Coloring dark hair is a regular occurrence working in the Singapore salon. Be it a slight change of tone or color. All the way up to lightening the client’s dark hair to a blonde.
Quite often my clients want to color their hair the same as an Instagram picture they have seen.
Which is fine. But unfortunately on many occasions they do not realize the full procedure that their hair would have to go through. To achieve the desired color on their dark hair.
When coloring dark hair it is important for you to know what is entailed as well as the upkeep. Before deciding to change your hair color
Because this will help you to know what is involved.
Whilst also giving you an idea of the time you can expect to spend in the salon.
Or in the bathroom if you intend to take on the project yourself.
Using Home Box Dyes To Color Your Hair.
There are many dark-haired women who have walked along the shelves of box hair colors in their local pharmacies. Upon seeing a picture of the hair color they would like to be on the front of the box. Purchased the box of hair color and carried out the application at home.
Only to be disappointed to find that their finished effect did not turn out quite the same as the color seen in the picture.
The main reason this happens is because the color that was chosen was a lighter shade than their natural dark hair.
Therefore in many instances a lifting or lightening process must take place.
And when this happens you strip the tone out of black or dark hair. Allowing the underlying tones of red in your hair to show up.
Meaning that any cool colors or bright colors will not show up as expected.
How Much Lighter Do You Want Your Hair Color To Be.
Maybe you do not want to go lighter but just cover grey hairs and match them to your own.
But in many cases people take this as an opportunity to create a new image.
Even if only by changing their dark hair color to a slightly lighter look. Of just one or two levels say from a darkest brown to a medium warm brown.
Now when talking about hair going lighter you will hear the word level often being used.
Such as the” level of lift required to achieve a particular hair color”
Level Simply Refers To How Light Or How Dark A Hair Color Is.
There are 10 levels of hair color and dark hair falls between levels 1 and 3.
Level 1. Black.
Level 2. Darkest Brown.
Level 3. Dark Brown.
Level 4. Medium Brown.
Level 5. Light Brown.
Level 6. Dark Blonde.
Level 7. Medium Blonde.
Level 8. Light Blonde.
Level 9. Very Light Blonde.
Level 10. Lightest Blonde.
Lightening Your Hair Color One Or Two Levels.
You have decided to color your dark hair a little lighter yet still want to achieve a very natural looking color.
As an example. Your natural hair color is a level 3 which is dark brown. But have made your mind up to lighten your color to a light warm chestnut brown at a level 5.
To lighten dark hair one or two levels to a brown. Is a relatively simple affair.
Which will hardly cause any damage your hair.
Because only the desired color and the correct volume of peroxide is required.
Plus of course the correct application procedure.
Please Note. This is only appropriate if you have never previously put a dark color on the hair that you want to lighten.
Because If you have.
Then your previous hair color will have to be stripped out of your hair first. This is carried out by the application a very mild stripping agent or a bleach shampoo.
The reason this procedure is neccesary.
Is because a chemical color cannot lighten another chemical color.
You Want Your Dark Hair Color Much Lighter.
If you have decided to color your hair three levels or higher lighter than your natural dark hair. Some form of bleaching will be needed.
For this I highly recommend that you go to a professional. As you could end up with disaterous results if you try yourself.
Whether this process is carried out once only as in the case of a few levels of lift. Or will require a couple of applications to slowly lift your hair lighter.
Will depend upon how many levels lighter than your natural color you wish your final color result to be.
To help protect your hair during any bleaching process
I highly recommend that you ask your stylist to use a restructuring treatment such as Olaplex.
As this will help to strengthen the bonds in your hair that get broken down during a chemical process.
How Light Will You Need To Bleach To Attain The Color You Desire.
To lighten dark hair with bleach a stripping of your natural color pigments takes place.
Here are the 7 stages of color your hair will go through during a bleaching process.
- Black
- Brown
- Red
- Red Gold
- Gold
- Yellow
- Pale Yellow.
How Much Your Hair Is Lightened Depends Upon your Desired Shade.
For example. If you desired a warm light brown as a final color.
The bleach would be shampooed from your hair once the red gold or gold stage was reached.
But if you required a cool look such as a blue, grey, or an ashen tone.
The more your hair would need to be lightened.
Because the warm yellow pigments would need to be removed from your hair first.
In which case you may need multiple lightening sessions to take your dark hair up to such a light stage.
Which your hairstylist may recommend is carried out over a couple of days.
Here are six products I recomend if you are bleaching your hair this light.
To achieve a true color or the exact color that you finally want it is especially important to bleach your hair up to the stage needed.
Because as a hairstylist a lot of times when I am walking around the streets.
I see people who have lightened their hair dark hair. But unfortunately it appears to have a yellow or orangish tinge.
No matter what the intended color was meant to be.
The reason for this yellow or orangish look is because their hair had not enough of the underlying pigments stripped.
Before the hair color was applied.
How Long It Will Take To Color Dark Hair Lighter.
How long the process will take for your dark hair to lighten to the desired degree. Will vary depending upon your hair type and texture.
As well as whether your hair has been chemically treated before.
An important point to be considered before starting this procedure. Is whether your hair will be able to go through the amount of lightening needed to achieve the final result.
Without your hair suffering too much damage.
Hair Coloring Is An Investment In Your Everyday Look.
So here are a few helpful pointers when deciding to color your dark hair.
Remember the money that you spend when coloring your hair is an investment in your hair and everyday look.
Your Hair Color.
Pick a hair color and shade that will highlight your best features.
A rule of thumb being “To select a hair tone that is opposite to your skin undertones”.
A good way to check out your skin undertones is to use a piece of jewelry.
Why not give it a try.
Put on a piece of gold jewelry like a necklace or earrings and look in the mirror. Then take them off and put on a silver necklace or earrings.
Which looks better on you?
If you have a cooler skin tone your silver jewelry will look good on you. Whereas your gold jewelry will compliment a warmer skin tone.
You Hair After Care.
As you have invested your hard-earned cash into your new hair color.
I am sure that you want to keep your investment looking good for as long as possible.
And knowing how to stop your hair color fading fast will definatley help.
To achieve this it is important to use the right products.
Ask your hairstylist and they will be able to recommend the types of shampoo and conditioner that will help you conserve your color for the longest time.
Or even think of putting a toner through your hair once a month. Because this will give a new vibrancy to your hair color. By replacing any lost color pigments and adding shine.
Yes, we all like to save money and cut our costs in different areas.
But using a cheap shampoo from the local drugstore is going to strip your hair color sooner than you relies.
Thank you for reading my post and I hope that you found it helpful in achieving your desired hair color.
