In a tight economy people are looking to save money in any way they can. Fewer nights dining out, fewer splurges on wardrobe and/or home improvements, and even cutting back on personal beauty expenses. Clients ask me frequently if box colour is really the same as professioanl colour, and if I know of a way they could get similar results at home. My answer; No.

While there are ways to save a buck at the salon, box colour is not one of them. And in case you need a few reasons why, here they are;

First of all, hair colour that comes from a box suggests that one colour is suitable for any woman (or man) regardless of natural hair colour, previous hair colour deposit, texture and/or porosity of the hair, and the underlying pigments in these differing types of hair. To make this simple, it is critical to understand that everyone's hair has different needs. Professional colourists are trained to mix different levels of colour with added tones in order to create desireable colours for each individual by analyzing the needs and dimension of one's unique hair quality. (You can't get that from a box!).

Furthermore, drug store hair colour must contain much higher levels of peroxide in order to accomodate for being able to alter the many varieties of hair and resistances. This means that the majority of the time, people are unessasarily overly processing thier hair causing excessive dryness, damage and/or breakage. Professional grade hair colours are far less damaging and many now contain added conditioners and proteins that actually better the hair quality through application. 

Another major reason that box colour is an extreme 'no-no' is that it is difficult to apply evenly to ones own head. Colourists are trained to methodically section hair and apply colour evenly without damaging, or re-pigmentizing previously coloured hair. Many times clients who attempt the at home self application miss spots entirely, leaving them  with a spotty, 'Swiss cheese' look to the end result.  Last time I checked, the 'Swiss cheese' look was not a current trend.

The motto of this story (blog) is to leave hair colour to the professioanls. While many strive to save a few dollars and attempt the store bought hues, the end result is usually an unwanted trip to the salon, many extra hours and A LOT of extra money for a corrective colour, and a much shorter hair stlye.

The good new is if you are looking to save some green, here are a few beauty insider tricks to get you by until the next pay period without sacrificing your hair's integrity or your style!

If you are typically a full foil highlight (very blonde) every 6-8 weeks, try breaking your colour up by adding a few natural looking low lights. The low lights will help with the re-growth being less visible as the roots grow in and can buy you (literally) a couple of extra weeks in between touch-ups.

If your typical colour is highlighted, you can ask your stylist to add only a few face-framing highlights, or at least only few strategically placed foils every other time or in between regular foils. This should cut your colour cost by at least a third every other time. Most stylists will charge for individual foils (usually between $5-20 a piece) if asked. (If your stylist cannot accomodate this desire, you may need a new stylist!!).

Lastly, protecting your hair colour is likely the most important and money saving aspect of hair care and maintenence. Professional grade shampoos and conditioners extend the life of hair colour and treatments immensely. There is nothing worse than watching a client spend a great deal of money on a fantastic cut and colour, and watching it get destroyed by a drug store shampoo.

Believe it or not, investing in quality hair colour and products, actually saves money in the long run. Hair care and style does not have to be something that is only acheivable by celebrities and the wealthy. Always trust a trained professional to regularly colour, treat and trim your mane.

Comments or questions?

I can always be reached by email

lana@dluxesinkandchair.com

www.dluxesinkandchair.com