Home Hair Coloring

Hello J.,

Not sure if you are still looking for input, but if you are close to Lincoln Park I would recommend checking out the Aveda Institute on Clark Street. When I was a child my mother always took my sister and I to the Aveda Institute in Minneapolis, and I have gone to the Chicago location for both hair color, as well as hair and makeup for my wedding (they did my entire bridal party's hair/makeup.)

Like the Arlington Academy in Buffalo Grove, which another mom recommended, the work at the Aveda Institute is overseen by instructors and the students do not touch your hair until they consult with you and their teacher. They also require a 24 hour skin test for allergies.

You can look them up @ http://www.avedainstitutes.com/

J.,

I'm not sure where you live in the Chicago area, but on Dundee Road in Arl. Hts/Buffalo Grove there is a beauty school with a salon where the students practice. The prices are pretty good and any work is overseen by an instructor. I do know you have to be skin tested 24 hours in advance for any color treatment so look in the yellow pages and give them a call. I think this one is called Arlington School of Beauty. There are probably other schools that do this throughout the suburbs. My daughters and I have used them and were very satisfied. Good luck!!!

I just did my own hair a few months ago with Herbal Essences the darkest one since I have dark blonde hair. I was nervous from the box and while my hair was wet, but once it dried, they turned out to be beautiful golden highlights that look perfect. It has a wand that you could keep (that's why I picked it - I thought that I could later by just a regular type and use it). I would give that a try. It's less than $15. It also is pink so you know exactly where you have put it.

I like the Color Expert by Loreal. It comes w/ color and highlights.

If you go onto www.craigslist.org go under beauty services, people in training are always looking for hair models and they charge you the cost of color. They do this all over, I've gotten some mani's and pedi's under $5 before and a free haircut and color. :) Just keep looking everyday as there are new posts all around.

Hi J.,

I don't have any great advice. I just tried coloring my hair at home myself after years of golden highlights over medium brown natural hair done at the salon. I used Feria, some golden blonde color (not highlights, overall color.) Anyway, my hair is super golden. Very brassy, totally unnatural. Its been a week. I'm going to try to tone it down this morning with something like Natural Instincts which isn't permanent while I wait to get an appointment at the salon. I think I would suggest looking for a less expensive salon or maybe someone who also does this sort of thing on the side out of their home when they aren't working. My at-home efforts were not good! Good luck!