Just shade it

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Just shade it

Monday, 16 August 2021 | Shyam Arya

Just shade it

Shyam Arya busts some myths related to, and shares an easy guide to help you with your journey in, hair-colouring

Don’t like your hair colour? Bored of the regular black? Want to pep it up? You are just a streak away from livening it up. A call to your hairdresser, a visit to your favourite salon, and you are all set with that jazz. However, colour-treated hair does carry with it plenty of cosmetic myths, probably because it requires regular maintenance and special care. Read on to bust some common myths associated with colouring your hair...

Stress is the only cause of grey hair

Undoubtedly stress can accelerate greying but grey hair is primarily caused by the deterioration of melanocytes responsible for melanin pigment’s production. These cells are affected by both exposure of the scalp to commonly used harsh chemicals in the hair colours and genetics. Using a gentle colour with natural and organic ingredients helps maintain your melanocytes in good health.

Plucking grey hair lead more to grow faster

 Plucking out your greys won’t catalyse more of them. But you need to know that since plucking can cause scarring, it can lead to thinning or patches of hair loss. So, it is better to avoid plucking your hair for better scalp health.

Oiling your hair can dampen colour applied

Oil doesn’t affect your hair colour and its intensity. It can, on the contrary, add shine to your hair. Its added advantage of repairing damage shouldn’t be overlooked. All in all, it allows your newly coloured locks to look shiny and healthy.

All hair colours work the same 

Every hair colour aims to add a hue to your hair, but the final results may differ from person to person. Each brand offers a different product, and no two people share the same hair. This is why it’s so important to experiment and find what works for you. With trial and error, you can know what brand and what kind of products work best for you.

By becoming more aware and experimental with our hair colour we can bust these myths. They also result in better hair health. But all hair colour addicts are prone to making some mistakes while colouring their locks at home. Here are a few:

Colouring all your hair in one go

Opening the dye box at once and applying the colour from roots to tips at one go seems like an easy-to-do, lazy option but it shouldn’t be applied that way. Colouring all your hair at once might make them look very inky and easily differentiable from your natural hair colour.

Getting hair colour on your neck and ears

Even careful application of hair dye can lead to stains on your skin, primarily on your neck or your ears. They do fade away over time and you can also take the help of a gentle soap to remove the stains a little faster. But if you want to altogether avoid having to wait for it to fade or remove hair dye from your skin, you can coat your skin with petroleum jelly to prevent the dye from staining anything but your hair. Do bear in mind that organic hair colours are gentle and do not have such issues.

Dried ends

Over-bleaching can lead to dry and frizzy ends. Though they can be nourished, the most effective fix is a trim. You can also depend on your weekly hair mask for repair. Products with ingredients like silk proteins, collagen, lilac extract and hyaluronic acid, argan and jojoba oil help hydrate and fix the damage. Natural ingredients like aloe vera also help hydrate and bring back the shine in your hair.

Brassy tinct to the hair

While bleaching hair at home, your hair can react and reflect a yellow or orange shade. To avoid this you can make preparations before colouring your hair. Use toning shampoos and conditioners that control the undertone of the hair without changing its colour.

Washing freshly coloured hair after few hours only

Hair experts recommend that one should wait at least 24 hours before shampooing freshly-coloured hair. This gives time for the dye to seep well into the hair. One could simply rinse hair with cool water and scrub the scalp to do away with the extra colour without affecting the intended shade.

Continuing with your high on sulfate-rich shampoo

Most commonly available hair products are filled with salts, sulfates, and detergents, making them pretty economical. But these ingredients can pull the hair colour out. One should switch to sulfate- and alcohol-free products. They are good cleaners without harming your hair colour. 

Applying shampoo every day

Some women tend to shampoo their hair daily. This effectively strips away hair colour. One should instead space out their shampoo days. Dry shampoo can come in handy on oily hair days. Investing in products curated specifically for colour-treated hair helps stretch the colour retention period.

Ignoring conditioner and conditioning treatment

Not just the shampoo, a proper conditioner for colour-treated hair is important. To apply colour conditioners properly, you should wring the hair out first and then apply the conditioner evenly in small sections for proper coverage. Let it sit for some time before you rinse it off. An at-home conditioning treatment can help you keep your hair healthy without heading to the salon.

Long time exposure to heat and sun

The blow dryer sessions or using the curling iron every time causes your hair colour to fade. To lessen the impact, one can apply a lightweight oil or a heat protectant before styling. It acts as a protective barrier and hydrates hair for colour longevity. You must also cover your hair when outdoors in the sun.

These little yet effective tips make the application process and maintenance of colour-treated hair efficient and easy. Hair colouring is a form of self-expression and confidence booster for many and the experience it holds, both pre and post-application, should be resplendent too.

(The author is a cosmetic scientist & the chairman of Indus Cosmeceuticals Pvt Ltd.)

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