Colour Me!
Do you fancy a hairstyle change, but are not sure what suits you? Colouring your hair may be the solution. Only ensure that the colour you choose fits in with your lifestyle and your skin complexion. Hair colouring can be done either to cover grey hair, change to a colour regarded as more fashionable or desirable, or to restore the original colour after hairdressing processes or sun bleaching has discoloured it. We give you a rundown of hair colouring methods.
Temporary hair colour…
Temporary hair colours, also called rinses, are the mildest form of hair colour. They do not have any ammonia or peroxide, and are therefore fairy gentle. The good thing about them is that they do not lift hair colour, which means they will not lighten your natural hair colour. If your hair’s natural colour is dark brown and you want to go for medium red, a rinse may mean that you will get back to your original colour after four to six shampoos.
This might require you to reapply it when it fades out. The best types of rinses are cream-based conditioners, which carry the pigment in a conditioner base, smoothing the hair cuticle as they deposit the colour.
Temporary hair colours are a great way of adding richness and depth to natural hair colour. They can also be used to tackle dull looking hair. Unlike other types of hair colour, temporary hair colour does not damage the hair shaft since the natural hair colour is not lifted. Rinses are best used after a relaxer service.
Demi-permanent hair colour…
Some people mix up demi-permanent hair colour with semi-permanent hair colour. Demi-permanent colour washes out after 12 to 24 shampoos and contains a small amount of peroxide-which translates to a minimal amount of hair damage. However, it does not contain ammonia, making demi-permanent hair colour a mid-way option between semi-permanent and permanent colour. Demi-permanent colour has more results – lasts longer and fades away slower than semi-permanent colour. In addition, it’s slightly denser formula does a better job of darkening hair hence covering greying hair.
On lightening or brightening hair, the tiny amount of peroxide contained can lighten hair slightly. Demi-permanent colour is however not suitable for those with dark hair and dream of a light look as it tends to darken hair more.
Shampooing causes colour to progressively diminish hence you’ll never experience a dramatic colour difference. It’s also a great way to add depth and richness to your natural hair without causing too much damage to the hair, as they contain small amounts of peroxide but no ammonia.
Semi-permanent hair colour…
This is a great way to achieve different colour for your hair without permanently changing the colour. If you are looking to subtly deepen your natural hair colour or add a layer of colour, a semi-permanent colour is your best option. It darkens the hair since it does not contain ammonia or peroxide.
Semi permanent colour washes out over a period of six to 12 shampoos, depending on the formula, so if you don’t like the colour you don’t have to live with it for too long. Since the colour is temporary, you won’t have to deal with noticeable roots.
Permanent hair colour…
Permanent dyes will change your hair colour from lighter to darker or from darker to lighter depending on your preference. This type of hair colour contains hydrogen peroxide and ammonia.
These ingredients allow for natural hair colour to be lifted and for the new colour to be deposited, all in one step. The risk of using this on your natural hair is that it can somewhat loosen the hair’s texture. If you prefer having tight natural curls, it would be advisable to go for demi-permanent colour.
Just as the name suggests, permanent colour stays on the hair permanently. Its tenacity becomes apparent when the coloured strands grow out and you start seeing a line of demarcation between them and the new untreated root growth. A professional stylist should carry out permanent colour services.
Some permanent hair colours do not contain both hydrogen peroxide and ammonia; others only contain hydrogen peroxide and are therefore gentler than hair dyes containing both. In most cases, permanent hair colouring can rob the hair of moisture making deep conditioning with protein treatment and extra moisturising an absolute must.
Options in permanent hair colouring…
You could choose to do a highlight with a permanent hair colour rather than an all over colour. With permanent hair colour, you do not need to worry about losing the colour you love after six to 24 shampoos. Permanent hair colour gives superior grey coverage, brightens or darkens hair as dramatically as you like to.
Bleaching…
This is a chemical process for the removal of some or all-natural or synthetic colour from hair. Bleaching has the side effect of rising of the cuticle thus making the hair more porous.
Published on April 2012
