Hair coloration is here to stay… semi-permanently (Part 3)

Hair Dye causing a Manic Panic among everyone - part 3 tips and tricks for great color 

To start here are some hair dying tips!

***HAIR DYE TIP*** if that anti brass conditioner is too expensive take an EXTREMELY small amount of violet hair dye (about half the size of a nickel) and mix it into a nice small bowl of WHITE conditioner (any kind conditioner will do) until the mixture is a very light lavender color. Applying this to bleached hair for a few hours will eliminate many of the brassy tones and replace them with a very light lavender hue making it extremely easy to dye.

***HAIR DYE TIP*** after finishing the bleaching process I suggest letting your hair rest for a few days with some leave in conditioners in order to help revive your hair before dying.

Here are some of the best tricks I know to keep my hair color from fading!

•  Bleaching

1. When bleaching I suggest a few days prior to doing so buy a jar of Coconut oil (yes, the same one you use for cooking). Even though for the next days after using it your hair will feel greasy and smell like coconut cookies, it’s totally worth that pain and suffering. Coconut oil, like coco butter, is packed with vitamin E which is something your body needs to improve your skin, nails, and hair. Saturating your hair with coconut oil and leaving it for a few days (about three) will allow your hair to absorb the nutrients and create a barrier to protect against the bleach.
2. After the torture of coconut oil comes the bleach. Now DO NOT wash out the coconut oil from your hair as the mixture of that with the natural oils your skin produces will help your hair immensely. Brush out your hair and apply your bleach to the spots you will want to dye later and always follow the instructions on the package.
3. After the timing is up and you wash the bleach and oils out of your hair check its hues. If the bleached hair is too yellow/orange for your taste use an anti-brass toning conditioner to cool the hues in your hair or use a toner to completely white out all yellow/orange hues. But remember toners are just like bleaches so using both may lead to some more damage if you aren't careful.                                              

•  Washing

1.            When washing your hair make sure to wash in cold to lukewarm water. It’s not the most soothing experience but it will keep your hair from drying out and looking like Hermione in the first Harry Potter movie (Yikes!).
2.       Try to use a color protectant shampoo and then a color protectant 3 minute conditioning treatment. Most brands have a leave in-rinse out treatment for every shampoo; the extra time will allow your hair to soak in more conditioner and repair hair from the inside out.
3.       If your hair is very damaged and dry use a color protectant shampoo and then a repair leave in-rinse out conditioner. Like the color protecting leave in, repair leave ins are for those people with hair already suffering from past experiences (ex. Straightening, blow drying, curling, and especially BLEACHING). By using a stronger repairing conditioner when washing hair, you can tame it from the start, making it easier to style hair later.

•             After the wash

1.            After washing your hair towel dry it but DO NOT rub your hair in the towel to dry it OR twist it on top of your head! Twisting and rubbing your hair while it’s still wet causes extreme breakage not just in your ends, but all over. It’s important to gently wrap the towel around your hair and then squeeze the water out. No twisting, no rubbing, no problems!
2.         After your hair is still a little damp (but not wet) start to put in your moisturizing products. I recommend that everyone have at least one favorite leave in (non rinse) treatment to keep your hair styling ready and not frizzy.
3.       When you’re sure the product has soaked in spray a small amount of any heat resistant product into your hands. Rub your hands together and then work it into your hair. Heat resistant products create a barrier around hair shafts to protect from heat damage. Some of these products can protect against more than just heat and even protect hair from everyday styling like brushing or combing.
4.       When hair is mostly dry, but not completely, begin to style. When your hair dries completely it will set in all the styling done to it and will stay frizz free for longer. 

•       Favorites to help you along the way:

1.         *Favorite* Nature's Way Liquid Coconut Premium Oil 
2.     *Favorite* Lanza Healing Colorcare Trauma Treatment 
3.       *Favorite*  Neutrogena Triple Repair Fortifying Leave-In Treatment 
4.     L’Oreal EverStrong Overnight Hair Repair Treatment