In Search of Hair Color Ideas

Let's face it, coloring your hair is tricky at best. Even worse, it can be a disaster. So how to do you get it right the first time? The best thing is to test hair color ideas before you commit, and there's an easy, fun way to do this.

I found a site called The Hair Styler. You can upload of photo of yourself and try out different colors. This way you can see what colors really look like on you - not a model from a magazine. You don't have to worry about skin tone, etc since you can see what colors actually work for you!

It's also cool because you can try colors you may not have even considered. If you're going for a big change, you can see what you're getting into vs just going for it.

CLICK HERE TO UPLOAD YOUR PHOTO AND TRY HAIR COLOR IDEAS TODAY!!!

Once you have a color you like, The Hair Styler gives you a list of the colors you used. You can take that to the store if you're coloring yourself. You can also print out the colors along with the photo and take it to your colorist if you go to a salon. Pretty cool, huh?

Since you're going to invest time and money into getting the perfect hair color, what can you do to make sure you get the most out of it? Here's are a few tips to get started.

• If you color your hair a dramatically different color, say a brunette going blond, you have to worry about roots. To extend the time between dying, don't part your hair down the middle. This just calls attention to your roots. Instead, do a messy zig zag part, which will make roots less obvious!

• The sun is your color's worst enemy! Make sure you use a shampoo and conditioner for colored hair and look for one that says it protects from UV rays or the sun. Better yet, also invest in a cute hat!

• Are store brand shampoos/conditioners or salon brands better? The cheaper store brands can contain alcohol, harsh detergents and resins that may leave residue on your hair. These ingredients are particularly harsh on color treated hair. Salon brands tend to be more gentle and may contain moisturizes, sun filters and anti-oxidants. To extend the life of your color, they are worth the investment. Mid-priced brands like L'oreal, Neutrogena, Revlon and Pantene work pretty well if you're still not sold on salon brands.

• You definitely want to get a shampoo and conditioner that have color refreshers. These are the products made specifically for each color (red, blond, brunette). They deposit a small amount of color when you use them. This will also help extend the life of your color. Use these products once or twice a week for best results

• The chemicals in hair dye dry out your hair so it is extremely important you condition your hair every time you shampoo. If you're worried about conditioners making your hair limp, just use it on the ends. Also, rinse with warm water but do not over rinse. Over rinsing will remove shine.

For more great advice on hair care and other beauty tips, Makeover Solutions is a totally awesome resource. Check it out for other tips as well as styling and make-up ideas to really maximize your look!

Click here to go to The Hair Styler now!

I never thought about hair color ideas until I found one. Actually, my sister found it, which was worse. I was in denial but finally had to admit they really were there. I'd sprouted a few gray hairs and they had to be dealt with immediately!

My trip to the drug store sent me into a world of confusion. All I wanted was a box of dye that matched my natural color. Who knew there were so many types of dyes and shades of brunette? Time to retreat and investigate before making decisions on colors and techniques.

Permanent color gives you 100% coverage. If you have a lot of gray or want a major change, this is the way to go. Permanent color removes the natural or previously dyed color and deposits a new color. Permanent color is the only way to lighten hair. All other methods accent or darken your color.

However, permanent color can be very harsh. If you make a major change or have a lot of gray, you'll also have to deal with the roots as your hair grows. This means maintenance every 4-6 weeks.
Demi-permanent isn't as harsh as permanent color. It accents your color, lasts about 6-8 weeks and will gradually fade over time. It won't cover grays completely but it will coat them with color so they blend better.

I also found semi-permamnent, which I tried on my own with mixed results. Semi-permanent acts the same as demi-permanent but only lasts 6-12 shampoos. If you're exploring hair color ideas, this is a good way to test colors.

Finally, there are temporary colors in gels, sprays, rinses and mousses. These only last 2-3 shampoos. Temporary colors only enhance and won't give you a dramatic change. In addition, they can rub off on clothes and pillows.

I decided to leave it to a professional. I'd taken time to review, so I could give my colorist a very clear idea about what I wanted and it looks great!

And this barely scratches the surface! To see more about what I've learned check out my blog on hair color ideas.