Hair > Color-treated Hair

Color-treated Hair

Contrary to popular belief, it isn't that easy to go from light to dark or dark to light, so drastic color changes should never be done at home. Lightening hair breaks the integrity and strength of the hair bond, and if you're lightening your hair more than three shades, chances are you'll need a double-process color.

When it comes to major color changes, several factors, such as hair history, need to be taken into consideration in order to ensure successful results. Before making a major color change, you should prep your locks for a few days with a deep clarifying shampoo, which helps to strip away existing color, making it easier to recolor. If you're not happy with the end result, ask your stylist for lowlights (to add darkness) or highlights (to lighten up).

If you're looking for a more permanent solution (think two months or so) for covering your grays, then permanent color is definitely the way to go. But if you only have a small amount of gray to cover, then a semi- or demi-permanent color can do the trick as long as the formulation is correct. Experts recommend coloring hair every three to five weeks, depending on the amount of gray you have. Plus, the growth is subtler with a semi- or demi-permanent because your natural color is only altered by a level or two. However, gray hair can sometimes be resistant to color due to its coarse texture and lack of melanin.