Select the Right Hair Color Just for You

Do you want to color your own hair? With a little knowledge, you can!

Coloring your hair is simple; achieving the right hair color is not.

Here are some points you should consider when coloring your hair:

The more temporary a color is, the less it damages your hair, but the more permanent a color is, the more it damages your hair. Generally speaking the more temporary a color is, the less damage you will see upon your hair. The more permanent a color is the more drastic of a change it can produce. This has to do with each person's individual chemistry. Colors that wash out in fewer than 12 shampoos, such as semi-permanent and­ temporary colors, coat the hair shaft because they don't need chemicals to force pigment molecules into the hair cuticle layer. Colors that wash out are much easier on your hair strands. The only problem is that semi-permanent and­ temporary colors do not last as long as permanent hair colors do.

Permanent hair color chemically changes the hair and cannot be washed out. It is usually pricey and can be damaging to hair, so be sure you have really acquired the right hair color before coloring.

Semi-permanent hair color only darkens the hair and does not change the hair as permanent hair color does. It's wonderful for covering gray hair, but it must be reapplied because it fades and is not permanent. I have found that with my own hair that semi-permanent hair color leaves my hair much more conditioned and shiny then permanent hair color. I have tried both and have noticed a distinctive difference between the two hair color options.

Glazes and translucent hair colors are much less detrimental to the hair because they require very low levels of peroxide to enhance your color.

Lightening dark hair is not so easy if you're doing it yourself, even if you can purchase products that you can apply yourself. If you want to lighten your hair I would recommend going to a professional. I know, from personal experience, when I tried to lighten my dark brown hair myself it turned orange. YUCK!

When you lighten hair, it brings out undertones such as red or yellow. The problem is when the color mix produces orange hair. Doing a strand test first would help so that you will not look like Ronald McDonald.

It is best not to try to color long hair by yourself. If you want an even color, get someone else to help you. It is best to apply color to the ends of your hair last.

Do not be impatient when using hair color, particularly if you are doing it yourself. Studying and learning all you can could make the difference between the right color for you and the wrong one. So, by all means, make the right choice.