Ten things to consider before dying your hair

Whether you are dying your hair for the first time or have been doing it over the years and looking for a change, it can be a life-changing decision. The fear of cut down, damaging your hair, not getting your desired colour can add to the anxiety to get a hair dye.

Do you have a classmate, neighbor or a colleague who has always got salon-ready hair all the time and you would love to achieve that look but scared to experiment? 

We all have been in your shoes but remember you got to take that risk to get a new look. Hair colour plays an integral role in making or breaking your personality, so you must be very careful while dying your hair. We have summed up a list of 10 things to consider before dying your hair. If you keep these things in mind before getting a hair dye, trust us you won't regret it.


Also Read 10 Best Ways To Grow Out Layers

1) Current trends

Before deciding if you want to dye your hair, do thorough research on what the current trends are. From one colour dye to highlights, low lights, balayage and ombre, the options are endless. Every style has its own cost, maintenance schedule, way to carry and duration it will last. It is better to pick the option that suits your lifestyle the most. If you can't find time for frequent touch-ups, go for highlights. They merge beautifully with outgrown roots and give you a natural look rather than calling for an immediate touch-up. 

If you need grey hair coverage, choosing lighter tones will help. Grey hair will merge with lighter tone hair giving a beautiful silver tinge and would require occasional touch-ups. If you have dark-coloured hair, ombre can also be a good option for you as you won't need root re-touching again and again, you can easily flaunt the look by just refreshing the ends. 

If you want to go multiple shades lighter than your original hair colour, go easy on your hair. Your stylist will recommend you go for multiple sittings. to achieve the look so the damage to your hair can be minimized. In this way, your hair will be allowed some time to absorb the treatment, and the damage can be minimized.

2) Skin tone

Determine your skin under-tone before dying your hair. If you are not sure about the undertone, let us help you. Take a piece of silver and gold jewellery and place it against your skin. 

If silver colour suits you more, it means you are cold undertone. If gold jewellery looks better on you, it tells that your undertone is warm. Now that you have decided the under-tone, it's time to decide the right shade according to your skin tone. The options of hair colour are endless. From warm blondes to brunettes, from red to black and within these, the shades vary greatly. You can also pick some neon colours to create a dramatic look.

3) Budget

Hair dye treatments can cost up to $200 or more depending on the current colour, health and texture of your hair. Also, the reputation of stylist and the technique used to decide the cost of the treatment. It is important that you have a clear budget in your mind, and you carry out research based on that budget. 

Explore the options online or visit the popular salons nearby to learn more about the budget for the treatment which you are aiming for. Do not rely entirely on one salon or option, and it is always better to spend some time checking the available options. If you visit the salons, you might end up getting an actual colour done by a stylist who can help you in assessing the quality of work and compare the services with the process they are charging for each service.

 While it is important to set a budget, it is not recommended to choose low-quality services for a few bucks. Your hair defines your personality, and you cannot compromise on the results. Choosing a hair dye option that costs you less but from a better stylist is always better than choosing a high-cost treatment from a less reputable salon. If the damage is done, it won't be repaired immediately, so choose wisely.

4) Know exactly what you want

If you go to a stylist without proper research on what exactly you need, you might end up getting disappointed with the results. As we mentioned earlier, within each family of colours, there are various shades that you must pick from. We suggest taking a picture of the look, you have in mind to the stylist and listen to what they have to say about it. 

Sometimes, what you like might not be appropriate for your skin tone or hair texture, so discuss your options with the stylist. If you are not convinced with what the stylist has to say, do not rush. Take your time to decide, ask them to swatch test on a strand and go back later if you are happy with the results. Many people come under the pressure of deciding right there and regret the decision later. Before dying your hair, be 100% sure of the decision you make.

5) Use a clarifying shampoo

Using a clarifying shampoo before dying your hair can give you a fresh, clean scalp. It will clear the buildup and remove the excess oils from your scalp. A clean scalp and hair provide a neat canvas to any stylist to carry out the treatment, and the results will enhance.

6) Hydrate your hair

Just like hydration is important for our whole body and skin, it is no different for our scalp and hair. Use a good quality hydrating mask for your scalp and hair before you go to the salon. 

Dry scalp can itch with the application of hair dye and alter the results. Likewise, if your hair is dry and brittle, the results will not be up to the mark. Before investing so much money on any treatment, improve the health of your hair, and you will get beautiful results.

7) Switch to Products for Color-Treated Hair

Ever heard stylist suggesting a special shampoo and conditioner while applying a hair colour? No, they are not just trying to sell you the products; they are guiding you on how to protect your hair from the damage and make the hair dye last longer. If you keep using your regular shampoo, you will lose the hair colour sooner than expected. 

You will need more frequent touch-ups and end up spending more money on hair dye than what you have saved by not buying products that are designed specifically for coloured-treated hair.

8) Check for any Allergic reaction

Although hair colours do not cause allergies, this risk is not worth taking. Ask your, stylist, for a tiny swatch on the back of your neck or any hidden part of your body and wait for a while. If you feel any redness or allergic reaction, do not go for hair colour. 

If nothing happens, you are good to go to get a new hair colour. Ammonia free dyes are always recommended to avoid damage to your hair. 

Conclusion

Usually, there won't be a much difference between what you showed to the stylist and the actual results but if you are still not satisfied after a wash and blow out, remember it is not the end of the world. Stylists know how to fix the small problems in the same sitting. 

In case there is a major change that you require from your stylist, give your hair some time and go for multiple sittings to save some irreversible damage to your hair. We all need a few days to get adjusted to a new look so before changing it again just because you think it doesn't suit you, ask your friends or family for their opinion.