or whatever)
Hope this helps, good luck! It will save you a TON of money!

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I use one of the SEMI permanent colors, which covers grey, but leaves it as a highlight in brown hair. L'Oreal, but I don't remember the name. Use the semi permanent, and it fades a bit so that you don't get a harsh root line. I use light golden brown to make the highlight part lighter.

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I have used the two brands they carry at Whole Foods. They are safer and work great. I have medium brown hair with some gray and I use a dark blond color, the gray looks like highlights. I just use a half a box to touch up the roots. One of the brands is sold at vitacost.com for quite a bit less.

HTH,
M.

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About 30 years ago, I began Using Nice 'n Easy, light ash blond. My hair was naturally medium brown with natural lighter streaks. Through the years with my hair becoming grey, the color has lightened to a medium blond but with darker/lighter streaks.. I get many compliments, and even beauticians do not believe that I do it myself. Now, I'm afraid to change anything even
brands. (Besides, it cheaper than others with many sales.)
If you are afraid of red/orange outcomes, stay with ash colors, not golden. My hair has a natural red base.
Good luck.

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I would recommend Loreal Feria. It is made to make your hair look naturally highlighted because it is multi-faceted. Your hair will look shinier too.

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I myself have very medium/dark brown hair with loads of grays...lol...I been using natural Henna. It gives very nice and natural red tint to the hair besides it is a great conditioner.

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Hi J.,
my personal experience coloring my own hair was not good. I have a head full of a lot of hair and always end up buying to boxes of hair coloring. I would end up with uneven tones. My solution was always ending up at the beauty salon, and spending more money. Good luck and I wish you the best.

E.

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In Cosmo we were taught that the worst thing you can do to your hair is use a store bought box color. It tends to be harsh and dries out your hair. Try going to a beauty supply store that sells to the public. There you should be able to speak to a consultant that can help you buy the correct color along with the correct level of developer to get the look your wanting. You have to buy the color and developer separate, then mix at home. Each color comes with easy instructions on how to mix or just ask the consultant. In fact depending on how often you have to color your hair and what brand of store bought box color you use...it is cheaper to buy at a supply store. My Mom used store box colors for years (Nice & Easy)...then switched to a box color from Sally's Beauty Supply. The difference is amazing and her hair looks and feels healthier. I know that your trying to save money by coloring your own hair and it is cheaper going this route. Just be sure that your using whats best for your hair, because trust me...the prices for "color correction" in any salon are ridiculous.

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Hi J.!
I have used Loreal, color Hot Toffee. It's has 3x the highlights so it's not a flat color. Good-luck!

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I've been coloring my hair myself for well over a decade and a half. Colorsilk is the least expensive, but it also lasts the least amount of time, only 3 weeks or so. Nice n Easy lasts longer and is easy to use. And I agree that L'oreal is easy to use and lasts quite a long time.

The above advice to choose the color you'd like your hair to be and then go one color lighter is excellent. You can hit the L'oreal website to look at colors and email for advice. They also have a hotline you can call to ask questions.

The one tip I have is to not wash your hair the day you are coloring and really, really saturate it. Poke through and make sure you've gotten all the strands. My hair is thick and on the dry side and I tend to get a clump in the middle in the back where it's tricky to get the dye applied.

Good luck and have fun!

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Hi! We're about the same age & hair color & I've never colored my hair but have natural hi-lites. I know you're going to think I'm nuts but if you think about it, it makes perfect sense...the sun actually gave me hi-lites. I always wear my hair pulled back...keeps it out of my face...when we're outside working or other activities & the sun sorta bleached my hair a little...lightened it in actual streaks so that's weird huh but I've had several people, even my hair stylist, think it's salon hi-lites! When I tell them it's natural hi-lites they can't believe it. I didn't put anything on my hair to cause the lightening up, it just happend on it's own. Some people use sun-in products so that's an option. There's also Just for Men hair coloring that's for women (I think it IS called Just For Women but you can always check) that you can streak your hair with yourself...very easy to use, just make sure you don't get the facial hair type, that's for hair that's more coarse I believe. You can always get someone to help you (help to let you know if your getting an overall even look). Good luck & hope my suggestions helped!

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Some boxes have a highlighting comb that comes with it. Also test a spot on your hair before you do the whole thing. Like the back of your neck or behind your ear lower where no one can see it if it does go crazy. Also you could do the end of your hair and snip it off if its bad. Good luck.

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Have any of you used a Beauty school for coloring? I know we have used them for hair cutting or updos with brides and her attendants to help them save money.

Maybe this could be another way to get someone else to do the color for lots less than in a regular hair salon.

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Go to 'Sally Beauty Supply' They will help you, just ask.
There is an additive which reduces red as it grows out. I had the same problem... Now I am just gray!! I grew it out 5 years ago. I got tired of the touch ups!!

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Box color is very harsh on your hair. If you can swing it try going to a beauty school. It's usually around $35 to get hi-lites and the students have to do a consult with their instructor, so it isn't like it's a free for all on your hair. good luck!

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A friend of mine uses a local beauty school for color. They have a special day when their color is 1/2 price, I think she pays $15 on Thursdays. She has never had a problem. I would call around. It's worth the savings if you're not confident enought to do it yourself just yet.

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