Friday, April 26, 2013

Hair Coloring Basics For Everyone

By Cherry Mercer


In recent decades, hair coloring has become a common means of modifying ones appearance. Professional salons show case color services and do a brisk business in the tinting of tresses. The most popular brands of dye use prime time television slots to air ads depicting the use of their products and most drug stores have an entire section dedicated to such products.

Many think of the alteration of hair color as a modern phenomenon, but history tells a different story. In fact, archaeologists say that evidence points to colorants being used as far back as the Neanderthals. History records Babylonian men sprinkling their locks with gold dust to add sheen and color, while ancient Gaul and Saxon warriors dyed their tresses to show rank and intimidate the enemy. In first century Rome, both men and women darkened their hair with dye made from boiled walnuts and leeks.

The popularity of hair dye waned in the early twentieth century, but it is once again on the rise. Where applying color was once mainly done to cover grey, it is now done for a variety of reasons in endless hues. The practice is so common that 75% of women in America proudly admit to covering or enhancing their natural color and women are not the only ones. In the past 5 years, the number of men using colorant has doubled.

Nature and natural ingredients are no longer the source of color modification for tresses. With the process being so popular, chemists have taken an interest in the notion and have created precise formulas to receive controlled results. Home kits brought at the local store or professional dyes used at the salon have advanced to a highly scientific level and have fairly predictable results.

Styles in hair change just like every other realm of fashion. Internet, television, and print media showcase current styles in a multitude of ways. The current trends are fun and very few mimic a natural look. The ombre look for brunettes applies blond to the ends of a long hairstyle and fades it up into the darker base shade. Bright candy colors are also popular, as is platinum.

With gentleman coloring their tresses more and more often, new products and styles are constantly being developed for them. Those looking to cover grey can find products designed to gradually deposit the color over a several applications for a natural look. Young men are favoring a technique called "tipping" that applies color only to the ends, leaving the roots their natural color.

While home kits are on the whole safe and reliable, there are some situations where one will want to visit a salon for their dye job. If one is looking to change their color more than three shades it is recommended that they seek professional assistance. Also permed/damaged tresses or those that require a color fix after an unsuccessful home dye should be colored only by a trained stylist. When it is an option, a home kit is far more affordable than a salon visit.

Inspiration for appearance modification through hair coloring is nearly everywhere. Choosing a new look can be almost as exciting and fun as showing off the end results. The transformation is a relatively simple one and can be the finishing touch when creating one's personal style.




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