Greying of hair is not just a problem among adults but one out of every five is facing this issue. The reason could be many, apart from genetics, bad eating habits, smoking and stress are some of them. Ofcourse eating healthy has a lot but if you want instant solution hair colours are what we turn to.
Here are 5 hair color brand you can try this summer –
1. Revlon – Revlon’s Colorsilk range has a large variety of natural shades to choose from. The formulation incorporates a UV defense system that prevents sun damage. The Revlon 3D technology is a unique combination of conditioners, polymers, and pigments that leaves your hair with a multidimensional and natural finish. The result is silky and shiny hair with long-lasting color. This hair color gives you 100% gray coverage and does not contain ammonia.
Revlon Colorsilk
Processing Time
Revlon’s Colorsilk Hair Color takes about 45 minutes for gray coverage of lighter shades and 25-30 minutes for darker shades.
2. Arctic Fox – Arctic Fox’s Hair Color range is complete with 19 bold shades from UV reactive neons to Transylvania black. The dyes by this company do not contain PPDs, alcohol, or harsh chemicals. The semi-permanent hair color range is extremely pigmented stays vibrant for up to 8 washes and contains conditioner which keeps your hair soft and moisturized. Being a vegan company, 15% of their profits are donated to animal welfare organisations.
Arctic Fox
Processing Time
The dyes are extremely pigmented and color your hair within 30 minutes, but it can be left on for longer without any worries thanks to the absence of harsh chemicals.
3. L’Oreal Paris – L’Oreal Paris’ Excellence Creme has a unique triple care formula with three ingredients that help strengthen your hair while coloring it. This helps leave your hair feeling soft with a noticeable shine after it has been colored. The long-lasting color gives your hair full gray coverage and an even natural finish. The box dye consists of a protective serum, coloring creme, developer, and conditioner.
L’oreal Paris
Processing Time
30 minutes.
4. Pravana Chromasilk Vivids – Pravana’s Chromasilk Vivids hair color range is a professionally used award-winning color. The colors are incredibly pigmented and free of parabens, MEA, Phthalates, and DEA. These semi-permanent dyes last for up to 8 weeks and come in 10 vibrant shades.
Pravana Chromasilk Vivids
Processing Time
30 minutes.
5. Matrix SoColor – Matrix’s SoColor range has been specially formulated for Indian Hair. It helps remove the predominant warm tones in dark hair, giving you a natural finish. The colors in this range are vibrant and provide full gray coverage. The long-lasting colors incorporate the brand’s Kera-Protect Technology which helps protect the protein in your hair.
Matrix SoColor
Processing Time
30-45 minutes
How to color your hair at home –
1. Choose the Right Shade
Don’t make the mistake of heading to the store and just grabbing a box of hair color. Instead, take your time. Even if you love the model’s hair on the box, there’s little chance your hair is going to look the same as hers. Individual hair thickness, skin tone, and current color can all affect your results for an unpredictable result. Your best bet is to choose a hue based on your skin tone.
Many hair color brands offer several shades within the tone. The color guide on top of the box usually lets you know if the tone is warm or cool, and shows a realistic picture of how it should turn out on your hair shade. If you’re still wary, try a temporary color, rather than permanent – it should wash out after approximately 28 shampoos.
2. Prep Your Hair
Color works best with dirty hair, since it lacks the slippery conditioner that freshly washed locks have. Coloring 24 to 48 hours after your last wash is usually fine. That way, color stays on the strands and penetrates better for more predictable results.
Always start with your hair combed into your usual style. That way, you can perfect the color on top before moving to the hair underneath the first layer. This is also the perfect time to change into an old shirt.
3. Gather Tools
Keep your necessary tools at the ready so you don’t have to waste time searching while your color is processing. Here are some of the things you need:
a) Box of Hair Color – Choose any hair color which you think suit best according to your skin tone.
b) Plastic Gloves – These should come in the hair color box, attached to the instructions.
c) Petroleum Jelly – Rub it along your hairline to prevent staining your skin. If you’re out of petroleum jelly, any thick lotion works.
d) Comb – Get any kind from your local store.
e) Dye Brush – This is like a short paintbrush, which you usually get with the hair color.
f) Timer – Any kind can get the job done.
g) Conditioner – If dying your hair black, brown, or red, choose a conditioner that’s gentle on colors – those are the first shades to fade and a color-safe conditioner can help preserve them.
4. Do a Strand Test
While it may seem like one of the less important steps, don’t make the mistake of ignoring the strand test. It tells you exactly how the hair dye looks on your hair and allows you to adjust processing times accordingly.
Dry your strand and assess: Do you like the color? Are the results too subtle, requiring extra processing time? If so, try tacking on an extra 5 to 10 minutes, since some people’s hair takes color faster than others. If you’re happy with the test, proceed. If you hate it, be grateful you didn’t do your entire head.
5. Apply the Color
If you’re just touching up your roots, load up your dye brush and start there. If you’re coloring all over, apply it first to the hair that’s visible when it’s combed into your usual style and then move onto the bottom layers. Brush the dye as close to the roots as possible, and then drag the color down the length of your hair while it’s flat on your head. Continue the process until the entire first layer is saturated. Then, use your hairdresser clip to separate the first inch of the top section and continue the process on the next layer.
Once your head is completely covered, set your timer as prescribed in the color instructions. Starting it when you first begin coloring your hair could mean that your bottom layers don’t get enough processing time.
6. Rinse and Condition
Once your timer goes off, rinse out the color without using shampoo. It may be tempting to just wash it out over the sink, but you could end up leaving color in your hair, which is highly damaging.
Instead, do yourself a favor and hop in the shower so you can wash thoroughly. Add water and scrub your hair with your fingertips as if you’re shampooing. Then, rinse it out and watch the water until it runs clear. Finally, finish up with a good-quality conditioner – there’s usually one in the hair color box. You can also check for dye drips on your skin. If you notice some, use an exfoliating cream and they should come right off.
Water is hair color’s worst enemy, so on the days you can, skip washing altogether and blast roots with dry shampoo. On the days you can’t, use as little shampoo as possible or, better yet, rinse hair with warm water and use just conditioner. Comment down below which hair color you want to try.