Changing the color of your hair is something quite typical these days and is a trick to attract attention adopted by both men and women. No matter if you will choose some subtle colors or a bolder dye, there is a reason behind your decision.
Below you will find the main reasons why people color their hair as well as some interesting facts related to dye, its composition or how the hair reacts to it.
Main reasons to change your hair color
There are numerous reasons why people want to change their hair color but most of them are purely psychological. For example:
- You believe that your natural hair color doesn’t suit your personality
- To feel refreshed as you are tired of your old looks
- To boost your self-confidence
- To make a statement – in such cases people usually choose quite bold and unusual colors
- To compensate a loss
Each person has its inner drive that they follow when deciding to change their hairdo – no matter if we talk about cutting, coloring or applying hair extensions. It is always advisable, though, to consult a stylist before you make a step.
The other set of reasons are driven by “necessity”:
- Your hair is graying
- You want to accentuate your haircut
- Your old dye is fading
- You want to change unwanted shades that were caused by environmental factors such as sun or chlorine in the water
We can also say that sometimes, people color their hair just on the spur of the moment. You want to experiment or surprise your guests for the birthday party. Nothing wrong with that too, but perhaps in such moments it is better not to use permanent dye but rather a coloring shampoo or spray that will come off after one or two washes.
No matter what your reasons are, choose the color carefully and if possible have your hair done by a stylist for better results.
Interesting facts about dyeing
We all know that there is a difference between coloring your hair at home or having an expert do it at a salon. Even though, most stylists won’t tell you their secrets on how they achieve the perfect color, here are a few interesting things that will help you understand better the process of dyeing.
- What determines natural hair color? – The answer is simple – the different type of melanin found in the hair. Basically, there are three types – eumelanin that gives brown and black colors, pheomelanin that gives red and blonde shades and mixed melanin that is combination of the previous two.
- Does hair porosity affect coloring? – Yes, it does. Porosity determines how hair absorbs and retains moisture. Therefore, hair with high porosity will easily absorb the dye but it will fade quickly too.
- What does the level system have to do with color? – If you have heard your stylist talking about levels, you should know that levels identify how dark or light hair is. The level system helps the stylist determine how much color is found in the hair when you come to them and how much they need to add.
- Which are the categories of hair color? – You might be surprised that there are three categories: temporary hair color, semipermanent hair color and demipermanent hair color. They are used by stylist to determine whether to use an alkalizing agent or not for your hair so don’t be startled if you hear those terms in the saloon.
- How is the personal hair color formulated? – In order to mix the right tone for you, the stylist usually needs to find the answer to four questions: 1. What is the natural color of the client and do they have any gray hair? 2. What is the desired level and tone to be achieved? 3. Should all the pigments in the mix be revealed? 4. What colors are to be mixed together to achieve the desired result? You can partially contribute to answering questions 2 and 3, otherwise it all depends on the knowledge and experience of the hairdresser to find the right answer.
Rules of color correction
It has happened to most of us to dye our hair in a color that we don’t like. What shall we do in this case. Well, it is pretty simple. Follow the steps below:
- Don’t panic
- Identify the nature of the problem – you don’t like the shade, it is not even, it is darker/lighter, etc.
- Determine what caused the problem – you used the wrong dye, changed the product that you used previously, stayed too short/long, etc.
- Think of a solution – can you dye the hair again, wear a hat, have a haircut?
- Take one step at a time
And last but not least – call your hairdresser. As an expert in the field, they will be able to solve the problem much easier than you.
And next time when you decide to experiment with hair color but you are not sure what exactly you want or whether it will suit you, try with high quality natural hairextensions. Thus, you can sport a new look without affecting your natural hair.
