naturals who have colored...

[ladylibra]

i am sooooooo tempted to color my hair. every other time i've tried to use a "box" color, it didn't take, so this time i'm gonna leave it up to the pros. any advice? anything i should know before i get this done? any pics to share?

 

[MissFallon]

I used a box color and got good results. I've colored twice. The first time I used HE color and the second time I used feria for dark hair. u can also go to Sallys and they can show u what u need to mix your own color I've done this and gotten a really good result. If u go to a salon just make sure they deep condition your hair really good.

 

[ladylibra]

^^^thanks MissFallon

dang really... just one response?

 

[Suerte]

I have used box colors but I normally use a developer (30 vol) and a cream color. If you know what you're doing...I suggest just bleaching it and then using a cream rinse in it. That way you use one chemical, instead of amonia, bleach, peroxide, etc that's in them 2-step self mix kits. If you just bleach it and then use a rinse or a cream color (Manic Panic actually has some really normal looking shades in a rich creamy conditioner like product), your hair might be happier for it. I've done that before.

If you're going up to medium brown or higher... go to a salon.

Remember that color is a chemical. When you color your hair...you're not "natural" anymore because you are processing your hair.

So don't get all heat happy and styling happy...you'll see the damage a lot of relaxed heads see with high heat and overmanipulation.

Also, if you go lighter, your texture will probably loosen up. If you go darker, your hair might thicken up/feel healthier.

Put the color in the middle of your hair shaft first... then your ends and scalp. Your ends are older and more porus so they suck up color more, and your scalp heat can alter your processing time.

Use a clarifying shampoo or porosity control the week before you color, and don't condition with anything other than a very light light conditioner because the conditioner can prevent your color from filling the holes.

Color, rinse, condition, rinse in as cold of water as you can stand, condition, rinse in cold *** water again...and then style as usual.

I'm a hair color addict/beauty school dropout

 

[AsTheCurlzTurns]

Great info MissFallon & Suerte, I know I'm not LadyLibra, but I can't help commenting on this because I am glad she made this post LOL. I am considering coloring as well, and I've been reading lots of info on it. So thanks for this! And thanks LadyLibra for posting this!

 

[ladylibra]

If you're going up to medium brown or higher... go to a salon.

Remember that color is a chemical. When you color your hair...you're not "natural" anymore because you are processing your hair.

So don't get all heat happy and styling happy...you'll see the damage a lot of relaxed heads see with high heat and overmanipulation.

yeah, technically i'm not fully natural anyway cuz my ends have some color left on them. and before i started transitioning i had actually used a box color immediately followed by a box rinse on RELAXED hair. the color came out a reddish-brown (i was going for a brighter red though). but wow did my ends split like crazy.

still i am in love with red-toned hair... and i know i could do repeated henna applications for highlights but i am too impatient and i want red in my hair now...

 

[Transformer]

Wow! Thank you so much for this information and explanation. Color certainly relaxes my curl pattern...that's why I don't relax. Can't give up the color just yet....still looking for a job and nobody wants an "old" lady!

 

[chocolate01]

My hair is hi-lighted I got them done a salon. I have not had any problems. As always stay on top of conditioning and moisturizing and you'll be ok.

 

[justNikki]

Ladylibra...keepitmovin here

I have an appointment to color my hair TOMORROW...if the snow coming our way doesn't get too bad. I am so ready for a change in color. I tried henna, didn't like it...I want some highlights and I'm getting them

I figure...if I could color on my relaxed hair (and I did it all of the time), I should definitely be ok coloring my natural hair. I do a good job of keeping it healthy as it is.

 

[Transformer]

Suerte,

What is your recommendation for coloring "grey" hair. Is mixing still better than a box? What would you recommend?

 

[KAT25]

rinses are good and you can experiment with different color until you decide if your want it on a permanent basis. Whatever you decide make sure you post pics my current hair is colored but I didn't color it maybe it is the shampoo bars changing the color or the henna that I did about 3 months ago. idk... i like it