Thinking of colouring your hair to try a new look or to conceal grey strands? If you are a first-timer, you need to know a few basics about hair colouring before you go ahead with it. We answer all your common concerns in this hair colouring guide.
How safe is it to colour your hair
Quite obviously, hair colouring is a chemical treatment that changes your hair texture and its natural state so it doesn’t come without risks. But to ascertain whether it could be potentially harming, a visit to a dermatologist is advised, especially if you already have a problem concerning hair or scalp, such as excessive dandruff or hair fall. You could also switch to natural hair colours. Click here to know more.
How to colour your hair at home
You can do it at home. Get a friend to help (especially if you have long hair) and make sure you get a few things right before you begin.
Before colouring: Your very first task is to test the colour for allergic reaction – so get that out of the way to avoid any unpleasant scalp-surprises later.
Know your shade: Two shades lighter or darker – stick to this mantra to choose a shade that suits your skin tone. The only thing worse than a bad hair day is a bad hair colour as it stays for a longer time and in order to fix it you'll have to colour your hair again. Here's a guide to help you choose the right hair colour for yourself.
Set a timer: Don’t apply the colour and forget about it – make sure you keep it for as much time as it says on the pack. Or else you can have scalp problems such as itchy scalp, rough hair, and the colour may look different from what you expected.
After colour conditioning: There’s nothing more important than conditioner post colouring. Not only does it help to retain the colour for a longer period but also preserves your hair texture. Find out which conditioner is right for you.
'Conditioners are a must, hair colour or no hair colour. You should go in for colour safe shampoos and conditioners. Ask your stylist if your hair needs a specific conditioner in case your hair has become too brittle, rough or you are experiencing too much hair fall. Pay your stylist a visit routinely to find out if your hair is in a good condition or if it needs anything extra like a hair spa,' says Zing Shatsang, who owns Zido Salon in Mumbai’s Bandra suburb.
After the first time, just colour the roots because your hair colour will have changed only there.
Using colour-protective shampoos
They are definitely more expensive! Most colour-protective shampoos claim on their labels to ‘enhance or revitalize richness and depth and add shine’ which probably indicates more conditioning agents for a shampoo that’s less chemically harsher on your hair than a regular shampoo. Also, shampoo your hair as seldom as possible. Here's more on maintaining coloured hair.
Colouring hair with henna
The most common natural dye that most Indian women prefer is mehendi or henna – it gives a strong reddish orange tinge to your hair and doesn’t fade away for a long time. However, not everyone’s hair is compatible with its use and while there are advantages, there are some shortcomings related to its usage.
For instance, not all henna brands are completely natural because manufacturers add some or the other chemical or metal salts. Apart from that, if your hair has been coloured before, adding henna on top of it might produce a completely different colour from what you expected. And for many, henna makes the hair very dry. You could try colouring a very small area of your hair with it and see if the results are desirable. Here's how to colour your hair of different shades using henna.
Getting it professionally coloured
You might want red streaks but did you know that colours like red and purple fade out faster than say, brown? Talk about the colours you want and find out how soon they are likely to last.
'Shades like blue and purple do fade off because we (Indians) have naturally dark hair so hairdressers need to bleach the hair by pre-lightening it. And if the hair is weak, it can’t hold on to the new colour for too long. Also, most of these colours are ammonia free,' explains Zing.
Ammonia helps open the cuticle layer of the hair and allow the colour to penetrate; it also activates the peroxide in the colour developer. The golden rule of testing the hair colour on your skin holds good here too.
'In case of a ‘global’ colour(entire hair being coloured) you can ‘refresh’ the hair colour every 4-6 months; till then doing a monthly touch up is required if you want an even look overall,' suggests Zing.
You should avoid colouring your hair if...
You have a medical scalp condition such as ringworms or excessive dandruff – chemicals in the hair colour may aggravate this problems. Instead, consult a dermatologist to find out if you can colour your hair at all.
You’ve had an allergic reaction to a hair product in the past. A common allergen in hair colours is called PDD (Paraphenylenediamine) that you might want to check for.
You have a serious hair fall problem. Hair colours are inherently strong and therefore may turn your hair even more brittle.
You are pregnant. Avoid colouring your hair at least in the first trimester as the dye can come in contact with your skin and be toxic for the baby. Opt for natural colours instead. Read more...
So keep these pointers in mind and colour your hair in a safe manner.
Image source: Getty
For more articles on haircare, visit our haircare section. For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter.
For more articles on haircare, visit our haircare section. For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter.