HAIR COLOR IS A GREAT WAY TO CHANGE YOUR LOOK, BUT IT’S ALSO A FUN WAY TO BE CREATIVE.
Are you looking to change your look? Do it with hair color! If you have been stuck in a beauty rut for a while, hair color is a fabulous way to update your look without much trouble or expense.
What’s hot in hair color?
This season, anything goes in terms of hair color. All shades of red are popular, from deep auburn to strawberry blonde. If red isn’t your color, don’t worry. Rich, multidimensional shades of brown and lustrous, dark blonde colors also are hot right now. If you want to try something different but are a little apprehensive, stick with hues that are just a few shades away from your natural hair. But if you are ready to make a real statement, go for it. You can always dye it back if it isn’t the right color for you.
Temporary or permanent hair color?
If you are making a drastic change, temporary hair color may make the transition a little bit easier. In just a few washings, you’ll be back to your normal self. Then, once you find the right color for you, permanent hair color is ideal. It can last several months with just a few touch-ups at the roots. If you have your color done professionally, ask your stylist how to do the touch-ups at home.
To try out different hair colors before you make a change, get a virtual makeover by uploading your picture onto Web sites such as taaz.com and dailymakeover.com.
Hair color for hair loss conditions
When you apply permanent hair color, it temporarily makes each strand of hair as much as one-third thicker. Add all your hair strands together, and you have a thicker-looking head of hair. If your hair is thin or damaged, be sure to use a hair color product that is gentle. Talk with your hairstylist about your concerns and find the right products for you. Be sure to use a conditioner for color-treated hair to keep your tresses healthy and looking their best.
Bottle-blonde bleaching isn’t the answer if you are suffering from hair loss. Bleach strips away some of your hair’s density. It can also dry out and damage your hair, making it more susceptible to breakage — and the last thing you need is more hair loss. Rather than bleaching your whole head, add gentle highlights if you want to lighten up your look.
If you have thinning hair all over, don’t go too dark. A lighter hair color will de-emphasize the contrast in color between your hair and your scalp, while a dark shade will make your scalp more noticeable.
Highlights are key to making your thin hair look thicker. If your hair appears all one shade, it looks flat and thin. By adding complementary highlights and lowlights, your hair will look more multidimensional and thicker than it actually is.
For those with baldness at the crown, highlights can help hide your scalp. If you have brown hair, reddish-brown highlights can do wonders to disguise thin areas. For blondes layers of lowlights in a dark chestnut or sable color can really make a difference. Keep in mind that layered hair, whether it’s colored or not, generally looks thicker. Therefore, you should consider layered cuts rather than blunt ones.
With highlights, lowlights and other accent coloring, your stylist can help you draw the attention away from thin spots and put the emphasis back on your beautiful hair.
While hair color is common, it’s oftentimes overlooked as an avenue to a one-stop makeover. Instead of investing the time and money into a new hairstyle (not to mention the inherent fashion risks) or doing something drastic to combat thinning hair, coloring your hair is almost always a smart first step.