I need some tips on Coloring my own hair {{{Please}}}}

[WinterStorm]

I don't have the money to go back to the hairdresser because I am a student and the funds are not available right now.

I phoned the beauty salon that colored my hair last and they told me that the color that they used was "Socolor 7". I have no idea what that is and they won't tell me what it is either.

Is it hard to color your own hair?

How do you put highlights in your hair using foil?

Should you use several shades up from the color that you are dying your hair for the highlights?

What brand should I buy?

Any help would be appreciated!

:shrug:

[Katherine2]

1. I've colored my own hair

You should go to the beauty supply and tell them the color your salon gave you. They should either have it or be able to match it. It's really easy to color your hair all one color. You just need the color and one other bottle. But as far as highlights and tin foil and all that stuff, I personally wouldn't try that myself. But if you're going to try, have the beauty supply tell you what color to use for highlights. Good luck.

[2Design]

2. I use Clariol - the non permanent kind - it washes out over 24 washes

but then you don't have root line

it is the Natural Instinct line

Been using it for about 5 years now - cost about 7-8 dollars a box

works good for me
easy to put in
I picked a color on the box that looked lighter but the sample strand at Kmart shows it is darker - Since my hair is gray now, I go with a color that as it washes out - there isn't a dramatic change -
The color I am using is 'Linen'

[WinterStorm]

6. What color is Linen?

I have some grays that need to be covered.

[2Design]

8. brown

on the box it looks like a blonde/brown
mine has always come out brown like the strand on the shelf at kmart

I had tried sandlewood which is brown on the box but it is too dark and the gray is noticed right away

over time once the sandlewood base is gone - mine is a lighter than medium brown would be

When I started I only had some salt and pepper gray - by now I assume - I would be all gray without the color

[Cobalt Violet]

14. If you want to cover Gray....

The best thing is to make sure that the undertone of what ever hair color you use is a Neutral. Most undertones are define as golden or ash. An example use 7 or 7N, not 7G or 7A.

[koopie57]

3. don't

but I went to a beauty supply store and they had so many things to choose from that I considered it (for my daughter's hair). Maybe instead of coloring, try highlights. You can get a thing that has a cap with little holes in and your pull hair out of these holes and highlight those. It seemed fun and probably wouldn't be a big disaster. My daughter tried coloring on her own and it turned out orange. Fortunately she is a little colorblind.

on edit, that natural instincts stuff does work pretty good. I've seen many nice outcomes with that.

[orthogonal]

4. Don't

I've coloured my own hair -- not out of lack of cash, but because I'm an inveterate do-it-yourself-er.

It doesn't work well.

Paying $160 at the salon was expensive but it looked a lot better.

(Oh, and I'm a straight guy, if it matters.)

[soothsayer]

5. Or find a local beauty school----a student will do you for cheap! n/t

[legally blonde]

7. I tried highlighting

my own hair once--it was a disaster! But, I've colored my hair in the past using an all-over color and it turned out pretty good. I have used several shades of Loreal (around $8/box) and I was satisfied with the results. However, a professional job definitely looks better and lasts longer.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

9. To be honest with you

I tried coloring my hair at home for years and it JUST looked horrid. I was coloring over color, didn't know what I was doing and YOU do not have access to the good stuff the pros use. It's sad, but true.

I pay $135 (with tip) for cut, color and highlight and it is SO damn worth it. Nothing I ever did at home looked this good. And the condition of my hair is better--it was getting really stripped out and dried when I did it myself. Frizz city.

Anyway I wish you luck.

[WinterStorm]

16. I wish I had the funds right now

I love going to the salon but I can't afford it and I can't wait.

[silverlib]

10. My fourteen year-old daughter

let the fifteen year old boy down the street highlight her hair (and no, he had no experience). It turned out great. There's something new on the market that has the base color and the highlighting color in the same box. It does not involve pulling your hair through a cap with holes in it (which hurts like hell by the way). I would just suggest you get some other hands to help you. It's hard to do it by yourself and too easy to miss spots, etc. We have spent lots of money on hair, but this stuff actually worked very well and looked professional. Sorry, I don't know the name of it, but she purchased it at the local grocery store, so it's not hard to find.

Good luck!

[TrustingDog]

11. I always colour my own from a box at the drug store.

it's not difficult, just read all instructions carefully before you start and if you have long hair be sure to get 2 boxes or it may turn out splotchy (happened to me once).

If I were you I wouldn't jump into the streaking thing quite yet. That's certainly a bit more of a challenge.

Also, do you want a shade similar to your natural colour, or a drastic change? drastic is not so easy for a do it yourselfer.

good luck and post a pic when you're done. :)

[WinterStorm]

17. The same shade I have right now

I called the salon back and she told me that it's dark blonde.

