new thread
Hey everyone, following my reply to Jason's post just down below, and loving his hair colour, has anyone here coloured their hair - maybe for just cosmetic reasons or maybe to cover grey? If so were you pleased and how do you recommend doing it so that it doesn't look really false. I would really like it to be natural looking if I went down that road.
cheers Dave
First off I've been using demi-permanent hair coloring for about a year so I have a pretty good feel for what to expect. So if you're not wishing to go with henna coloring, my suggestion is to use the demi-permanent coloring which are advertised to last about 28 washings. These colorings do not strip the original color like the permanent type does, it only softens the outer layer of the hair so the color will attach to it. And since you're not stripping the base color first it doesn't cause damage to the hair like permanent colorings can. So when coloring over gray hair you end up with some hair that darker and some lighter which looks more natural than hair that's a single shade. One thing to note, demi-permanent color will not lighten your hair, so it's generally best to choose a color either close to your natural color or darker for optimum results. Choosing a lighter shade will provide less gray coverage, but can also produce a greater highlighting effect if you like. Going darker will tend to make the coloring last longer.
Hopefully this answers your questions.
--Dale
Hi Dale,
I found that explanation of demi permanent very interesting and informative and have to admit never hearing of it before until now.I'm having those gray hair issues myself and I know some guys actually like it but I'd rather not have them.I'm too young for gray hair!LOL.However being I tried Cassia in my hair already I knew that wasn't going to solve that issue.I'm thinking next time I will bite the bullet and do Henna and let the chips fall where they may.What's the worse that can happen and Henna won't hurt my hair anyway.Regardless thanks for that info.Cheers
Mark
What does henna do Mark, is it an all over red/brown colour? Sounds like it might look cool, but as you say - on the other hand it might look bad :)) Hey whatever :))
Dave
Abstrackt, the blonde kid from Sweden who posts here, did some very informative posts about it, with before & after pics.
Your hair looks nice, by the way. You still remind me of Albrecht Durer, the painter from the fifteenth Century, and like a rock star.
cool, thanks :)
No problem!
Dave- henna penetrates the hair shaft and is a translucent natural color that works differently with everyone...I have been using it for 3 years and it has done wonders for my hair because of the conditioning effects---I use Henna and some buxus mixed which gives me a great chestnut brown and leaves the greys a golden/blondish color--I swear by it and would never try chemical dyes again...It is a bit messy to apply but it feels great on your scalp---I have been meaning to do it for over a month now but I've been too lazy lol.
Valuable information! I saved it! haha. Do you know, is Buxus the Buxus sempervirens, the Boxwood bush or tree? I'm getting talked into natural dyes more and more!
John like I mentioned look up mehandi.com---and you will get all the information you need ...they have amazing products, there shampoo bars for hair are amazing as well...I'm not sure which plant it is derived from but I can assure you it is natural...Your hair is the same color as mine and believe me when I tell you how amazing your hair looks afterwards the shine it leaves behind is outstanding....(It helps when you are using quality Henna from mehandi.com---And it is also really cheap-I usually spend twenty dollars worth and I get as many as 4 0r five applications from it---II would never put chemical dyes in my hair ever again---I will be doing the treatment by this weekend and I will post some pics for u guys...
Thanks. I'll save the name. I'm sure it's Boxwood. Buxus is it's Latin name, and I put a $300 full size kit together when I was 17 of a copy of a little stringed fifteenth century keyboard instrument called a clavachord, which had small keys with 1/8 inch Boxwood for their top surface. It's a hard, bright yellow wood, especially when oiled. I could see it being used as a natural dye, as it is so saturated with color.
I can't wait to try the henna. ;p I'm enjoying your thoughtful replies.
Anytime John C...
Abstrackt is using the redish henna, Dee is using the colorless henna. There are different kinds of henna. I have used the colorless before, and it makes your hair feel conditioned. I suggest you do more research, perhaps Google both 'colorless henna' and 'red henna' (or something similar). And also see if you can mix the colorless henna with some other type of hair coloring.
Another poster also mentioned using women's hair coloring bought from any major retailor. There are seemingly endless choices is that department. And several companies (such as Loreal and Clairol) that make women's hair coloring have web sites that help you deceide which color and formula to choose. It is more difficult to color gray, so make sure you choose a product that will cover the gray, but not be too harsh on the rest of your hair.
