It has been awhile since I have posted about hair color.  This week I consulted and deep conditioned a new client’s hair that was beyond blonde, and I mean beyond blonde.

Is salon hair color better?  

I can actually share with you what I witnessed this week with my new guest was so disappointing when I found out that her hair was “professionally done”.  

If you take a look at the photo included in this post you will see a number system that corresponds with natural haircolor.

Our natural hair is comprised of such components as: protein, melanin, carbs, salt bonds and more.  All salon chemicals alter the natural structure of the hair to some extent. 

So what is the big deal about this post?   My guest was at the very darkest end of this chart…..naturally when she went into the salon.

When she walked out she was lightened past level 10 to almost white!    

For so many reasons this is not good and as a professional haircolorist that has close to 20 years experience….I do not know why or when is it always a good idea to try to deliver………“yes we can do that for you.”

Now I do I share with you that her own natural texture of hair is extremely curly.  She had beautiful ethnic hair. 

I had asked if when she was provided this original service if how much maintenance there would be to even try to maintain this or was it ever suggested that being this blonde was not good for the hair at all?

Disappointingly…….her answers were “no”.

When it comes to blonding hair and healthy hair there is a professional rule of thumb that is safe to lighten natural hair up to 7 levels of lift.   If the natural hair is lifted passed that color rule then there is a very probable chance of extreme damage to the hair.

Why?  It is because too much of the natural structure of the hair has been compromised.

I inquired how and why did she end up so light.  She was trying to attain a pale enough hair color so that in the end she could have some of the latest pastel hair colors that are out and in today.

My professional difference of opinion on how her hair color was provided was and is based on a few factors that are in the best interest of a client that has natural hair texture and hair color like hers.

Seeing that her hair is natural beautiful ethnic hair texture and we will soon be approaching humid weather, her hair will definitely expand and frizz terrible due to the over process of the blonding.   I advised that she consider having her hair color corrected with only a non ammonia based hair color and to go back darker.

Also did I share with her that if she even contemplated about now coloring her hair at home that she would really, really run the risk of turning her hair green if she tried to color her hair back to dark brown. 

This process would take time and unfortunately, probably a couple of visits back to the salon.

With salon hair color, I feel that there is a responsibility to have sensibility when consulting with guests about what is realistic.

Sometimes, in my experience, the best advice is when to know when it is best to suggest another option or to even tell your client  “no”.

By no means that being blond means that your hair is damaged.   It’s when your natural color is so very dark, that it really is not a very good idea to try to do this.  

Schwarzkoph hair color line makes and provides the prettiest shades of blonde I have seen or worked with yet.

Ask questions and if you are not sure that you are being understood…….ask more questions.

Ask to see actual photographs of hair color makeovers.   Find a hair colorist and a salon that specializes in corrective hair color.   There is a bit of a difference between a salon that colors hair and a salon that specializes in color correction.

Best advice, too, for color treated blond hair be sure to use color treated shampoo and a nourishing light weight leave treatments/conditioner to keep your hair shiny, strong and healthy.

Final word of advice is when you are really contemplating making a very big change when it comes to your look, look for a salon or ask a salon to make specific time for a hair color consultation prior to sitting in the stylists chair.

Beautiful, professional salon hair color takes time.

Beautiful hair color starts with communication and consultation.

Professionally hair color should come with expert advice.

Is salon hair color better?     I will still say……….yes.

Pictures speak 1,000 words……..both ways.  

Ask to see them and bring them in with you.  

What hair coloring experiences have you had?

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Well, as a professional haircolorist….I draw a line when technology is trying to automate such an artistic profession.

True hair color formulation can be as artistic as a child playing with finger paints when they discover that if they mix a two colors that they will get a third.

It’s amazing how as we all (or quite of few of us) are so

eager to use computers, smartphones (love mine), and self checkout.   It comes with a price.

Have you ever thought of what that price is?  The price of automation?

How many times do you actually need live 100% real human customer support when you have a problem?

Haven’t you ever tried to call a customer service number and only after yo

u have been tortured to go through all of

the prompts….maybe even push the the wrong selection to only have to hang up and try again?

In a day in age, where all of the gadgets that were featured in the icon cartoon “The Jetsons”, not in a million years would I ever expected to see a touch screen computer trying to sell what I call “the ease of use” of the non-professional haircolor that is found at local retailers.

The “system” in itself may actually have great information but there is one factor that the big haircolor companies are leaving in your hands…….the non-hair colorist consumer being able to truly judge their own natural haircolor level.

As I stood in front of this computer

screen, in utter disbelief, I turn to my friend and joked that the big companies should

have a second screen next to it…..

Being a professional corrective hair colorist for close to twenty years, I have first hand experience correcting hair color that did not come out as hoped.

It’s been quite some time since our blog has had a post

about haircolor.  Why?  Well, thank you for stopping by our blog to begin with, and the very first article was about the “why” behind choosing the “at home” hair color or seeking out a salon with a professional hair colorist.

One thing I can professionally share with you  that if you are someone that is interested in odds…….I would professionally recommend a salon than trying to guess what your own natural haircolor is, and hoping that “the box” is right.

Automated “formula advice giving machines” still cannot offer what the salon professional can.   I could not find a section that let you hang out, laugh, and share with your stylist the “goings on in your life”.

When it comes to technique a salon wins!

Did you know that both salons and the big color companies are grasping to get your attention and the fact is that the natural melanin (natural hair color level) only makes up 1% of your hair strand.

Yes, that’s right 1%. Everything else is moisture, protein, salt bonds, disulfide bonds, carbs and more.

Maybe you are not into science, however science is what hair color is about.

