What product should I use to color my own hair?

Question

I am 33. I used to color my own hair in college and it turned out fine. For the last few years I have been getting my hair professionally highlighted and I love the color...but I have five children and it is high maintenance and expensive ($120 every 6 weeks) anyway money is very tight and I feel like the highlights are drying my hair. It used to be so shiny and bouncy, now it is frizzy and dry. I just want to go to a neutral dark blonde. Can anyone hlep please?

Answer 1

I use Loreal brand, Feria to highlight my hair. so that is what I would recommend. the color product costs about $10 a box and works great in my opinion. (at least the highlights do, i'm sure colorant would be the same)

Answer 2

Yeah, I like Feria. I use a dark auburn color. The reason I like this stuff, aside from that particular color is that you get a LOT if you have thick or long hair.

You can highlight your hair by spending some time in the sun, of course you know this. Just a reminder that the more time you spend outside, the more sun-kissed appearance you will have. Don't forget the sunscreen.

I'm not really familiar with highlighting at home, I wouldn't have the foggiest how to do it or brands to recommend. I do know that the best at-home haircolors do not color all your hair the same shade. I don't know how they do it, unless they just depend on the fact that their color responds differently to each of your natural tones. I suppose it would be like a wood stain instead of a paint where the grain underneath is supposed to show rather than being covered up...that is how I wrap my little brain around it anyway.

If you have any experience mixing your own colors, you can try the beauty supply stores, they have the same ingredients that stylists use to whip up colors for each client...but you might be in over your head. The good news is that at these stores you might find the better brands of DIY haircolor.

It may not be much savings but you might be able to find a different colorist who doesn't charge as much...or go on their bargain days or clip their coupons. You can also talk them up as much as possible to bring in referrals and dropping your name. Stylists usually recognize that stuff by knocking off their prices for you. You might even get a postcard for a discount at your next visit.

If you are doing the job at home, have a buddy help you. Maybe even your hub or older children. They won't want to participate much, it is a stinky job, but they can check if you are getting the color distributed the way you want. Of course a best girlfriend or friendly neighbor might love to help you out in exchange for you doing her color. With another mommy thrown in, it might be a great playdate for all your children. One hair color giver, one getter, one kid-watcher, SWITCH!

As for conditioners, I have had a great experience with Infusium leave-in. It isn't greasy, in fact it is a watery liquid. I actually put mine in a spray bottle. Also choose shampoos and conditioners for color treated hair. I don't think cost is usually a factor in quality, I don't believe this about anything. You can find really good cheaper products, or buy bigger, or look for big discounts at the salon, but the good stuff doesn't have to be expensive. You also don't have to wash your hair every day. If you want to tame bed head daily, and don't use a lot of product that get built up, just wet your hair everyday in the shower and re-style. Don't use too much shampoo, it isn't so much the product as the way you massage your scalp...so do it the way the stylist does when you go...fingertips only (not nails) and massage your scalp in short back and forth. You barely do anything to the ends of your hair.

Answer 3

check the links below for * Hair coloring tips
http://homebeautytips.blogspot.com/2006/12/hair-color-tips.html#name1