Hair Coloring
All About Hair Coloring
By Marquetta Breslin
May 6, 2006 - 6:00:00 PM

Hair coloring is the "in" thing today. Gone are the days when hair coloring was looked upon as a strange practice. Now it is considered cool, hip, urban, and edgy. It started off as a way to get rid of that nasty gray hair which sprouted out of nowhere. In that case, most people opted for colors matching their natural hair color, just to cover the gray area. But now you see people everywhere opting for different colors, shades, and tones. Coloring is no longer just a cure for gray hair, but a bold fashion statement.

The main constituent of hair is keratin and there are two types of melanin pigments that decide your hair color. Eumelanin constitutes black and brown shades and Phaeomelanin constitutes blond, ginger, and red shades. Gray hair appears due to the absence or inadequacy of these pigments.

Hydrogen peroxide and ammonia are the two main ingredients used in hair coloring products. There are three levels of hair coloring that can be done; semi-permanent color, demi-permanent color, and permanent color.

Semi-permanent color, as the name suggests, doesn't change your natural color permanently. The color molecules enter the outer layer of the hair and add color which usually lasts for 6 to 12 shampoos. The color molecules don't react with the natural pigments. These semi-permanent color products don't contain hydrogen peroxide or ammonia.

Demi-permanent coloring lasts for a considerably longer period of time. During this process, the color molecules penetrate the outer layer. They enter the cortex region of your hair and form medium-sized color molecules. This type of hair coloring lasts up to 26 shampoos. These hair coloring products don't contain ammonia, so they don't lighten your natural pigments. They do contain hydrogen peroxide, so they enhance your hair color in a subtle manner.

Permanent hair coloring is needed when you want to go for a permanent change. From blonde to black, redhead or any other color; you can transform completely. These hair coloring products have both ammonia and hydrogen peroxide to make more of a permanent color change. They lighten your natural pigment and they interact with the natural pigment to form a new base which becomes the natural color.

Permanent coloring should be done only by professionals. Before going for this kind of permanent makeover, it's best to do a strand test. The color difference is a result of the interaction between your natural pigment and the color you choose. The strength of natural pigment varies from person to person, so the same shade may look different on someone else's head. A strand test can help you predict the outcome of your hair coloring process.

It is important to consult with a stylist before coloring your hair, and it's much better if you can get it done by a professional. There are a lot of do-it-yourself kits available for hair coloring, but if you make a mistake, you may not be pleased with the outcome. So, funky, urban, edgy, cool, hip, or punk; no matter what you call it, get your hair colored professionally and keep it stylish.


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