Home Hair Coloring Kits
At home hair coloring kits have made much advancement in recent years. Today’s hair coloring products offer a wide assortment of colors and tones from the palest blonde to the darkest black and every shade in between. Increasingly popular is the vibrant shades of red, mahoganies, and platinum blondes.
There are generally four types of hair color: Permanent – when color penetrates the cortex of the hair and a developer lightens it. Semi-permanent – color is deposited onto the hair only without lightening effects; Demi-permanent – color penetrates to the cortex of the hair but does not lighten it; Temporary – color stays only on the outside of the cuticle and colors only the surface of the hair. Temporary hair color is also known as a “rinse” because the color effects usually can be rinsed out easily.
Hair color of the past used to be more damaging to the hair than the newer product innovations. Products now offer color that is more conditioning to the hair shaft. Many color kits often provide a tube of special post-coloring conditioner that should be used immediately following the coloring process. Prior to coloring hair, it is recommended that a strand test be performed. A strand test simple means applying the product to a hidden area of hair to be certain there will be no allergic or adverse reactions and no seriously damaging effects to the hair caused by the chemicals contained in the product before beginning the larger scale coloring process.
Prior to touching the bottles of color or developer, most products recommend wearing latex or rubber gloves when handling the chemicals and often provide a disposable pair of gloves right in the box. Color is then mixed well and applied first to the roots and then distributed evenly throughout the rest of the hair. Color will remain on the hair for a time calculated during the strand test and ranges from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the texture and color of the hair, the amount of gray to be covered, or the level of intensity that is desired from the new color. Many coloring products are rinsed out in lukewarm water. An intensive conditioner, especially one that is provided in the kit, should be applied to the hair to promote moisture and to lock in color.
At home coloring kits are also available for consumers not looking for a full color treatment. There are products available for highlighting smaller portions of the hair, sometimes referred to as “streaks”. Consumers can also buy color products to maintain only their roots as hair begins to grow out or if gray coverage is necessary.
When caring for hair after coloring, it is good advice to use shampoos and conditioners which are specifically developed for color-treated hair as they will increase hair’s moisture and prevent the color from fading.
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