We’re going to share some of the amazing secrets hair colorists have in their beauty arsenal. And it happens before you even get the bottle of hair dye. Constantly start with a consultation… with yourself. Obviously, this means figuring out which color type looks best with your skin tone (like brown, blonde, or red) and what undertones will light up your face (warm or cool).

But it also consists of figuring out how much grey on you, how much treatment you want, and how much maintenance you’re comfy with. Here’s how to have a true haircolor heart-to-heart.

1. Take It Easy

What is it our mothers used to say? Slow and steady wins the race. If your aim is going lighter, do yourself and your hair a favour, and take it easy. While base color can get your hair 1 to 2 shades lighter, hair colorists advise going even slower than that. If you desire to stop damage and breakage, and make sure the most even, natural-looking result, the experts’ rule of thumb is going half a shade lighter whenever you color your locks.

2. Subtle Shades Don’t Fade Away Quickly

Whilst bright, pop-arty shades like red, copper, and violet are surely stunners, they do peter out faster than hues that make more of a subtle change. If you’re cool with the uptick in protection, by all means, go for it!

3. Light Hues Seem to Melt the Greys Away

If you’re looking to coat your silver hair, choose a paler shade (like blonde) can cover them because they in fact start to act like small splinter of light in your strands. An additional plus: They don’t stand out just about as much as they would against dark hair since the contrast of color basically isn’t there. This is definitely one reason why a lot of women seem to go lighter as they age. An additional incredible way to blend away greys with light hair colour hues? Blonde highlights. They mix together with your grey, while making a soft, gorgeous effect that can take years off of your facade when painted around your face.

If you’re for low-maintenance, stick with a neutral shade that will get your existing colour up a notch in shine and richness with no dramatic difference.

4. Choose A Color that Compliments Your Skintone

The easiest way to discover the best hair colour for your skin tone is to look in your jewellery box (guys, this goes for you as well, even if your point of orientation is the wedding band colour you choose or the sunglass frames you like). If you like how you look in gold, chances are you have a warm skin tone that looks wonderful in shades like toffee brown and platinum. If silver is more pleasing on your skin, you have a cool complexion; try a deep golden brown, warm red or blonde.

5. Get Hydrated Before Coloring

Moisturized smooth strands are the best canvas for hair color use. That’s why placing a hydrating hair mask or conditioner 1 or 2 days before changing your shade with hair colour will prime hair by plumping up the hair’s cuticle. After you’ve applied colour, keep on using your mask once a week to help maintain your strands soft, strong, and glossy.

6. Skip Shampooing Before Coloring

Similar to the skin on your face, your scalp can be susceptible, and its natural oils are intended to act as a guard not only for the skin, but for your strands too. Because shampooing can remove some of these healthy oils, don’t cleanse for 1 to 2 days prior to hair colouring. The oils that you let build up on your hair all through this time will shield your strands and keep it healthier post-colour.

7. Choose the Easier Application Method

It’s a query as old as hair coloring itself: Brush or Bottle? If you’ve had your hair done by hair colorists, you have most probably seen the hair colorists use a bowl and brush to put the colour. This technique is good, but don’t rush applying colour directly from the bottle. The effects can be just the same and professional-looking, especially if you have short hair. It’s just fit which looks right to you. The most essential process is just painting in partitions so you can get every single hair (read: don’t miss the underneath layer of the hair). Even if you do that using hairclips or simply your fingers, ensure no strand is left uncovered. And do not overlook to press on the colour in the roots (either with a brush or with your glove-covered fingers).

8. Hair Color Formulas Vary in Duration

Speedy lesson in haircolor formulas: Permanent hair color opens the hair duct and applies the colour deep inside it to completely change the shade. Whilst the color does gradually fade, it grows out slowly gone seven to eight weeks. At that time, roots will need to be reapplied, but the colour that’s placed on the rest of the hair. Semi-permanent hair colour placed colour around the duct, so it transforms the tone of the hair (imagine changing from ash blonde to golden blonde) relatively than the real color. And since it fades out over about 24 shampoos, there’s minimal root maintenance. It’s an incredible option for a slight color change. 

9. Don’t Skimp on Processing Time

We get it: You begin to see your dye darken as times pass by, but don’t go for a shower quickly. It’s natural for hair colour to be darker as it process. Leaving it on for the recommended amount of time guarantees the correct amount of treatment (especially on grays).

10. Color Treated Hair Requires Product that Will Extend the Life of Your New Hue

Change over products that treat your new colour, moisturizing your hair, and protecting the vitality of the shade. Find those that are sulfate-free and particularly prepared for colour-treated hair.