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If you are a girl (or woman, if you like) thinking of changing your look from sunken to sensational, changing the shade of your hair is one of the tried ways to glow into a fashionable style. This holds especially for girls who dread a radical transformation of their hair length (or even those who would not cut an inch of their hair) as well as those who hate the idea of sitting for long at the mercy of hairdressers. Dyeing hair is thus an easier way of sparkling with attractive locks. And of course you save some of your cash by doing at home. Yes, you can look gorgeous without stepping out. The following guide makes you up to it.

The Basics of Coloring Hair

One thing to remember always is not attempting a drastic change of hue at home or starting to correct any color disasters. This is something you have to leave to the salon guys. Before getting yourself a Do-It-Yourself hair color kit, make a clear mind on the color and look that you are ready to commit to. Remember not to go for a dramatic permanent color change if you are not easy with a retouch every month or every six weeks. For many girls, a subtle semi-permanent shade that requires bimonthly upkeep is a convenient option. Then decide on the dye that best suits your needs: may be a dye that lasts a week; does well a season; or is permanent.

Permanence of Dyes

Generally, we recognize three types of dyes: temporary, semi-permanent, permanent.

Temporary dyes are mostly water based. They are good for lightly painting the hair shaft with color. Lasting usually up to eight shampoos, these dyes are especially recommended due to absence of oxidants or ammonia in them. Before applying, you should beware if you have already treated hair; the color may stick to the natural shade for quite longer than desired. Then you have semi-permanent dyes that coat the outer hair shaft while also penetrating the top layer of the cuticle, the skin's outermost layer. The color thus lasts longer, usually up to 28 or 30 shampoos. These are best for dyeing grey hair and for girls who do not feel like committing to one hair color. Finally, there are these permanent hair colors that contain ammonia and other chemical agents. These chemicals work by opening the hair shaft and penetrating the hair at the cuticle, leaving a permanent stain. The color fades slightly but goes out naturally in a long time.

The Condition of Your Hair

Before dyeing your hair, you need to know about the condition of your hair. Expert advice is needed if you own particularly fine or weak hair, or if your hair has been subject to intensive heat styling devices, hair dyes, or even excess of sun. Such hair can get damaged by dyeing and result in patchiness, absorbing colors readily at weaker spots but not getting enough color in other places. So how do you determine the condition of your hair at home? Cut five single strands from the underneath layers. Drop these in a glass of water and tap with finger. If the hairs float, congratulations, they are in good condition. If they sink, they are suffering from lack of moisture (due to which they absorb water). In such a case you need to proceed with care and advice.

Choosing the Correct Match of Colors

While the natural shade of the locks can be completely changed by dyeing, you need to pick the correct tone i.e. one that suits your skin tone, eye color, and eyebrows. Ideally, your choice of color should be a shade that is two tones lighter or darker than your natural tone. Going for a drastic change is not recommended without expert advice; gradual change is a better option. Do not go too far from the shade of your eyebrows or the look will be real odd. Treat hair coloring as if you are applying makeup. Finally, consider the matching of hair dye color with that of your dress, especially clothes that you often wear.

Allergy

One out of every twenty people reacts to some type of hair dye. Therefore you must be careful in using a hair color, especially a new one. It is recommended that you do a test patch at least 24 hours before coloring. If all goes well, it is time to go for a glowing change!