At Home Hair Color

Hi Amy, I am new but just had to repsond to your dilema! Coloring your hair does not make you gray more, faster or at all. PS, your hairstylist was being over paid! Color in our salon starts at $65 and goes up from there depending on how thick, coarse and long your hair really is. Basically you pay extra for any extra color that has to be mixed beyond 4ounces. ($10/4oz) Haircuts start at $25. We are all independent stylists and work for ourselves. You will not pay more than $35 in our salon for a haircut~ 4th Street salon, Justin, TX ###-###-#### Call me if you have any questions!

Scientifically speaking, hair contains Melanin (pigments) and there are 3 types of melanin that make up your unique color that you are born with that can change over time, kids and hormones. The 2 types are called, pheomelanin (RED/Yellow) Eumelanin( Black/Brown) Read below:
Courtesy of Redken Professionals site:
There are two types of melanin -- eumelanin and pheomelanin -- which are found in various ratios in each individual hair strand.
Eumelanin are oval shaped dark granules that range in color from brown to black and are insoluble in solvents, resistant to chemical treatment and have a complicated chemical structure. Darker levels of hair have a higher concentration of eumelanin.
Pheomelanin are diffused small particles that range in color from red to yellow. Its shape is different than eumelanin and it is more soluble. Pheomelanin usually occurs in lighter shades of hair, making light hair easier to lighten.
Gray, white or non-pigmented hair is considered by many to be the same although there are subtle differences:
Gray hair is a gradual loss of pigment in the hair resulting from a decrease in melanin production. The hair appears to have an absence of pigment, but it is not completely devoid of melanin. In white hair, melanin may be completely absent or dormant.

THE LEVEL SYSTEM

When analyzing natural hair color for a haircoloring service, consider the level of the hair. The natural level reacts with the level of the haircolor formula to provide the final haircolor result (level and tone). The level system is a numerical way of measuring darkness to lightness (depth) of haircolor. Brown or red hair may appear the same level in black and white, which means they both absorb, reflect and transmit light to approximately the same degree.
In the level system, each level is assigned a number and a descriptive name. The lowest number, 1, corresponds to the darkest level of hair — darkest brown or black. Level 1 hair contains the highest concentration of pigment and thus, absorbs the most light. The highest number, 10, corresponds with the lightest level of hair — very pale or lightest blonde. Level 10 hair contains the least amount of pigment, thus absorbing less light and transmitting the most.
When formulating haircolor, the first step is to establish the natural level of the hair. The next is determining the desired level, and deciding the most efficient way of achieving that result.

TONE
Tone, in hair coloring, is the term used to describe a specific color — gold-orange, copper-red, green. For example, note that two hair colors may be the same level and from the same color family (such as red), but they may not be exactly the same tone. For example, a level 5 red may appear violet or copper. Both colors are in the same color family and are the same level, but they are different tones of red.

Let the color you have in fade a little, then buy a non permanent hair color. Make sure it is non permanent. Using a non permanent prevents the "root effect". I started graying at 23 (genetics!)and did not want to deal with salons or roots so I tried the non permanent ones. I really like them. Just make sure to find your right color. Red really sticks so don't go for any of "red/brown" tones. If you like the color you buy, go back and buy a few more boxes immediately. Sometimes they don't have the same color when I go back to buy another box. But because it washes out in 30 days I don't worry too much if I don't like the color. Good luck!

If you you do not want a red tint to your hair, you need to go to a Sallys Beauty supply and get some 10 volume peroxide. That only deposits color to your hair. If you want it to be brown......just get some wella color charm at Sallys.....buy a bottle of 10 not 20 volume pedroxide. Mix it 2 parts peroxide to 1 bottle of color. The best color to use is medium neutral brown. If you use the 20 volume it will lift your dark color leaving a redish color especially when the sun/light hits it. Good luck. Frances B

Hi A.,
I am a 30 year old sahm who has been box coloring since 24, also turning gray early. I totally use Loreal, go with a shade nearest to your natural and expect to redo like every six weeks if you want to hide the gray. I haved saved SO MUCH money that way. I like Color Vive Shampoo and Herbal Essences for color treated hair.

