Why You're Not Getting the Hair Color You Want: A Consumers Guide to Hair Coloring

We’ve all seen an amazing color on a celebrity that we’d love to have. How many of you have said, “That’s what I want my hair to look like!” “I’ll bring this picture to my colorist and when I leave the salon, it’ll look just like Jennifer Anniston’s!”

Only...when you leave the salon, it looks nothing like it. In fact, it looks worse than when you walked in! ‘What the heck is going on?!’ you say. Maybe you went back…and now it’s more damaged, and the color looks EVEN WORSE…HOW HARD CAN THIS BE?? Desperate, you go to your nearest beauty supply and the clerk says, ‘Oh yes, just put this on all over and it’ll look great!’ Well, of course, now it has varying levels of a greenish tint. Frantic, you get online and start searching for ‘hair color correction’, or ‘hair color specialist’.

This is where I usually come in. Except now, it’s my duty to tell you that you’re even farther from your ‘dream’ color than you were before the first, second, or third attempt…whichever the case may be. Because now, ALL the different colors and processes have to be dealt with. KEEP IN MIND THAT EVERYTHING YOU’VE EVER DONE TO YOUR HAIR, STAYS IN YOUR HAIR, BECOMES A PART OF ITS STRUCTURE …and will influence anything you’ll do, or be able to do, to it in the future. (unless, of course, you cut it)

In 'Why You’re Not Getting', I hope to explain the 'why' …so perhaps you’ll have a better understanding of the basic process involved in hair coloring. Definitely not trying to make you a colorist …but hoping you’ll have just enough knowledge to make good decisions where you hair is concerned…whether you do it at home, or in a salon.
NOTE: The following guide is one colorist’s viewpoints and experience. I don’t claim this is the best and only way for everyone.