BEAUTICIANS

Jamie Mulvanny
some would say she is the Michelangelo of hair style and color she is tops in her craft.
Hair Coloring 101
Jamie L Mulvanny of hair by jamie mulvanny (02/27/2009)

Getting your hair color right isn’t a science; it’s really quite simple. Stick to colors that complement your skin tone, figure out if you’re best off with all-over color or highlights and then decide if you’re going to pay someone else to do it or do it yourself.

Here are 11 hair color tricks your hairdresser knows, from how to avoid the wrong color to exactly how to do it yourself.

How to Choose the Perfect Shade of Blonde
Some women look good in any color. But most women don’t. If you had blonde hair as a kid, you’ll likely look good with blonde hair as an adult. If you have pink skin that burns easily, and blue or green eyes, you’ll look great with blonde hair, but avoid strawberry shades. If you have sallow skin with yellow undertones? Stay away from deep golds. The Right Way to Go (or Stay) Brown If you have super pale skin and brown hair, consider lightening up your hair. Super dark shades can look ghastly and make you appear older (Eeek).

The main rule of thumb is to go only 2 shades lighter or darker than your natural color. Anything more, and you should get thee to the salon.

Almost everyone can go red, what’s most important is finding the right shade. If you want to go red, I suggest not trying it on your own. Get a professional consultation.

If you have a great base hair tone, you’re better off with highlights. You don’t want to mess with nature, you want to enhance it. But if your base color washes out your skin tone or is “blah,” consider an all-over color.

Highlights look best when the stylist uses at least two different shades. Ask for more around your face, they can brighten your complexion.

Keep in mind that due to root growth, all-over coloring will need to be touched up every four to eight weeks, while highlights can last up to two or three months.

You’re Going for Highlights, But Which Kind?
There are basically four types of highlights: basic foil highlights, ”hair painting,” chunking or “piecing”, and lowlighting. Foil highlights add strands of color to hair. You can get up to five different shades in hair to make it look more natural.

Baliage, or “hair painting,” allows the stylist to add natural stripes of color to hair in large or smaller swaths. This is best for women with a great base color who want to go just a couple shades lighter.

Lowlighting allows the stylist to add darker shades to hair. This give color more contrast.

Should You Do It Yourself?
Home-color kits have come a long way in the past few years, but although they can seem perfect for busy people or those who want to cut the cost of professional colorings, professionals know all the tricks and can see were the problems are.

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