Think of your Hair history like your new partner; you need to know where they have been to know what’s to come. Like when you find they have a possessiveness over the most mundane things that you later learn are a result of a previous dictatorial partner who tried to control and dominate every part of their life and this small thing was how they didn't feel completely emasculated. And now you are being punished for it.
That’s like Hair Colouring. To be a great Colourist relies on knowing the basics well. Perfecting your application is important, your Developer choice is vital and progressing to painting your highlights is astoundingly impressive. But this can become unhinged by one tiny, vital detail: your Hair history.
Knowing your Natural Hair Colour is crucial to Colouring and so is knowing what is in your Hair right now. Colouring straight on top of your Natural is easy, Colouring when there is already Colour in your Hair may need a few tweaks for a successful result.
So before you begin Colouring, you need to ask yourself these questions:
What Colour is currently on your Hair?
How long have you had this Colour?
What was your Colour previous to that?
Do you have any Colour techniques on your Hair? e.g. Is your Hair bleached, highlighted, ombre.
Have you been using any Colouring shampoo’s or treatments? (Colour lock Products can effect your process. We recommend to stop using them a few weeks prior to Colour or Colour Removing.)
Followed by
What Colour do you want to be?
What is your Natural Hair Colour?
Once you’ve answered these you can set up your Colour plan.
Let’s look at my Colour questionnaire.
What Colour is currently on your Hair?
5 Light Brown
How long have you had this Colour?
12 months.
What was your Colour previous to that?
5.3 Golden Brown.
Do you have any Colour techniques on your Hair?
Yes. Prior to 5 Light Brown, I filled in my ombre ends with 5.3 Golden Brown.
Keep reading:
Are you over your ombre?
Have you been using any Colouring shampoo’s or treatments?
No.
What Colour do you want to be?
8 Light Blonde.
What is your Natural Hair Colour?
7 Medium Blonde.
Looking at this questionnaire raises immediate flags. Can you see them?
I am currently a 5 Light Brown and I want to be an 8 Light Blonde. *holds up flag* I cannot Lighten already Coloured Hair and must completely Colour Remove the dark Colour out before I can apply the 8 Light Blonde. And knowing I have been Colouring for at least 12 months means I will need multiple applications of Colour Remover to nicely clean out my Hair.
Keep reading:
WTF is Colour Build Up and why does it matter?
If I had not done my questionnaire and Coloured my Hair immediately with 8 Light Blonde and 30 Vol, guess what would have happened? That’s right nothing. Just like your new relationship, my history would have caught up with me.
