Here is a short guide to when you should visit the salon, and when you can color at home.



Color at home if:

Your roots need touching up.

It will take around 4 weeks after coloring your hair, for your roots to begin to show through. If you are visiting the salon each time you need them to be touched up, then it can prove expensive. There are many root touch up kits on the market today that can be used at home with good results. They are not intended for a full head color, but are adequate for covering up root growth in the most obvious areas, for example, around your crown and along your parting.

You are still experimenting with color.

If you are still experimenting with color on your hair then it is wise to use one of the many semi-permanent hair coloring kits that are on the market. These can either be the 'wash in, wash out' variety, or they may last for up to 6 shampoos or so. These are a good way of experimenting with color, without the expense of the salon, or making a commitment to a permanent color change.

You are hair color savvy.

There are many different coloring kits on the market today, and they are easy to use and can give great results. If you know what you are doing, and what color you want, then using these kits can cut the cost of a trip to a hair salon considerably, leaving you money to spend on a good cut to compliment the color.

Go to the salon if:

You want highlights.

Highlights can be difficult to do at home. Even if you have someone to help you, it can be hard to get the same results as at a salon. If you want two or more colors on your hair, then it is safest to go to a salon and have them put in professionally. Your hairdresser can blend them in, and advise on what colors would work well together.

You want a complete change of color.

If you want something completely different to your usually color, then it is essential that you go to the salon. Your hairdresser can advise you on what colors will suit your skin tone. They will also advise you of how light or dark you can safety go in one step.

You already have gray hair.