style
BEAUTY
c o s t c u t t i n g
► Chemically colored hair does m ore than grow out— it
also fades o u t Red shades dull the fastest, followed by blonds, then brunette
hues. Protect yo u r investm ent by shampooing w ith color-preserving form ulas. It
will help you extend the duration between colorings.
Q
Can’t I color my hair
on my own?
While you’ll find kits for virtually
every kind of color service, that
doesn’t necessarily mean you
should always go it alone. For
single process color, go ahead and
color it yourself with a budget-
friendly kit (and a friend to help).
But think twice about anything
more complicated. “Highlighted
hair is tricky and should be left to a
professional. That’s where women
tend to get into trouble,” says
Sharon Dorram of Sharon Dorram
Color at Sally Hershberger in New
York City. Cut down on the cost of
highlighting by strategizing with
your colorist about how often you
are willing to return for
maintenance. Fewer, super-fine
highlights similar to your hair’s
natural color will involve less
upkeep. Then for every other
touch-up, ask for partial highlights
around the hairline.
COLOR CUES Dorram offers her
time-tested tips for DIY success:
►
Stay within two or three shades of
your natural hair color.
►
Do a strand test first. Use a section of
hair that’s half an inch above the ear to
see how the color looks next to your
complexion.
►
Check the color of that strand
halfway through the designated
processing time. Dry with a blow dryer
and check the color against a white
towel “so you can do damage control if
you don’t like the shade,” says Dorram.
For long or thick hair buy at least two
b o x e s
of hair color to ensure you have
enough product. “Or ask your colorist if
she can mix up a batch of your color to
take home. We do this to help our clients
who can’t make it into the salon as
regularly as they’d like,” says Dorram.
►
Use baby oil or Vaseline along the
hairline to keep the formula from
stainingskin.
►
For root touch-ups, concentrate color
at the top. Most formulas have a heavy
dye load that will oversaturate the ends.
►
Don’t do your own color on a Friday
night when the 800-number help lines
maybe closed!
F a b - u - l e s s f i n d s
PERMANENT HAIR COLOR Look for a formula that not only colors but also treats hair,
such as Gamier Nutrisse, which nourishes hair with grape seed and avocado oils; $8.
GRAY COVERAGE Clairol Nice ’N Easy Root Touch-Up is a quick brush-on solution to
hide grays for up to three weeks, between colorings; $7.
e r r a n t
GRAYS Color Mark’s innovative TouchBack marker allows you to color your
grays, and lasts, without flaking until you shampoo it out; $30.
s u l f a t e
-
f r e e
s h a m p o o s
Chemicals like sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth
sulfate give shampoos their lather, but some experts believe they strip hair color. Brands
like Organix or David Babaii for WildAid offer gentle, eco-friendly alternatives; $7~$io
c o l o r
-
p r e s e r v in g
s h a m p o o s
Use daily-wash products for colored hair, such as
Dove Color Repair Therapy. They protect color with just the right amount of moisture; $4.
T h e b e a u t y
t r e a t m
e n t
t h a t c h a n g e d
m
y l i f e
Extreme words, I know. But
I’m certain I’m not the only
woman who’s dreamed about
waking up each morning with
that perfect, straight, frizz-free
hair I had in childhood. I’ve
debated the Japanese
straightening treatment (too
flat, not recommended for
colored hair), grappled with the Brazilian one
(many use formaldehyde—bad!), and then
heard about the Keratin Complex Smoothing
Therapy by Peter Coppola. So I did my due
diligence and spoke with Coppola—a
venerable pioneer in the hair industry. He
explained that this salon treatment infuses
keratin protein deep into the hair cuticle,
effectively eliminating frizz. Even better, it’s
safe for colored hair, works on curly and
straight styles alike, and lasts three to five
months. Sign me up! Now months later, it
takes me less than 10 minutes to dry and
straighten my hair (down from 30+ minutes),
and frizz is a thing of the past—even in
oppressive heat. Offered at salons nationwide
(from $200), or try the daily-use Keratin
protein products (from $16),
keratincom plex
.com —
MELISSA MILRAD GOLDSTEIN
1 5 4
OCTOBER 2009 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