I know this was a long time ago that you posted this - but I've been through the same thing. I lost my only trusted hairdresser's number since my baby decided to wash my cell phone - so I decided that I didn't want to pay another $150 to get my hair done anyway and just do it myself. I have spent the last month 'fixing' my hair and I finally came out with the color I wanted without bleachingg: blonde with no orange and a range of highlights. What is your natural color? Mine is a medium-dark brown I think...but I've been getting highlights since highschool and I'll be 28 in march, so there's no telling if there's gray in there! What I did was research a lot online through sallybeautysupply.com, revlon professional, and ion.
they list lots of common hair color problems, and usually you can find exactly what you need to know with a little digging. Even though the colors are intended for pro's, it's so easy and cheap to go to Sally Beauty Supply and buy the stuff there instead of a box color from target or wherever. Plus you should probably double the amount you use since the boxes never give you enough. If you still have the unwanted red in your hair, and your hair is in good shape - then you can use a color remover before you recolor with the brown. Use an ash-base or a blue or blue-violet base to keep the red out. They also have these additives called brass busters that you can add to the formula. You could also use a demi-permanent hair color instead of permanent, which is easier to recolor with. Also if you go to sally's, there are different levels of developers which work better to cover grays. Just research and you can find the right formula before you buy. I only spent $27 on everything to do my own hair - and I don't even want to think of what i would've been charged to have it corrected in a salon!

To deter away from the "reddish" color, stick to Ash colors or Neutral. If you use any Golden colors, they only enhance and encourage the red. I have medium brown hair, and I color my own all the time and I notice that the goldens bring out the red, but if I use ash or neutral it tones them down.

You can get the same color that the salon uses from ebay.

Do a search for Redken Shades EQ

My guess is that you are looking for "Moroccan Sand" or "brandy"

You need a bottle of processing solution and a bottle of color. Mix equal parts and brush into your head. (basically do what your salon does)

Per color it equates to about 8-10$ per treatment.

Here are some auctions:

http://cgi.ebay.com/REDKEN-3-Shades-EQ-Pro-Solution-U-cho...

http://cgi.ebay.com/REDKEN-SHADES-EQ-PROCESSING-SOLUTION-...

Hair color at the store is no different than at the salon, you pay for the service! Your hair is more red because that is the color underneath since your dr. Pepper incident. It's good to let your hair rest too! Coloring multiple times , especially with different colors puts your hair in shock! Hence the greys. The greys will probably turn back eventually if you stop shocking your hair. My favorite hair color is revlon color silk. It is a permanent that doesn't smell or have amonia in it. It leaves your hair better conditioned than before you colored. And best of all it's cheap!! Be sure that you cover your bathroom floor with an old towel, look for splashes right away and wipe them up. And wash your skin off good at the start of your leave in time.

No coloring doesn't make your hair grey. You've prob just been coloring it so long, your just now noticing your getting grey. You need to get an ash brown, or it will still have red in it. If you have a lot of grey I would just stick with neutral brown. Or I do hair and my all over color is $65.

Try the loreal hair colors ! I do & they work well for me ! Also try to go at least 2 days to washing your hair, washing your hair everyday can really start to wash out the color ! ~ use a shampoo for color treated hair ! That also helps ! I have shoulder length hair. Good luck & have a great day !

Hair coloring won't make your hair turn gray, it's just an unfortunate side effect of aging, and for some it happens earlier than others. You haven't seen it cause you've been keeping it colored!! I would advise you to let it rest for a while. The red undertones of your Dr. Pepper can color will fade relatively quickly. (though probably not quick enough for your liking!) The hair color at your roots is your color, and probably just looks blah to you with the contrast of the DP hair. Take a break, let it fade on it's own. Then try it again in a few months. You CAN acheive hair color bliss from a box, no matter what those stylists try to tell you. There's my two cents!!! (from a CHRONIC hair colorer!!)

I agree with other posters, I stopped going to the salon years ago when the cost was just way to much to justify for a SAHM. now I spend $17 at Wal-Mart for the all over color and highlights in one box. It is from L'Oreal - Couleur Experte http://www.couleurexperte.com They even have a how to website that is informative and helps you with hair color issues :) There is even a $3 coupon...score!

I have never heard about grays coming out more when you color, so maybe it is the stress of the Dr. Pepper colored hair that is turning you gray ;) If you do highlights maybe it would hide those better...or just yank them out!! ouch!

Good Luck to ya...be sure to use a color protecting shampoo. I use Evnia the Nature's Salon products and my color never fades...I only have to re-do it when my roots get to long.

M. L
www.WellnessStartsInTheHome.com
www.WorkingWithFamilies.com

P.S. Silpada jewelry is gorgeous. I have a friend who sells it also. Hope you are doing well!

try the garnier color and loreal and check it at walgreens some times they have 2X10 and regular are 9.99 each;)

G.