[Baja Margie]

12. Coloring Hair......

I wish I never had to begin with, and just lived with a little greying. Now, after four years, my hair is falling out and I'm taking BIOTIN- 40mg a day, and drinking SILICA water which you can get at the Health Food Stores. For me, going pro or doing it myself, both were a disaster.

[WinterStorm]

18. Sorry to hear about that

Will it come back?

[Baja Margie]

28. Welllll......

we will have to wait and see, since I've been taking the Biotin & Silica it has stopped falling out as much. LOL, what next...maybe I'll need a wig ! I used to be a natural strawberry blonde...now I'm doomed.

[chookie]

13. What are you trying to do?

What color are you naturally? What shade are you aiming for? How dramatic do you want the highlights to be?

[WinterStorm]

20. Natural looking highlights

My hair is dark blonde/light brown.

[Cobalt Violet]

15. "Socolor 7"

Socolor is a professional brand; 7 is the level.

level 7 is pretty standard in the haircolor industry. It is medium neutral blonde. 7G would be a medium golden blonde,7R would be a medium strawberry blonde, etc.

[WinterStorm]

19. I want to keep my hair the same color

Do you know what brand would be comparable if i bought it from Sally's?

[Cobalt Violet]

23. Clairol

Either thier Complements permenant line or Miss
Clairol.

If you were using Socolor 7 then check out Complements 7N or Miss Clairol Gray Busters 87N .
Both available at Sally's.

[Momgonepostal]

21. If you want highlights, I HIGHLY recommend getting help

I understand not being able to go to a salon...it's pricey.

Have you looked into beauty colleges?

Or have a friend help you. It's pretty tough to see what you're doing if you're by yourself. My sister just did her lightened and highlighted her hair by herself (after I had offered to help) and it looked horrible. Big clumpy pieces of blonde, very unnatural. She tried to cover it up with another color, and it turned her hair orange. So then she ended up going to a salon anyway, to try to fix the mess she made.

If you're going to do it at home, go to Sally's or another beauty supply place and have them help you select a product. Tell them the brand and number and have them recommend something.

Just don't try it alone.

[TrustingDog]

22. back in the day, for easy streaking...

I remember using Lemon juice on small selected strands and spending time out in the sun. but the sun has changed a bit since then. :( so I don't think I'd recommend that one.

[VelmaD]

24. Absolutely get a friend to help

Trying to do this stuff by yourself is much harder. It's hard to read the instructions and follow them and see what you're doing all the the same time. It's much easier if you get someone to help. Grab your best friend and tell them to follow the instructions on the box EXACTLY.

[Cheswick2.0]

25. leave your poor hair alone

If you want shiny healthy sexy hair and if you are not grey, leave it alone. Your own hair color is probably most flattering and your hair won't be all burnt and dull from processing.

[lilwondrgl]

26. As a student of cosmetology I can tell you right now

Absolutely 100% impossible to color your own hair using foils. Even a professional can't put in perfect or even good-looking highlights. If you want to put in an all-over color, that's less difficult but remember to ALWAYS follow directions on the box. You won't be able to get the same color you got at a salon, since they get their color from professional supply houses, but you can try to pick a color that matches your hair. Remember, there's a difference between color and level. Hair is leveled 1-10, 1 being black and 10 being lightest blonde. First you need to figure out what level your hair is now. Then you find a box with that number (like 5RV) and then a similar color. If you get the same level it shouldn't lighten/darken your hair, and you should get pretty close results. If you get something with more red or green in it, it can make your hair look redder or greener (red colors would be like auburn, green colors would be like ash brown). You can call and ask what level the color they use is and if they know an at home kit that approximates that. A good idea would be to buy it in semi-permanent, since they won't lighten your hair. However, if you get too low a level it can darken it.

FYI learning how to foil well takes extensive training. Those 'wand' kits don't work either, you won't get close to the same results. Caps are easier, but it's still hard to get professional results without professional training. If you want to get your hair foiled for cheaper, I would suggest going to a cosmetology school. There's a lot more to foiling than just picking up some hair, slapping color on it and wrapping foil around it. There's different methods just to pick out the hair (slices, weaving, etc) and placement is key to a successful foil.

Good luck! If you need more help just let me know.
Edit to add: Hair coloring is like tattoos in that you get what you pay for usually. If you're paying $7 for a box at home, it will look like you did it at home. If you're paying $75, it'll look good. If you get foils, their much better than all-over color cos you don't have to touch up so often. With the streeks, the new growth (or roots) aren't as obvious. Good luck.

[Blue Gardener]

27. I use Feria

Color my own all the time, and I often get compliments on the color, so it must not be too bad. I've tried several other brands by I like Feria the best, so I'm just going to stick with it. Those salon prices are just not in my budget.