It is almost always a good idea to wash your hair before going to the salon. If you cannot do it the morning of the appointment, the night before. This will give your hairstylist a clean slate so the color is fully absorbed, and highlights can fully lift.
Consider a Milder Bleaching Approach
Faye adds, “Balayage is a great technique to consider that uses bleach painting on the surface of the hair, not penetrating as deep into the hair cuticle which creates less opportunity for damage.”
The best coloring technique for gray hair ultimately depends on your desired look and how much coverage you want. We suggest opting for an all-over color service to fully mask every gray hair on your head with a uniform shade. However, highlighting may be better if your goal is seamlessly blending your grays.
**Stylist Preference**: Stylists prefer working with clean hair because it allows them to better assess the natural color and condition of your hair.
Don't shampoo immediately before dyeing your hair. Why? Because 1-2 days unwashed hair has a protective barrier on the scalp - it means there's less chance of any irritation and color pigment is better deposited. Also, just before dyeing, avoid using styling products (dry shampoo, hair spray, gels etc.).
The wash aids in closing the cuticles back down, sealing in the color and leaving the hair smooth and shiny. In essence, the washing process post-coloring acts as a neutralizing step. It helps balance the pH level of your hair and scalp, restoring them to their normal state after the chemical treatment.
Apply color to your roots first. Hair that's been previously colored is porous and soaks up color easily, but new growth requires more processing time.
However, try not to shampoo your hair the same day you go to the salon, especially if you want to get your hair dyed. You don't want to over-wash your hair, especially as they will usually wash your hair for you at the salon. Washing your hair before going to the salon removes the natural oil from your scalp.
All-over coloring will need to be touched up every four to eight weeks, while highlights can last up to two or three months. Be sure to ask your stylist about a gloss treatment following your color or touch-up – this step can really add a boost to the color and make it last longer.
Stay Away From Heat
Heat-based styling tools won't do anything good to your color, especially when you couple it with products. “Try to avoid using volumizers, mousse, hairsprays, and even gels with high heat for long periods of time. The hair is too vulnerable and easily damaged,” says Dorram.
Highlighting Rules:
Keep your Highlights thin for a Natural look. Bigger Highlights create stripes. Don't group them all together. Allow adequate breathing room between them.
The rule of thumb when picking out a hair color is to choose tones opposite that of your skin. So for example, if you're warm toned, you might opt for an ashier, more cool shade of highlights, and vice versa. Follow along for our breakdown of each different tone of highlights and who they look best on.
In general, it's recommended to wash your hair a day or two before your dye session rather than immediately before it. Skipping a day allows for oils to build up on your scalp, which, in turn, helps protect against irritation that can be caused by hair dye.
A basic rule of haircolor is that cool (ash) tones neutralize warm (red or gold) tones and warm tones neutralize cool tones. Decide if it is too red, orange or yellow, then just choose the complementary tone that is opposite on the color wheel.
Some of the ingredients in hair dyes can cause serious allergic reactions in some people. Hair dyes can cause hair loss in some people. Some doctors advise women to avoid having their hair dyed during pregnancy (or at least until after the first trimester).
A 20% tip may be standard, but the percentage can vary. More complex jobs or a stylist that went above and beyond might merit a bigger tip. If service was poor, a little less might be appropriate.
The general rule of thumb is to not wash your hair the day of coloring or even the day before coloring if your hair washing routine allows. You might hear colorists say a second (or even third) day hair is best. Why is that so? Unwashed hair produces a natural oil protective layer.
Additionally, it's also a matter of courtesy; clean hair is usually more pleasant for stylists to work with. However, if you're going for a haircut, a little natural oil in your hair is acceptable, as it can help the stylist understand your hair's natural texture and style.
Pick a lighter hair colour
A lighter colour will then look better. Your hair follicles produce less pigment as you're turning older. If there's no more pigment being produced in the hair follicles, your hair turns pigmentless.
This technique blends gray hair into the hair color design rather than covering it up entirely. The aptly named technique mimics the palettes, tones, and patterns seen in various styles of herringbone wooden flooring to create seamless highlights that intentionally feature grays.
Cool shades like ash blonde and mushroom brown are among the best hair colors to hide grays, since the cool tones won't clash with your silvery streaks.