How to choose a hair dye

Hair dyeing has long ceased to be a purely female procedure, since many men also practice it. Everyone has their own reasons for this: one does not like his natural color, the other wants to get rid of gray hair, the third just loves to dye curls for the purpose of self-expression. If you want to change your image or try yourself in a new look, just dye your hair. Teenagers are active fans of this technique, as they try to appear more mature.

Despite the prevalence of the procedure, few people know that the selection of paint must be approached very carefully, since otherwise the hair can be severely damaged. To protect you from such troubles, we decided to describe how to choose a hair dye.

Types of hair dyes

All paints are divided into these types.

Permanent

They consist of hydrogen peroxide and ammonia, thanks to which they provide the required color during painting. If you have not carried out preliminary clarification, then the permanent paint will raise your natural tone by 2-3 levels. The composition lasts no more than 8 weeks, but it strongly depends on the condition of the hair.

The active components of the paint are harmful to the hair, as they raise the scales and make it practically unprotected against the negative influence of the environment. To reduce the stress on your hair at least a little, you need to properly care for it.

Pros:

• provides any shade;
• paints gray hair well;
• lasts a long time on the hair.

Minuses:

• can cause an allergic reaction;
• negatively affect the hair cuticle;
• dry out the scalp and hair.

Semi-permanent

These paints do not contain ammonia and work on the basis of a small amount of hydrogen peroxide. Lighten hair by only one tone, last for a maximum of 4 weeks. They are less harmful to hair than permanent paints.

Pros:

• the composition does not contain ammonia;
• no pungent odor;
• less aggressive effect on the hair cuticle;
• paint over small areas of gray hair.

Minuses:

• not very persistent;
• after painting, they can provoke itching of the scalp and allergic rashes;
• contain hydrogen peroxide.

Shading

They can only tint natural hair. They do not contain aggressive substances, therefore they are completely harmless. Such paints will not drastically change your color and will not paint over gray hair. But if you want to refresh the tone of your curls, make them shiny and bright, tint paints are perfect.

Toning involves the formation of a special colored film around each hair, which, in addition to coloring, protects it from negative external factors. It is better to carry out the procedure for fair-haired and brown-haired people, since toning is almost invisible on brunettes, but on blondes it can turn out to be very bright.

Pros:

• the composition does not contain ammonia and hydrogen peroxide;
• completely safe for hair and protect it from external factors;
• give curls shine.

Minuses:

• enough for a maximum of 6 shampooing procedures;
• helpless against gray hair;
• do not change the original color.

Natural

These include basma, henna, sage, chamomile, lemon juice, etc. They take care of the hair, strengthen and nourish it. The most commonly used are henna and basma. They change the shade of their hair to copper-red, chocolate-brown or black. Using basma without henna will make your hair a dirty green in color.

Pros:

• environmentally friendly;
• safe;
• make hair stronger and more resistant to aggressive environmental influences;
• cheap.

Minuses:

• not suitable for painting over gray hair;
• can only shade hair;
• do not interact well with other paints;
• presented in a modest color palette;
• do not lighten hair.

The principle of operation and composition of hair dye

Dye is a chemical or natural compound that interacts with keratin and dyes hair a different color.

It is very simple to apply hair dye: just mix it with an oxidizing agent, distribute it evenly over the strands, starting from roots to ends, and leave for a certain time. Then rinse your hair thoroughly with running water and apply a special mask or balm to it to fix the result.

The procedure for re-staining is carried out as follows: apply the paint to the roots, wait 20 minutes, process the hair to the ends and wait a pause again. Tint and semi-permanent paints must be applied to the entire length at once.

Hair dye selection options

When choosing paint, pay attention to the following points.

Composition

This only applies to synthetic dyes. First of all, read carefully what percentage of hydrogen peroxide was used:

1. If you plan to dye your hair in a shade close to the existing color, then a 3% solution is enough.
2. For clarification, you need to buy a 6-9% solution.

Ammonia-free paint is suitable for those who do not have gray hair and want to change the tone by a maximum of 2 tones.

Consistency

In terms of consistency, dyes are of three types:

1. Creamy. They are thick, so they do not spread during dyeing and aging of the product on the hair. If the question is, which hair dye to choose for self-coloring, it is better to buy a creamy one. The substance is distributed evenly, but sometimes it may not be enough. To prevent this from happening to you, buy two tubes at once.
2. Gelatinous. Due to the medium density, they often spread, therefore, they require accuracy and skill during work. In order not to stain yourself and clothes too much, put a towel on your shoulders before painting, and then put a plastic cap on your head. It is good to treat thick, voluminous and long hair with gel paints.
3. Mousse-like. Lightweight, almost weightless foam. This structure is typical for tint paints. The mousse is easy to squeeze out in the right amount, apply to the hair and distribute over it using a regular comb. The mousse does not run or splatter, so you can use it yourself. It is much easier to wash it out of your hair than gel or cream paint.

Resilience levels

There are 4 levels of color fastness:

• 0 - temporary;
• 1 - unstable;
• 2 - semi-resistant;
• 3 - persistent.

Let's consider each in more detail.

Level 0

If you don't want drastic changes, but just want to slightly change the color or shade of your hair, these dyes are perfect. They can completely color the hair or shade the strands. Available in gel, mousse, spray, mascara and powder form. The powdery form is considered the most common. And even children's hair can be shaded with ink.

Pros:

• a wide variety of colors;
• easy application;
• safety for hair;
• trouble-free flushing;
• hypoallergenic (with the exception of individual hypersensitivity to the components).

Minuses:

• short-term action: a light product is washed off after 3 shampoos, an intensive one - after 5 bathing procedures;
• on dark hair, this beauty is almost invisible.

