Color Your Hair Safely

I have colored my hair since I was about fourteen. Back then, I colored it because I didn't like the rich, dark natural brown I had, and I wanted it to be platinum blond. Later, I didn't like the gray it was becoming, and I wanted it to be the rich, dark natural brown I used to have. Now, it is mostly gray, and I color it blond to cover the bits of faded brown that still remain. It's always something!

I have been very fortunate all these decades that I have never really had any problems at all with hair coloring. Considering the strong chemicals most hair coloring is made of, that is pretty unusual.

I have always used the kind of hair color that comes in a box. I use the permanent kind, not the kind that washes out after a few shampoos. Of course there are lots of choices in hair coloring to be had from salons, beauty supply stores and drug stores.

Regardless of what kind of hair coloring you choose, it is important to follow the directions very carefully. Pay close attention to any caution or warning statements and perform any tests the instructions suggest.

The reason for this is that allergic reactions to hair coloring can be quite serious. I have been very fortunate that I have never had any kind of allergic reaction at all, and I think most people do pretty well with hair coloring. Those who don't can suffer some pretty intense reactions that can include, trouble breathing, raw, itchy skin, burning sensations and redness, facial swelling and even hair loss.

Luckily, it is easy to follow the recommended safety precautions for coloring your hair. Most of them are common sense. Be sure to read the instructions thoroughly before coloring your hair. The instructions will always tell you to perform a patch test. You can do this by rubbing a small amount of the dye on the inside of your elbow or behind your ear. Please note that you should just mix up a few drops of the dye and toner to perform this test. Don't mix the whole thing, you will ruin it. Once mixed, your hair coloring must be used within half an hour. Leave the test mix in place for two days. If this causes a rash or any other allergic reaction, you should not use the product to color your hair. It is recommended that you perform this test every time you color your hair because your system may vary chemically from one time to the next. Having said all this, I will say that I personally have never done this. But I don't recommend that to other people. I have a cast iron constitution and an uncommon share of luck.

When you apply the color, follow a few simple rules for safety and for the best results. Remove all of your jewelry. Metals can react with dyes and cause irritation and discoloration. Wear gloves when you apply the dye. If you don't, and you are using a dark color, you are likely to end up with dyed nails, cuticles and any little rough or damaged places in your skin will also be dyed. I will say, that for blond color, I usually do not wear gloves, but with dark colors I always do. Also, be sure to use a damp cloth or a baby wipe to wipe any excess color away from your hairline, the tops of your ears and the nape of your neck immediately after you apply the color to your hair. Otherwise, any hair you have in those areas will be dyed and your skin will stain if you are using any color other than a very light, ash blond.

Don't leave the hair color on for longer than is recommended. The instructions may indicate that you can add 5 or 10 minutes for more intensity, and that's fine, but no more than that. You can end up with some strange colors and some irritation by overdoing it. Likewise, do not rinse the product out early. You will end up with a strange color, and it will also be an unstable color. It will change when you wash your hair and as time passes, and it may change to something very odd. The dye needs to develop for the amount of time indicated for best results. Also, to avoid strange colors, skin irritation, and hair damage, don't mix products. You never know what you will end up with if you do this. Even products of the same brand can produce bizarre colors when mixed.

Be sure to rinse your hair and scalp thoroughly when it is time to rinse. If you leave dye in, it will continue developing, and, again, you will get weird results. Also, it will tend to irritate your skin and damage your hair. Be sure to condition your hair and scalp well after dying.

Of course, keep all of your coloring chemicals and paraphernalia out of the reach of children. These chemicals are poisonous. They can be very dangerous and can cause damage to the eyes if they make contact with them. For this reason, also, do not dye your eyelashes or eyebrows. The dyes used for your scalp are not safe for these areas and can cause blindness. It also never looks good. Your eyebrows grow out so quickly that you will see your natural color peeking through within a few hours of dying, so it really just isn't worth it. If you want to darken your lashes, have it professionally done. I have done this, and it is fairly inexpensive, effective, and is a nice relaxing half hour of listening to quiet music with your eyes closed - but it must be done by a professional with professional products.

In my experience, coloring your hair is easy and safe. Just be sure to follow all the directions and use common sense.

For more tips and information on coloring your hair, you may enjoy visiting these two websites.

Free Beauty Tips
http://www.free-beauty-tips.com/coloringhair.html

Henna For Hair
http://www.hennaforhair.com/