14 DAY TRIAL // With so many ads hailing the new, revolutionary, less time-consuming line of hair dyes that require somewhere around 10 minutes to get glossy, stylish hair, it’s no wonder we’re often misled into believing getting it done at home is a walk in the park. Still, tragedies can – and do – happen so, in order to avoid them and get the exact results we want, there are several steps we need to follow, hairstylists tell the Daily Mail.
For starters, we must pay attention to the instructions on the box, experts say, since they’re not put there just to occupy space. When we do that, we’ll also notice that each hair dye home kit comes with a label saying we should perform the 48 hours test before actually applying the product on our hair. Cases of women who have had allergic reactions to a product they’ve been using for years have been known to happen, and suffice it to say, the effects were anything but pretty.
Before we perform the allergy test, though, we need to choose the right shade for our hair. Quite understandably, stylists warn us never to attempt to have our hair done at home if we’re looking to cross into another color range or to have something really drastic, since we risk ending up either with a stack of hair that looks nothing like it should have or with damaged hair. Neither of these options is something any woman can repair at home by herself, stylists say.
Gary Richardson, Clairol Perfect 10 ambassador and creative director at the Daniel Hersheson salon in Harvey Nichols, tells the Mail we can choose the perfect hair color by comparing what we see on the box with the skin on our hand. “If the hair color on the pack picks up the pinkness in your hand, then it’s a shade that will suit you.” Richardson states, advising us to cover the image on the package with our hand. “From these shades, select the end result you are looking for, then go a shade lighter. Pale skin tones suit red best. If you’re darker, it’s best to choose a brunette with golden tones.” he further says.
Getting highlights can spice up a hairdo in ways changing colors probably couldn’t, but it can also be a very risky operation, should we dare to perform it at home. “Highlights and slices can add definition, warmth and volume. This can look great when the hair is colored and then layered or feathered for extra definition. Face-framing highlights are also a great way of freshening up a look. Kits are practical and technologically advanced. Practice first on dry hair and without using any product. If you don’t feel confident, ask a friend for help.” the Mail advises.
No matter the kind of change we decide to make to our hair, we should always bear in mind that, should we mess things up, a visit to the salon will become necessary, which means we’ll actually be spending more than we would have, had we gone to a professional from the start.