Level 1

This includes unstable or tinted paint. Helps freshen colored hair or highlight natural hair. Does not contain aggressive substances. Withstands a maximum of 8 bathing procedures.

Pros:

• makes strands bright and shiny;
• harmless to hair;
• no effect of growing roots;
• its color quickly returns;
• suitable for weakened and dry hair;
• contain substances useful for hair, therefore they additionally have a therapeutic effect.

Minuses:

• useless against gray hair;
• limited color range;
• rinses off quickly;
• changes the color by a maximum of a couple of shades.

Level 2

This level of paint contains hydrogen peroxide, so the coloring effect lasts longer - 3 months (28 times of hair washing). It is suitable for gray hair and lightening curls in a couple of tones. And if the paint also contains nutrients, it will provide additional care for the hair.

Pros:

• ammonia is present in a minimal amount or completely absent;
• lightens hair in two tones;
• is gradually washed off, so the regrown roots will not be conspicuous.

Minuses:

• the color needs to be periodically refreshed;
• if you overexpose the dye, the color will not turn out the same as on the package;
• the dye is practically useless against persistent hair dye or, when interacting with it, can give an unexpected result;
• blond shades are washed off quickly;
• the composition may contain amines - toxic substances;
• dye gray hair if it occupies a maximum of 50 percent of all hair.

Level 3

This is the level of resistant paint. It provides complete shading of gray hair, does not wash off for a long time, is presented in a wide range, allows you to completely change hair color. To reduce the aggressive effect of the main components, useful substances are added to the paint.

Pros:

• a huge selection of colors;
• allows you to radically change the style;
• lightens hair by 4 tones;
• completely paints over gray hair;
• stays on the hair for a very long time.

Minuses:

• hair can be injured from the aggressive effects of peroxide and ammonia;
• a radical change in color implies constant coloring of the roots, otherwise their regrowth will be very noticeable;
• it is forbidden to use paint during the period of bearing a child;
• high probability of developing allergies.

What hair dye to choose

1. To completely paint over gray hair or change hair color, buy permanent permanent paint.
2. Semi-permanent dye will beautifully lighten or darken hair in several tones.
3. With tint products, you will emphasize the shade of the hair or change the original color.
4. With the help of natural dyes, you can strengthen your hair, make it brown, red or black.
5. Buy a dye with 3% hydrogen peroxide if you want to dye your hair in a color close to the existing one, or a little darker.
6. A dye with 6-9% hydrogen peroxide will make your hair four shades lighter.
7. For an independent procedure, it is better to use paint with the consistency of mousse or cream.

How much does hair dye cost

The cost of the substance is very different:

1. Resistant paint is the most expensive. Household costs 300-500 rubles, professional - at least 500 rubles.
2. The cost of a semi-permanent product varies between 150-300 rubles.
3. The tint is sold at a budget price, and even a product of a well-known brand will cost 300-700 rubles.
4. Natural is the cheapest - only 50-100 per bag.
5. The paint, enriched with various useful components, costs 700-1500 rubles.

The best manufacturers of hair dyes - which company to choose

Today on the market, hair dye is presented in such an extensive range that it is sometimes very difficult to decide which one is better to choose. Of course, the leading positions have already been taken for a long time, but this does not prevent the “newcomers” from making their way. By the way, not only specialized cosmetic brands produce paint.Many diversified firms also create various dyes that compete with global brands.

But still, the leaders in this area are:

• Schwarzkopf;
• Wella;
• Estel;
• Londa;
• L'Oréal Paris.

Each of these companies has colossal experience in the beauty industry, industrial capacity and enormous scientific potential. The product undergoes numerous studies, strict quality control and various tests, so you can be sure of its quality.

Useful tips on how to choose the right hair dye and color

Hairdressers and stylists agree that for the first dyeing it is better to sign up with a master. He will not only select the right tone and shade, but he will correctly process the hair. But if you want to paint yourself, follow these rules:

1. Carefully dye the strands previously treated with natural dyes. It is impossible to predict the result of contact between a chemical and a natural substance.
2. Black hair cannot be lightened at a time - you need to gradually apply lighter shades. For example, to lighten black hair, you need to make it dark brown, then dark blond, light brown, etc. This is the only way you can properly and beautifully lighten the strands.
3. Only natural hair can be treated with light dye, since this procedure will be very dangerous for artificially lightened hair.
4. Colored hair requires increased care. In order for the pigment to fully penetrate the hair, and the color to be stable and uniform, it is recommended to carry out restoration procedures for the hair in advance before staining.
5. Be sure to look at the date of manufacture and expiration date. An expired product can severely damage hair and dye it in unexpected colors.
6. Hair coloring, like any cosmetic procedure, must be carried out correctly. When choosing a color, you should consider their length and condition, the original tone and your general appearance. Otherwise, “new” hair can ruin your look.

Reviews

I have been using Wella products for over ten years and have never been disappointed. Hair does not deteriorate, the color is always the same as indicated on the package. After dyeing, the hair looks natural and very shiny.

Olga

The gray hair started to appear early, so I constantly painted with black Londa paint. But after the last few paints, severe allergies began to appear: pimples on the forehead under the bangs, some rashes on the neck and a terrible itching of the scalp. In general, I suffered a lot. Now I don't even know what to paint with.

Svetlana

A month ago, she dyed her hair with a Schwarzkopf shade "Mahogany". On wet hair, the color was perfect, but after drying it became somehow very bright. She shared her experience on the forum, the hairdresser advised me to keep the paint for five minutes less, since mine are too susceptible to it. Overall, I was satisfied.

Valentine

Outcome

Now you know what color to choose for dark hair, light and gray hair. We hope our article will help you make your hair not only beautiful, but also healthy.