With the vast array of hair color choices out there today, it can be hard to know which ones would look good on you. You know you want to do something different, but you have no idea where to start. Your professional colorist would best be able to help you here, but to get a good head start, here are some basic hair coloring tips to help you choose or change your hair color.

The most common problem seen with hair coloring at home and in salons is choosing a color that is too light for the natural shade of your locks. Realistically, color can only lighten hair beautifully by a few shades. If you go any lighter than a few shades, you need to choose a high-lift product such as bleach or a professional highlighting system. Failure to do this often results in hair color that is much too brassy or even orange.

Will the color look harsh on me? If you choose a hair color that is natural looking, it will not look harsh on you. For example: If you are young, and want to enhance your own hair color. Your stylist will choose a color very similar to what you already have. Younger people can get away with more drastic changes in their hair color because they generally have vibrant skin tones. Although, if a young person chooses a black color for instance, and their hair color is not naturally black, this can sometimes be very harsh looking on them also. Like wise, when young people with very dark hair, try to go all over blonde, it can be a too harsh for the same reasons.

The proper procedure prescribed on the label or manufacturer must be followed while using hair color. The remnants of hair color must be washed away after applying. The right procedure is to place the colorant all over the head and not from the roots. Permanent hair coloration may take about 45 minutes to get completed while semi colorants will take about 25 minutes. In case of lightening you must complete the process only by washing it off with special shampoos and balms. You should avoid sudden color changes and only get your hair colored by an expert hair colorant. Generally people with sensitive skin or skin problems are not advised to get their hair colored. Only healthy strong hair can withstand the process of hair coloring so you should be sure that your hair will be able to withstand the process as hair coloring is for better appearance and if you are going to end up with more problems you are better off with natural pigmented hair.

Highlights are used to enhance and brighten the base color, and are usually applied more heavily along the top of the head and around the face for a brightening effect. Lowlights are darker in color or tone than the base color, and give the hair depth and the appearance of fullness when applied to the underlying layers of hair. With a multi tonal or color style there is a natural look to the color, and the awful root growth problem of many single hair colors is minimized.

You will know what I am saying if you have ever tried to cut your own hair at home. You might even have sad memories of watching the big gash you made grow out. With bad hair cuts you can change a part, or your hair style, until it grows out. But when bad hair color shows up, much more vividly than you wanted, it demands being fixed.

Hair consists of a shaft, which we see, and its root, which is below the skin in a follicle (little pit). The shaft is dead. The living part is the follicle and the few cells just emerging from it at the base of the shaft. This is how the hair grows, by cells at its base subdividing, pushing upwards, hardening and developing pigment. Typically, each of our hairs grows at about ½ inch per month and lives anywhere from 3 to 5 years.