Take a step away from the world of hair color. It’s true that permanent hair colors have become mainstream in recent decades, but choosing the right color and keeping it looking good is a much more complicated process than you might think. So we thought we’d ask hair color tutorial expert Roxy Darling to teach us hair color lessons in four parts.
What does permanent hair color do?
Roxy says: When permanent hair color is mixed with active ingredients, it opens the hair cuticle and allows the pigments in the color to enter the hair shaft, manipulating the original hair color and introducing pigments that were not there before. He continues: “The best option for gray hair is permanent hair color. Because instead of just covering the hair, it causes the pigment to return to the hair cuticle and stays on the hair for a longer period of time.”
Do permanent hair colors really last long?
Although the standard of remaining permanent hair color is 6 weeks, in fact, the amount of pigments decreases in a period of less than 6 weeks. Because of the ammonia in permanent hair dye, the pigments tend to oxidize more quickly than when you dye your hair.
Roxy explains: “After 6 weeks, the hair is gradually affected by environmental factors such as washing and heat caused by the use of devices such as hair dryers. Of course, the copper color may last a little longer than 6 weeks. Black and tan shades also look a little paler after this time. Roxy continues: “We must not forget the effect of hair root regrowth.”
Why can’t we find rainbow colors in permanent hair color?
All singers who have dyed their hair shades like pink, green or blue have surely always wished for a permanent hair color that doesn’t need to be re-dyed every two weeks. However, there are two main reasons why we cannot find these colors in the market. In order to achieve rainbow colors, it is necessary to first remove all pigments from the hair cuticle.
On the other hand, when you want to dye your natural brown hair blue, the blue color will only neutralize the orange pigment in the brown instead of turning it into the color you desire. So, if you want these colors to be created on your hair, you must first remove the natural pigment from your hair. Using permanent hair color on dyed hair is a very quick way to damage the hair, and combining a non-neutral color with a neutral color will only create a dull and dark shade. It helps us understand why we still have a long way to go to buy a permanent candy hair color.
What is the difference between home hair color and salon hair color?
Home dyes are usually not as strong as what we get in the salon. It can be said that the pigments of these colors are not as dense and rich as salon colors. Roxy says about this: “Salon colors are made and combined to suit you perfectly. When you go to the beauty salon, the hairdresser makes a formula for your hair color and texture. But when you buy ready-made hair color, you’re getting something that was created by companies that tried to give you the color you want. In the salon, you get a formula that’s just right for you.
How to maintain a permanent hair color?
The key to maintaining color-treated hair is commitment, Roxy says. If you want to change your hair color, be aware that this is a chemical process and we can only control it in the coming weeks. By using soap-free shampoos and cleansers when washing your hair, artificial pigments will not be washed away.
