It's been said that 45% of Britain’s homeowners will spend the extra day this bank holiday making improvements to their homes. With the biggest DIY weekend of the year approaching, it doesn’t have to be household tasks all weekend!
Whether you’re planning on attending a bank holiday party and want to stand out or you simply fancy a change, with many high quality colouring products on the market, it’s so easy to get the shade you’ve always wanted at home.
Read on for, tips and tricks that will help you achieve your perfect DIY shade for the bank holiday weekend.
Finding the right colour for you begins with the level of permanency the product offers. If you’re looking for a quick change that allows you to go back to your current hair colour the next day, try a wash out colour such as a hair colour chalk or spray. This is perfect for fancy dress or charity events.
If you want the results to last a little longer or want to add an extra tone to your natural hair colour, try a semi-permanent shade which last up to 15 washes. If you want to achieve a colour with no root re-growth, choose a shade similar to your natural hair colour.
For grey coverage, intense, long-lasting results or you want to dramatically change your colour, we would recommend using a permanent colour.
Always check the permanency level on pack.
If you want a natural-looking result, choose a colour which is no more than two shades lighter/darker than your natural hair colour. This ensures a natural look as your shade will compliment/match your skin tone, eye and brow colour. (Always check the shade guidance on pack to ensure the colour is suitable for your natural hair colour). If you’re unsure between two shades, we would recommend always picking the lighter option.
Cool, platinum shades compliment pale, porcelain or ivory skin tones with a reddish undertone. Whereas, warm shades for example, beige or golden blonde, work for very fair, cream coloured complexions with a beige undertone. If you have a yellowish complexion we wouldn’t recommend using an ash tone as it can make your complexion look colourless and grey.
If you’re wanting to colour your hair red and you have a light skin tone, we would advise you try a reddish blonde or light copper shade. If you have a bluish, rosy or olive complexion, a cool and bluish shade like cherry red, burgundy or aubergine would be best suited. Warm red shades, like copper and reddish gold are ideal for yellowish, peach and golden complexions.
Warm shades such as caramel, chestnut or bronze browns are best suited to olive/dark complexions with a hint of yellow or gold. If your skin tone is cool with a hint of blue or pink, a light to dark brown (with no red or gold hues) is ideal.
Here are some of our tips and tricks to help you colour your hair at home:
• Always conduct an allergy test 48 hours before application, even if you have used a hair colourant previously.
• If you’re unsure on the colour, carry out a strand test on a small section of hair. Find out how here.
• Make sure to stay within the specified application time. If the colouring agents are washed out too early or late you won’t get the results expected. Also leaving the colour in longer will not achieve a more intense colour but instead a darker colour result.
• Arrange all hair colouring tools and ingredients within easy reach of where you’re colouring your hair (don't forget a timer).
• Wear old clothes and use an old towel to put around your neck.
• Use the gloves provided in the pack to protect your hands from colour staining.
• Apply a barrier cream, such as petroleum jelly around your hairline and ears.
• Be sure to check whether the colour should be applied to dry or damp hair.
• Know your colour history: residual hair colour from previous hair colourings may cause the resulting hair colour to deviate from the advertised colour on the package.
• If you only need to do a root application, then stick to the guidelines, don’t just do a full head application.
• Use shampoos and conditioners for colour-treated hair so that your hair colour retains its lustre and stays healthy. Colour-treated hair needs special care, so use a conditioning mask once a week, to bring out the beauty and shine of your colour.