Tips on Choosing Right Hair Color Dye for Hair

Choosing the Right Hair Color Dye
The decision between a cool versus a warm hair color lies at the heart of a successful dye job. You must know your own basic color "temperature" in order to select a new color

that will harmonize with your features. It is not unusual for a woman to visit an aesthetician to have her colors analyzed before a hair change but if you cannot or don't want to go to that length, you can ask yourself some basic questions about your skin type, eye color, and existing hair color that will guide you in your decision. Fortunately if you go the "do it yourself" route most companies that make hair dye kits will also have a chart of dye colors on display with their products that is divided into cool and warm shades.

People who are "cool" should stay away from yellow, gold, bronze and red tones. These shades will give the skin a sallow texture and make the features look drawn. Blacks, ash browns, and blonde shades from platinum to near white work best. If "cool" people are indeed "cool" and daring, their natural coloration will work with different hair colors like lipstick red, purple orchid hues, and burgundy. (It's probably best to go with the more temporary dye methods if you experiment with unnatural colors.)

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Naturally warm people should avoid the wild hair colors of the trendier looks. No blues, violets, of jet black Goth dyes for these folks unless your desire is to look washed out and corpse-like. Deep rich browns, red hair colors from auburn to simple gold highlights, and golden blondes work very well for "warm" folk.

SKIN TYPE

Cool skin types are very dark brown or olive complexions like those seen in Asians and Hispanics. A medium complexion with no pink to a faint pink at the cheeks or some gold undertones also fits this profile. Individuals with pale skin or a slight hint of pink at the cheeks are in the cool range as are people who brown nicely when they tan.

Warm skin types are people with medium brown skin that has nice pink or gold undertones. Pale skin types with more of a peach hue at the cheeks fit this profile as well. When warm skin tans, it turns a rich golden brown.

EYE COLOR

Cool eye colors are deep brown, gray blue to dark blue, and hazel with white, gray or blue flecks. Warm eyes colors are golden brown, green (including green blue and turquoise) and hazel with brown or gold flecks.

EXISTING COLOR

If your existing color is blue black, dark brown, ash brown, golden brown, "dishwater" blonde, golden blonde, salt and pepper gray, or white, you have "cool" hair. If it is deep brown with red highlights, red, "strawberry" blonde, or gray with a yellow cast you are "warm."

Do It Yourself?

There are a number of factors in deciding whether to buy hair dye at the grocery store to do it yourself or to seek the services of a professional. Cost is, of course, one of those factors. Dye purchased in store may cost less than $20 whereas a salon visit could easily exceed $100 or more.

However, you may not be able to choose a color that best fits your skin and eye "temperature" and you may not be able to accurately assess the condition of your hair prior to coloring. Damaged hair may look worse after a dye has been applied. At the very least, you should discuss the overall condition of your hair with a professional before proceeding with a do-it-yourself course of action.

If you opt for a do-it-yourself method, experiment with semi-permanent solutions first. At least if you make a horrible choice you can probably make most of it go away by shampooing repeatedly over a period of 24 to 48 hours.

Fixing Mistakes

Unfortunately, hair care professionals are quite used to being presented with a new or existing client who went full tilt with a permanent dye solution, chose poorly, and is now begging to have their mistake fixed. If you do have a disaster on your hands, never try to fix it with a second application of a different dye. The sooner you seek the assistance of a hair care professional the better.

When you go to a salon for help, take the remains of the coloring kit - the box the product came in, all bottles and containers that were inside, and the instruction sheet. Be honest. Tell the stylist what you did, how you did it, and anything you tried to do to fix it on your own. At this stage of the game you are, essentially, a chemistry experiment. The stylist needs to know what chemicals can and cannot be introduced into the mix that is your hair to either return you to your natural color or to find the most acceptable compromise position.

Conclusion

While coloring can be fun, rejuvenating, and beneficial to the condition of your hair there are many critical decisions to make beyond simply selecting hair dye colors. At the very least you need a basic assessment of your "temperature" (cool or warm) and a realistic understanding of the condition of your hair. It isn't as simple as just looking at a chart of hair colors and you may need the help of a hair care professional.

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