What is the price of automation?  Every service that we are prompted to do our selves by way of advertising, inventions, self-computerized advancements really essentially disconnects us to some extent.   Yet, we are convinced by “technology” that we are connected.  The more computers make our lives “easier” the less there is left to do for us humans.     Gee, isn’t that a chapter out of a sci-fi movie.

But hair color?  Maybe I should build my robotic prototype to ensure that I still have a place in my industry, in the future….. lol.

So ….all you will need is a “Flowbee” and a Corporate Automated Formulating Computer screen  to do your hair?   That’s sad.

Maybe technology will intergrade or upgrade the system to listen to a clients woes or celebrations?

Artificial Intelligence and Hair Color………what’s next?        Hologram Relationship?

What’s wrong with box hair color? What a great question.

The haircolor in the box….nothing at all.   It’s just that most of the appeal that draws some consumers to opting for “at home box color” starts with a few factors:

• T.V. campaign advertising with a celebrity
• The eye catching packaged box that goes down the long length of a retail aisle

—- ?Who doesn’t want to look like the model on the box, right

• In some instances– (hopefully rarely) the choice is based upon a disappointing experience as a salon.
• Cost–  There’s no argument that box color could be less costly that at a salon.

What’s wrong with box color?

In my professional opinion, as I am a hairstylist/hair colorist the  message of “easy to use” and the you will get end results that look like on the box can not always be the case.

Can you possibly?  Maybe, but the ad campaigns spend a lot of time and money to make it look like you can have your hair look like you just walked out of a salon.

Before I was a stylist I was a consumer just like you.

Did I color my hair at home?  Yes.

Was it passible? Yes.

Did something go wrong?  Yes.

What went wrong?  My “at home/non-professional” color application.  “How” haircolor is applied definitely can affect the outcome for the good or the bad.

At the time, my hair was a deep brunette and I colored my hair jet black.  It was in at the time, and so it looked o.k., but it was when I wanted to change my hair  color that there was a BIG PROBLEM.   The problem was due to my uneven hair color application.

Ultimately, I had to go to a salon  for color correction.   I spent over 10 hours and a lot of money to undue my $7.00 endeavor.

What’s wrong with box hair color?

Scenario-  You are a dark blonde and you grab the lightest shade of box hair color………..  It is quite possible that you will not get to be that beautiful shade of platinum blond on the box.

Why?  Do you really know if your hair’s natural hair diameter is: very fine, thick, coarse, medium.

The other mis use of box hair color is that if the directions say to leave it on for only 30 minutes that longer is better.   Even if you choose to do this, it is no best for your hair.

Professional hair color will technically win out every time (that is if you work with an actual hair colorist) because when you choose the salon option, your actually will have more options.

All hair color needs some sort of a developer for activation.  The developers that are found in the box hair color have their limitations.  Some of the strengths of developers that are available you will  only  find at a salon.

You want blonde?    Go to a salon.

Best assest(s) of opting for a salon:

• They can analyze the health of your hair
• Pin point your natural color——– THIS IS HUGE.    This is what goes so wrong with box hair color.  The charts on the box that depict “if you are this then you will get/be that”     Again, corporately on their end the facts are accurate, BUT AGAIN…..REALLY? do you thing that the celebrity color his/her own hair for the shoot?

Professional hairstylist are at the shoots.

The reason for me dissecting some of the “behind the scenes” of the advertising is that both sides do want  your business.  Meaning the corporate big DIY hair color giant companies that offer the “at home hair color” for such a low fee and the professional salons who want to offer you professional guidance.

Why not ask….. “What’s right with professional hair color?” More choices, and it may cost more but, as a professional haircolorist, I will remain biased that if you want to look like the model on the box, then  Opt to work with a salon.

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After– Xtreme Eyelash Extensions

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Before eyelash extensions

After– Xtreme Eyelash Extensions

Xtreme Eyelash Extensions- After photo

The Loft Salon Studio- Xtreme Eyelash Extensions

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What causes haircolor mishaps, in general?

In my professional opinion, over the counter haircolor does truly have its limitations.  The only time that I have seen that this option comes out with nice results maybe when the consumer is wearing a short style.

The box color brands do offer different gadgets for highlights and lowlights, however it is when it is time to repeat the process that it can get tricky.

Not all stylists are “haircolorists”, either.

Working with a color, in general, and understanding the “laws of color” are what make working with a color specialist worth it.

The color spectrum is much like the rainbow.  The next time you see a rainbow, take a close look at the variance of color.  Another example of the refraction of light/color is when you can catch light through a diamond or a prism.

Only last week, did we have a client who had been opting for non-professional, “box” color come in for what turned out to be an all day appointment.  So long ago, she had been using a medium brown.  She had been doing so, just to blend in a couple of grey hairs, but only to find that after repeated use…her hair looked black.  She left happy, and said that she would never do her hair herself again…..

The strength of the chemicals in “box haircolor”, are not the same as professional haircolor.   Sometimes, and often it will take custom blended the haircolor to achieve great results.

There are so many factors to take into account when coloring your hair.  What is the percentage of grey hair do you have?  Does your own hair have an extreme amount of warm (brassy) undertones?

Let me share with you that, yes I am a professional, however I previously have used the haircolor found at the grocery stores, and drug stores.

What happened?

It wasn’t pretty when we (my friend) tried to lighten it up, and it turned ORANGE.   I RAN to my hairstylist, and I, too, was there ALL DAY getting it fixed.

It is not so much that the “box- at home haircolor” is bad, as it is really hard to apply evenly, select the right corrective shades and repeat the process the second time.

Best way to find a salon or professional haircolorist is to get a recommendation from someone that has had great results and experience.  Find a haircolorist that is NOT AFRAID of haircolor.  There is a complete difference between coloring hair, and creating haircolor.

What results have you experience with either situation?

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