A Beginners Guide To Hair Color: Everything You Need to Know

So, you’ve been pondering if you should color your hair. Changing your hair color is one of the most exciting and femme-affirming things you can do. In fact, this one aspect of your beauty routine is a way to add a major pop to your look. It also allows you to express your new-found feminine personality. Nothing says “This is a completely new me” then changing your hair color.

Depending on the look you are going for, coloring your hair can be a tricky process. Your starting point will be deciding on who, exactly, should dye your strands – especially if you have never colored your hair before. The choice is to either book an appointment at your nearest salon or DIY it at home. If you choose the DIY approach in the privacy of your bathroom, you will still need to figure out which dye to buy, which can be confusing.

There are so many options available. You will want to know for certain which kit is the right one for the look you are going for. You need to make a choice between selecting a semi-permanent hair color or a permanent hair color. Once you have your new hair color, you need to know how to switch up your hair care regimen. The good news is that I’m here to help make the whole process easier. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know before you dye your hair so that you can make the most informed choices possible.  

Popular Hair Coloring Techniques To Consider

If you make a choice to leave the coloring of your hair to professionals at the salon, like I did the first time I had my hair colored, then it’s a good idea to brush up on your hair color lingo. Hot tip: bring a picture of what you want so that it can help the stylist to prevent any unwanted surprises.

These are a few of the different types of techniques your stylist can use to create dimension and movement to your new look.

Balayage: This coloring technique was developed by French hair colorists. It is a highlighting technique that has been around since the 1970s but has only recently really taken off in popularity. When Balayage is done right, you’ll look like you’ve just spent a few days at the beach. In essence, your highlights should be on the pieces of hair that see the most movement around your face and crown, specifically.

Balayage looks natural as it grows so you need fewer touch-ups. Overall this is a great option if you have brown hair and want to brighten up your look for summer.

Ombré: There are so many different ways you can love ombré hair. When you chooseombré hair it offers you a whole lot of contrast between your roots and your ends. Don’t for a moment think that you just have to limit yourself to blonde ends. You have the choice to opt for any color of the rainbow – or even all of them. How about pink or teal, for example?

Sombré: What I like about this technique is that it is a little bit softer than ombré. Sombré means a “soft ombré”. In order to get this look, ask your stylist for highlights that are just a few shades lighter than your natural color so that the result is subtle and natural looking. 

Bronde: This is something that works well for brunettes. Bronde is a combination of brown and blonde hair. My stylist says that this is something you should definitely think about if you have light brown hair because it adds texture while looking natural. Bronde is also a low-maintenance option. Typically you use this hair color technique to create highlights that are about one to two shades lighter than your base color. You also apply them to areas that would be hit by the sun. 

Lowlights: These work best when they are set at least two tones darker than your natural hair color. Lowlights can add depth and dimension to light brown hair. There is no reason why brown hair needs to be boring.

Babylights: Do you want strands that look sun-kissed – like you’ve just got back from a beach vacation? The good news is that you don’t actually have to spend any time outside to get them. Consider getting babylights. These are super-skinny highlights that are generally one shade lighter than your natural color. 

How To Take Care Of Color-Treated Hair

Irrespective of whether you go to a salon or reach for your at-home hair color, you need to understand that it is very likely you may need to treat your hair differently once you’ve actually colored it. In order to keep your locks feeling soft and preserve the life of your new color, follow these simple tips.

Only use a shampoo and conditioner formulated for color-treated hair. You invested a lot in terms of money and effort to get your new look, so don’t wash that color down the drain. Use sulfate-free hair care products that are formulated for color-treated hair, like the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Repair & Defense Shampoo (available on Amazon) and L’Oréal Paris EverPure Repair & Defense Conditioner (available on Amazon). Massage the shampoo into wet hair, lather, then rinse. Follow up by applying the conditioner and leaving it on for 1-3 minutes.

I add a hair mask to my routine. You should too. Sometimes, color-treated hair needs a little extra love. That’s where a hair mask comes in. You can use the same one I do, the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Repair Remedy Balm (available on Amazon), once or twice a week. After shampooing, slather on the mask and leave it on for three to five minutes before washing it out.

Why not expand your knowledge even further by reading another hair care article here on Pink Femme? You can find them either via the menu at the top of the page or by clicking this link that will take you to the list of all the hair care articles.