Home hair colour: The basics
"I'm an artist. With home colour plus the guidance of your own stylist and home-kit hotline experts, you can become the artist of your own appearance."
-- Brad Johns, the Clairol global colour director and colour director of the Red Door Salon at Elizabeth Arden in New York City
Ammonia -- opens up the surface of the hair shaft to allow colour molecules to penetrate to its core and, when combined with peroxide, acts as a catalyst to anchor colour inside the hair shaft.
Peroxide -- opens up the surface of the hair shaft, removes existing colour and facilitates penetration of new colour.
Permanent home colour
• Contains ammonia (or an ammonia substitute) and peroxide
• Colour coats and fully penetrates the hair shaft
• Permanently changes the original hair colour
• Will darken easily and generally lighten one level (going from medium blond to dark blond equals one level) or two levels from starting hue
• Will usually deliver full grey coverage
• Will not wash out, although colour will fade a bit over time
Demi-permanent home colour
• Has no ammonia; contains low levels of peroxide
• Colour coats and partially penetrates the hair shaft
• Boosts colour and blends greys in subtle highlights
• Will darken easily, and may lighten, but very little
• Washes out for the most part in about 24 shampoos, more if starting hair colour is significantly lighter
• Can be used to adjust or correct your demi- or permanent home-colour results
Semipermanent home colour
• Has no ammonia and either no peroxide or very little
• Colour coats the hair shaft; may penetrate slightly
• Can blend greys in or make them look like highlights
• Will darken but not lighten hair
• Washes out in about six to 12 shampoos, more if starting hair colour is significantly lighter
Temporary home colour
• Has no ammonia or peroxide
• Colour coats the hair shaft
• Will darken somewhat, but not lighten
• Washes out in one or two shampoos, more if starting hair colour is significantly lighter
The star product in most home-colour kits is the tube of rich, nutrient-packed conditioner. Conditioning cream is an essential part of maintaining your coloured hair's good looks, so manufacturers have increased the amount enclosed in the box (usually enough for weekly use until it's time to colour again) and come out with tubes you can purchase separately if you need more.
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