Changing colour? The must read guide for a dramatic hair change

Article by BR Natalie.

Every now and then you just fancy a change right?  It happened to me a few weeks ago.  I was in the shower washing my Medusa mane when I thought how much easier hair washing was when my hair was shorter.  I mulled this over further whilst having a Diet Coke (my thinking juice) and I made an appointment for a hair cut later in the week.

As I was having my waist-length hair chopped into a shoulder length bob, I chatted with my stylist about hair colours and how I'd grown out all existing colour before ombreing my do.  I'd been playing around with semi permanent purples and pinks and adored the vibrancy on my blonde ends, but couldn't stand the upkeep.  "I wish I'd been born with mermaid hair" I said.   Nek minute...

Now for me, I'm none to fussed about hair changes.  It's hair, it grows.  It's hair colour, you can cover it, or strip it, or rock it until it grows out.  But if the thought of a bad hair do worries you, here's some tips for actioning (and embracing) a dramatic change, whether it be blonde to dark, dark to blonde, blonde to blue, or brown to permanent pink.

Things to consider:

• Consider your comfort zone.  We're all about pushing boundaries, but it does take a certain amount of confidence to rock bold or unusual colours.  There's no point taking the plunge if you're going to hide under hats.
• Any dramatically different change will attract attention, so make sure your hair is in great condition - you want people noticing the shade, not the dry/damaged/split/frizzy strands.  If your hair is less than tip top, you might want to spend a month or two repairing the damage.
• Expectations vs reality.  You will never replicate the exact shade or hue you see in your dream colour in a magazine.  Your hair is likely to be a different texture, have a different colour history.  Not to mention shades look drastically different in outdoor lighting, in studio lighting and in salon lighting.
• Cost.  Ah money, why you stop us doing what we want?  Are you going to need regular root touch ups?  Can you afford the extras, like purple shampoo or deep conditioning treatments?

Bright Colours.

• It's easier to achieve a bold or vibrant colour change on light hair.  However if you have dark hair and want to introduce a hint of colour, consider using a bold colour, say purple, over your existing shade.  The result will be a colour sheen that is more vibrant in sunlight, without being in-your-face bright. It'll also save you hitting the bleach bottle.
• There are new vibrant colur formulations that lift your hair, as it colours.  This is how I went from brown to vibrant in 30 minutes.  But this is permanent - you will be permanently changing the cortex.
• Vibrant colours require extra maintenance - unless you're happy to rock faded/pastel locks, you're going to want to use semi-permanent dyes in between colouring, or specially formulated colour shampoos to prolong the colour.  An easy at home fix, is to add a little (note the word LITTLE) semi permanent dye (such as Fudge Paintbox) to your conditioner and use it as you would normally.  

Take it slowly.

• Rome wasn't built in a day, and Kim K did not go blonde in one sitting.  Trust us.  Find a stylist you can talk openly to, and trust their judgement.  If they say what you want will take a few sessions, don't think they're just looking for repeat business!  They know their stuff.
• If you're nervous about taking the full head plunge, consider strategically placed splices.  Colouring the under layers is a great compromise - a bold look, without having to worry too much about how the colour affects your skin type.  If you're considering going the full head, why not try semi-permanent splices around the front of your face, so you can better understand the effects against your skin, before taking the plunge.

Lastly - Go Pro.  Fixing hair disasters isn't always easy, and the damage can be irreparable.  Minimse the risk and take a lot of pressure off of yourself by heading to the salon.

So there's my tips for a dramatic hair change - anything to add?  Do dramatic hair changes scare you, or do you jump right in to them, head first?  Are you considering a hair change for Winter?  

Get chatting below!