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Color has a dramatic effect on people. Just
as complexions have been debated about continuously and people go to great
lengths to get a fairer complexion, thanks to Eugene Schuler, hair coloring has become a realistic option. Pigments that are present –melanocytes,
determine the color of our natural hair. So how do these hair colors work?
Simply put, a certain chemical reaction between the chemicals present in the
hair colors and the pigments in your hair is going to determine the ultimate
color. |
This is not as simple as it sounds for
certain reactions are irreversible and if you do not exercise caution you
will be left with a headful of colored hair not particularly to your taste. Look before you leap
into the world of hair colors.
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Hair coloring tips : Do not buy the first hair color that you
can get hold off. There is what is known as a color Swatch. This guides you
into choosing the appropriate hair color.
The color swatch talks of the term
”levels” which merely indicates the intensity of lightness or darkness of
hair. Remember, the darker the hair, less the reflection and lower the
level. and the lighter the hair, more the reflection and higher the level.
So Black hair is level 1 and blonde hair is level 11. Now comes the hardest
bit. |
Identify the level of your hair, take into
account your natural skin tone and the color of your eyes and choose a hair color that is going to
blend with and enhance those tones. If your are one of those fair complexioned beauties with steely blue, hazel
or green eyes, choose a hair color combination of gold or blonde., and if
your are dark skinned with black or brown eyes , go in for copper colors or
mahogany. If you choose a hair color that is really contrary, God help you.
You may be stuck with it for the rest of your life.
Now for a little bit of chemistry and math while using hair colors. Remember
when we are changing the color of the hair, we are lifting it from 1 level
to another level and if this involves jumping from level 1 to level 11, that
is becoming a blonde from being dark haired, a little bit of subtraction and
addition of undertones is what the process involves.
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Since the jump is
drastic, hair colors work in two ways. It first nullifies the dark pigments
of the dark hair and then incorporates the new pigments into the base color
of the blond or yellow hair. Whew! That is quite a jump. However, for
amateurs, temporary colors like color rinses, color gels and mousses, hair
crayons, and glitter sprays which wash off with shampoo are ideal to
experiment with. Everyday could be a new hair color day. Green purple, red,
violet, blue name it and you have it. Once you make up your mind though as
to what hair color you want to settle for, go in for a semi permanent or a
permanent hair color. |
A word of caution though - Always do a strand test on a few strands of uncolored hair to get an idea of the color you are ultimately going to
obtain. You can do a little bit of mathematical juggling by adding more or
less of a particular color to get the desired color. Hair colors can make
you or mar you. Feel free to play around, but for drastic changes in hair
color do get professional help. -hair coloring tips editor Sakina
K. Guide Picks.

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