Hair Color

I have been coloring my hair for about 2 years now and my stylist doesn't seem to mind at all. I use Loreal Creme Excellence. It has a really easy comb applicator and I like the creme formula better than some of the gel formulas. It seems to last longer. The main thing is to know if you want it to be warm (Which tends to bring out red), neutral, or cool undertones (Cool tends to be more ashen colored) The box will say warm, cool, or neutral right by the color. Good luck!! Hope this helps!

I always used to color my own hair - for years. Then one time I really screwed it up and ended up with orange hair with bleached out streaks running thru it, it was awful. I had to go to the salon and have it fixed and she couldn't even fix it totally right away. Ever since then I have gone to my salon when I want to get it colored (which is only about once a year, the rest of the time I just get highlights). I definatelly notice the difference between doing it myself and going to the salon, I will never do it myself again. It looks soooo much better from the salon.

Hi C. - have you tried if there are any beauty colleges in your area? I go to those and get a cut, color, eyebrow wax for like $40. It does take longer than your normal person, but it is well worth the price. I know the one I go to has coupons that change periodically. I bought a 10 pack of hair cuts for $35 around christmas time. cant beat that and they always have their supervisors check what they are doing before its done and sign off.

Good Luck!

Try talking to your stylist, while she may not be happy that you will be coming less often i am sure she will understand. I know that when i talked price with my stylist she was willing to help me out, she told me which products to use and which not to use based on my hair type. So i would just bring it up at your next apt, make sure that you tell her that you are still planning on coming to her for everything else but just want to do the touch ups at home sometimes.

I've done my own MANY times. It's pretty easy to pick a color since they usually give you an example on the box of what the final result will be based on your current hair color. Just don't go for the cheapest brand. I've used Garnier Nutrisse and a few others with great success.

Ahh the price of coloring... this is why I raised a cosmetologist...lol, I get mine done for $7 to $14 for the price of the product. Anyway, for years (until my daughter went to cosmetology school) I colored my own hair. I hear they have gotten better now days though. My advice would be ask the lady who does your hair. Explain that you can't afford it so often and would like to do it at home at least part of the time. I think she would understand and let you know what colors to choose and maybe give advice on which brand is best and easiest. Knowing my daughter she would give her best advice but also warn that coloring at home isn't as good and won't last as long as coloring at the salon. You might also try the color that washes out after so many washes rather then perment color which will need touch ups more, at least until you know the color you like and how to do it better.

One more piece of advice. When touching up the hair, put it on the roots and pull it through to where the color is still in and let that set a while before coloring it all to even up the roots with the rest.

C.-
I've been a professional hair colorist for over 5 years and will be the first to say that haircolor is a difficult thing!!! theres a ton to consider in formulating it and when you've been using a professional product, going to a drugstore product is going to be a bigger deal than it may seem! since you aren't my client (and i'm so honest with my own clients!)....i promise i'm not saying this to make your money!:)
the best thing i would tell you is to talk to your haircolorist about it before you go on your own. matching professional color with a box is challenging enough to get the color right...then the chemistry itself can be a nightmare and really do a number on your hair. if you decide you don't like the color you've used at home....i can PROMISE the cost of fixing it will be astronomical! i've had enough clients coming to me with the same issue looking for something requiring less maintenance. to be honest, if you have a good hairdresser who's honest with you, they should be able to find you a service to extend things a bit longer. or maybe they'll have a product suggestion to hold you over. just trust me when i say that the professionals are there for a reason!

I would suggest finding a beauty school in your area first...I found one that does my color for only $22. I tried it myself and it was a disaster. My mom, however, has been coloring her hair for years herself. I have super thick, wavy hair that really sucks up the color, though, so I think it depends on your hair (and the mess you want to put up with in the bathroom)!

I have colored my own hair off and on for years. I have always used Loreal Excellence. (not sure if it's true but someone told me that is made by the same company that makes Redken products)
I always have had good luck combing through my hair with a wide toothed comb after putting on the color to spread it evenly, although the directions do not say to do this.

Good luck!

Hi C.!

I am a former do it your selfer, went profesional, and now back doing it myself. I too am always looking to not only save $ but am looking for non toxic chemical free hair dyes as well. I did find what I thought was a good one, only to discover that it wasn't as "chemical free as I thought. I did check out a website on the internet for henna, it has been around for thousands of years and it is all natural. I haven't done it myself yet as I had a box left of the current one that I was using. (hint) not all things sold at organic stores are that "oranic, you have to read the labels and check out the cosmeticdatabase.com to see how bad the hair dye is. My hair is brown but has gray, I remember henna back in the sixties, (ok I am dating myself) but am a Mother to 4 children ranging in age from 7-31! Also keep in mind, hair dyes have been linked to lymphoma as well as other cancers! Good luck to you, I will be checking out other responses too! I don't mean to scare people but we are all walking around with way too many toxins and chemicals in our systems! Good luck to you!

Real name M. but go by Tracey

____@____.com

I'm going to echo everyone else and say DON'T color your own hair. If you can get away with every 3 months, that is GREAT. That is only 4 times/year. I know money doesn't grow on trees, but think of it as treating yourself 4 measly times/year!

