Grey hairs – those relentless strands of shamefulness that haunt us as we brush our hair. They refuse to settle down. They refuse to hide under the cover of their darker and un-grey counterparts. They incite awkward exclamations like, “Oh! You have white hair!” And you retort with a lame, “Ah! But it’s a sign of wisdom.” You silently berate yourself for chickening out of that hair-coloring appointment at the last minute because you were too afraid to do it.
NEWS FLASH! Getting your hair permanently colored is probably the best thing that could happen to it, and guess what? It’s not even as difficult or dangerousas you think it is. I’ve broken down the whole process of permanent hair coloring so that you can understand what you’re doing, why you’re doing it, and of course, how it’s going to help you.
Let me warn you. There are names of a few chemicals in this section. So, if you’re one of those who think that chemicals are the end of the world as we know it, then I reckon you stop reading just about now.
Permanent hair color removes pigment from the hair and deposits color into the hair follicles by way of oxidation. It does so by using a bleaching and coloring agent, which generally comprises of hydrogen peroxide and ammonia.
So, that’s that. Let’s face it, the more chemicals a coloring product contains, the better and long-lasting its effect is. However, just because it has (requisite) chemicals does not mean it cannot take care of your hair. By this I mean that they design a special conditioner to nourish your hair and everything. But let’s just cut them some slack, shall we?
For starters, it helps you to get rid of those nasty grays that threaten to make you look way older than you are.
It also comes in handy when you’re in one of those moods and want to know where your life is headed, so you get your hair colored in a shade that is totally unlike you. (What? You haven’t done this?)
If you’re more of a reluctant experimenter, then permanent hair color can make your hair up to 2 tones lighter or darker than your current hair color, as opposed to semi-permanent hair color which can only darken it.
Now here’s the part that will show you how easy it is to get your hair colored minus a nail-biting trip to the salon. You’ll need to go hair color shopping. So, go to a drug or beauty store you trust and pick a color that you want. Take advice and suggestions from friends or the staff if you must. The color is going to stay with you for pretty long, so it’s worth taking a second opinion.
Now, here are the simple instructions to apply the color you’ve chosen.
1. Make sure your hair is unwashed (for at least 12 hours) prior to application. The natural oils in the scalp will aid the coloring process as the chemicals will dry your hair up considerably.
2. As per the instructions on the box that you receive, you will have to mix the developer and the coloring agent. Ensure that you’re wearing the gloves that come in the box to prevent staining, irritation, or allergies.
3. Remember to always do a strand test first. This is a must! Take a tiny section of your hair (hold it up to see if you can see through it).
4. Using the applicator, apply a bit of the solution that you have made on this section of the hair. Wait for about twenty minutes to check if you have any reactions like tingling or burning. If you do, hair coloring might not be a viable option for you.
5. If nothing of that sort happens, proceed to dividing your hair into fine sections and color each of them completely.
6. Time yourself (as per the box) from the moment you’re done applying the color and then wash and condition it with the conditioner provided in the box.
7. Dry your hair and style it as usual.
Voila! It’s that simple, really. From blah to wow in 1 hour flat! Remember, permanent hair color does not wash out completely. Your hair has to grow out of it. So when you see that little ring of your natural hair color forming, you know it’s time for a touch-up or a new shade if you must!