If you want to color all of your hair, from root to ends, to start with, but then just do the root touch ups as needed ~ I suggest you look at the "Touch Up" boxes of color first, pick the one you like, then work backwards from there and find the box of full hair coverage of the same color. It will be much more difficult to find a matching touch-up color AFTER you have already dyed your hair. And keep the boxes, so you know exactly what you tried, and you can find the exact same product again if you want to. You can even open and flaten the empty boxes and write dates and specific notes about your results with that product on the blank inside of the box (an easy way to keep track until you find that perfect product/color).
BTW, your wild man look is awesome! :)
I'll give you a little tip here that can save you some money and some hassle. Contrary to what the makers of the products may claim, you don't have to purchase a separate root touch up product. You can mix small amounts of your regular color and use that touch up the roots. Just mix equal parts coloring and fixing agent using non-metallic instruments, i.e. use a plastic spoon and bowl and apply with a small brush. (I use a beard brush) Just apply the mixture to the roots where your gray tends to show, and time as usual. Make sure to tightly seal the unused colorant. Depending on how much gray you're coloring, one box of regular color can last through about 4 touch ups. (Note that the traditional liquid colorants work better than the "cremes" do for this purpose)
--Dale
Wow thanks so much Laura for taking the time to write such an informative reply. I have found a Touch Up that is a perfect match to my hair so I need to remember that. I have streaky colours due to sun I guess which I really like and it would be a shame to lose those if I went the whole hog. Also I am concerned about damage.
Thankyou also for your kind words regarding my mop. Much appreciated :)
Dave
Thanks Dale for the indepth answer, and yes it does clear up a lot of questions. At the moment my hair has light almost blonde streaks from the sun I guess, and I really like those so would not like to go say consistent dark brown all over, I think thats when you run the danger of it looking coloured or 'false'.
Thanks again
Dave
I've been coloring for several years to cover gray. I started with a Loreal product for men, bought at a professional supply place (Sally -- a national chain). I eventually changed to one of their products for women, figuring that they were probably better (I guessed that mens' products could be more harmful since most [other] men who use this have short hair and the hair is replaced/cut anyway). But, you are right--it does color it all and it does look, well, colored! Kinda fake.
Then I injured an arm and had to be in a sling for several weeks, spanning the time I would do a coloring. So, I had my stylist do it. It costs more but has several advantages. First, she uses a brush and just does the roots, so it is less invasive to older parts of the hair. The growth fades some so you get a mix of color that looks natural (I have gone lighter recently, and lighter shows the gray roots less as well).
Second, she uses professional products that are ammonia free, and in fact smell good.
Third, she is a professional so I get professional advice and results. For example, she did several "bleach streaks" last time that look great--a summer beach look. In fact, tomorrow I have my next appointment and will get her to add some more.
Finally, I know there seems to be a fear of stylists here on the Hyperboard, but the few I have dealt with have all been great. If you like your hair you will like them pampering you! You can always say "not cutting."
Dave- the best product I found that works awesome with my hair is Henna-I have been using it for three years now...It's great because it matches your own color...Checkout Mehandi.com---you will get more informed on how it works---The best part is that it's natural and has no chemicals...(Your hair looks awesome!)
Dee.
Hey Dee, thanks man for the tips and kind words. Do you have pictures of when you Henna'd (is that a word - lol) it?
cheers buddy
Dave
Dave this was a pic of the last time I hennaed about three months ago....My hair is usually wavy but I have it brushed out in the pics
Wow dee, your hair looks great in this picture.It looks so different than past ones you've posted.You hair in this pic resembles mine being its that dead straight.I'm thinking of doing Henna the next time I treat my hair as the last time I used Cassia.
Mark
Thanks for posting the pictures Dee, it certainly sounds like something I should consider. Also I agree with Mark, your hair looks in superb condition in these pictures. Thanks again.
Dave
Pic two:
Hey Dee, thanks man for the tips and kind words. Do you have pictures of when you Henna'd (is that a word - lol) it?
Pic three---As u can see the lighting makes a difference on the hair---But the color looks completely natural because it works with your own color---The longer you keep the henna on the deeper the color---I've used straight henna and henna mixed with buxus and it has never turned my hair orange-red...I've also tried henna mixed with Indigo but it turned my hair way too dark---It's a nice color but it doesn't look good on me...The best part about henna is that you can use weekly if you desire soo...And as it grows out you don't get roots only whatever grey hairs you have show...It's the best thing I've done for my hair---I hope this info helps...Dee.
I've had long hair for years now and have plenty of Grey.
I don't color it and wear that grey hair as a badge of honor.
I've earned every single one of those grey hairs.