I have had really bad experiences coloring my own hair, and I know a few people who do it, and to be honest, it doesn't look that great!

One thing I have done in the past is to not get a haircut and color done at the same time. This helps spread out the cost. You could get your haircut one month, and then color done the next.

Also, exactly what kind of color are you having done? Maybe a partial foil would be less money and upkeep--check with your stylist.

I've self-colored for years, but it never looks or lasts as long as a professional color. I've opted to do something in the middle of a regular salon and a home color; I go to Fantastic Sams now. I go to the manager who has been there for a few years and is just as good as stylists in top-notch salons. That saves me about half the price. My FS has a punch card, so I will get half off my next color.

You may also want to look at getting a quality shampoo for color treated hair. It will make any color last a lot longer.

As tight as my pennies get, I will try not to color my own hair. I'd rather skip a couple of weeks and get it done right. With your job, I don't know that you can afford to make a mistake!

Just a thought!

I recently decided to color my hair myself and like you, I saw just too many possibilities from which to chose. I finally decided to go with Nice and Easy medium brown 118A with highlights and 3 color tones. It has a weekly glaze conditioner too! I found the color and shine to be better than my hairdresser does it! Nice and Easy also has a root cover up for the in-between weeks. I do color totally every 6 weeks with in-between root color as I have a lot of gray around my face. It was really simple to use too! --R. H.

I colored mine for awhile, and liked L'Oreal as well. I would just go with the color on the box that most closely resembles your current color unless you want to go with something different... Be sure to use towels you don't care about as they will be dyed permanently... I also preferred using a shower head that can reach into the tub. This made it much easier to rinse the product out than trying to do it in the sink. Good luck!

Try Nice and Easy- the kind that will wash out in 28 shampoos until you figure out the color. I also was sick of writing those big checks to my hairdresser, so I started trying it at home. My biggest mistake came from using "Golden Light Brown"-I had reddish highlights! And THEN I found out if you don't want red- you don't use anything with the word "Golden". I've been using Light Ash Brown for a long time now-it covers the gray almost completely and comes so close to my natural color which is medium brown. I just bought some using a coupon and paid 4.99!

I color my hair off and on (like you want to do) I salon color and every couple of times or so do my own to save a few bucks. I have used Garnier, Loreal, and Clariol. I have been fine with any brand myself. My suggestion is that when you pick out a color choose the next one down (lighter). I think they all tend to be darker than you think. Just follow directions well. I'm pretty messy about it myself, so I have seperate towels and a t-shirt I use each time. I also circle my face (close to hair line) with vaseline so color doesn't run on my face (remember I'm sloppy). I don't feel guilty about salon coloring. I dont tan, manicure or pedicure so my treat to myself is hair color-hilights. And we all need to treat ourself. :-)

I color my hair at home all the time. YOu can either go on the box and chose one that is the closest to your hair. I use Loreal all the time. I did try the new 10 min coloring but it burned my head to bad. Why not experiment with colors that are close to your hair and just have fun. I also lilke the loreal one that you put on the color then after it dries you use the highlights to add shimer. They are fun to use. Remember that when you first color your hair might be a bit darker than what you want. Don't worry after a couple of washes it turns out great. The new products are really easy on your hair. Just relax and have fun trying new colors!
N.

ive never had anyone color my hair-always did it myself-the best product ive found is called fiera...cost is 12-15 dollars.good luck

C.,

I used to color my hair every 3-4 months until I got pregnant. I used Loreal's Excellence Cream and loved it. Also, about once a year Walgreens will run a buy one get one special so I would stock up.

Good luck,
K.

I have been coloring my hair by myself for years. I use wella color charm which is found at Sally Hair Supply. The people there are very helpful and there are color swatches of hair by most products that will help you pick the color that is closest to yours. I have used drug store brands like Loreal colorsilk, Fructis, etc and have had no problem. In those kits they include everything you need like gloves but if you go the Sally route you have to buy the developer and gloves and bottle. It still ends up to be around the same price for both. We have been going to Cost Cutters for years and they also do color there for a reasonable price.

Have you ever tried going to a beauty school? I have gone before and have been very happy with the results. They have students doing the hair but are supervised by the instructors.

I second Dawn's opinion. I also have my sister do my hair when I don't get it done professionally. I can't imagine trying to get the back of my head, but at least someone else who does it can see what's going on - even if they are not pro.

Home hair color is hard to get the same results. Are you coloring for grey or for fun? I cut out 2 to 3 colors per year because in the fall I have my stylist color it close to my nature color and then I go until June and then have her add the fun highlights and blonds. So basically I can color 2 times a year. I sometimes in spring get a little bored and go for a 3rd depending on cash. I actually get a lot of compliments on the more natural or darker in the winter months. I would ask my stylist for a suggestion before trying it at home. Also maybe a cheaper option. A beauty school student is a good option. We have the aveda institute in MN...maybe there as well. Also look for coupons to cheaper options?? I go to someone in their home and it is $65 for cut and color! She has an actual shop, it is quite nice! Good luck!

If you find out what they are using at the salon, you can just use the same color at home. There are some places that sell to the public, or your stylist might sell you the product. It will be marked up a bit, but still cheaper than having her do the work for you.

A.