Top 5 Rules Before Getting Hair Color 💙

Because no one wants to leave a hair salon filled with regret or, worse yet, horror, we’ve put together a little guide to help ensure that your color appointments always go according to plan. Click here to see our Salty Hair Service Menu for your future color service! Keep scrolling down to read the five rules of getting your hair colored. You will never regret a coloring appointment again! 

 

🍍1: Thou Shalt NOT Shampoo

We recommend you shampoo your hair at least 24 to 48 hours before your coloring session—NOT right before. You want there to be a natural protective oil layer on your scalp to act as a barrier against the chemicals in the hair dye.

Color + Style by Esther Faith

 

🍍2: Thou Shalt Shape Thy Hair

Before your appointment, lay off the heat tools and leave your hair freshly shaped. This means leaving your hair in its most natural state. When the shape of your hair is changed, the light and shadow are reflected differently. A fresh, natural shape will allow your colorist to maximize the look.

🍍3: Thou Shalt Bring Inspiration

If you're particular or not so particular about your hair, it’s always good to bring inspiration so you and your colorist are on the same page. After all, “beachy blond” to you might mean Gisele Bündchen, while your colorist might be picturing Candice Swanepoel.  Like they say, “A picture is worth a thousand words!” This will help us help you through the whole color process!

And don’t worry about what’s realistic—your colorist will be able to tell you if the desired hue is doable, how many sittings it will take, and if it will be flattering on your skin tone.

inspiration from Habit Salon

🍍4: Thou Shalt Be Patient

Here’s the thing—that silvery-gray color you’ve been dying to try is possible on your dark mocha strands, but it will most likely take more than one session (which also means you may need to factor in extra costs, depending on your hair salon). Even though professional stylists can do Kim Kardashian West's hair in one sitting (one very long sitting), you absolutely need to expect two to three sessions for “wiggle room” if you’re going from dark to super-light. 

Your hairstylist should be able to tell you right from the get-go how many sessions it will take, how damaging the shade will be, and if it’s even possible to achieve the color. In the end, it’s important to trust your hairdresser—if she says going bleach-blond will absolutely ruin your hair, you should believe them and discuss other options.

Paint brush by Jamie Sea @prettylittleombre

🍍5: Thou Shalt Be Mindful About Maintenance

The amount of time you go between your color appointments can vary. If it’s ombré or balayage, you can go months without needing a touch-up. If you’ve gone from dark to light, you may need to go back every couple of weeks. It’s a personal choice. It could be every two weeks for continuity, or four weeks, or never again depending on what you want your color to look like. Ask your colorist about upkeep before you take the plunge—it’s important to factor this into your decision, as it can affect your budget (are you ready to drop a ton of money every month to hide your roots?).

If you’re going from light to dark, you have a little bit more leeway, but you should make sure your colorist keeps a little bit of movement at the ends with a few strands half a shade lighter toward the bottom.

Thanks for reading what we believe are the Top 5 Rules before getting your hair colored! Have a great + salty hair day! Book with us by clicking the Book now Tab or call us!

Color + Style by Esther Faith at our very own Salty Hair Salon