There’s been a thread going on a loop about women coloring their hair. My first reaction was to skip them all, since I’m a licensed cosmetologist and I often am tempted to give my professional opinion. I know that’s seldom wanted, but still– I’m tempted. 🙂
The gist is that women tend to color their hair too darkly as they age, and it looks fake. Yeah, doh! This isn’t news.
I’ve preached this for years, and urged my clients to lighten an overall color, and add multi highlights. Heck, even a simple “reverse highlight” makes a huge difference to how old a woman looks, and doesn’t chain a client to a salon and touch ups every month.
Simple rule of thumb is make the hair look natural, and that often takes multi layers of color.
August 13th, 2007 at 4:59 pm · Link
I’m going lighter, Jan. I started going from light brown to dark blonde, which was great, because my roots, a mix of gray and brown, blended to that color and I didn’t have to color as often. But it looked dull with my pale skin. So I went to dark golden blonde, which has a gold or even a reddish tint. I really like it, but my roots don’t match. It’s worth coloring more often, and at least I don’t look washed out. I’m going to try medium golden blonde in a month or two and see if I like that.
August 14th, 2007 at 8:21 am · Link
Edie, you need three colors to make the effect perfect. I loved your dark blonde, but either add minimal light blonde, or strawberry blonde,streaks. Not heavy ones, but on the thready side. You’ll be amazed and pleased with the difference. The beauty of it is you only need to do the highlight three times max a year. The rest of the time it’s just retouching the roots. 🙂
August 17th, 2007 at 7:16 am · Link
Thanks for linking to Petticoats and Pistols!
August 17th, 2007 at 9:03 am · Link
My pleasure, Cheryl!
August 17th, 2007 at 4:22 pm · Link
Jan, I’ll give the streaks a try.:) Thanks! I just went lighter this morning, to medium golden blonde, but it still looks darker. I’m fine with it. I only went lighter because of the root thing, lol.
August 17th, 2007 at 7:22 pm · Link
Good start, Edie. When you do streak, do a light touch at first. Gee, wish you lived closer–I’d be happy to do it for you. 🙂 \
August 26th, 2007 at 9:49 am · Link
Hey, Jan! Thank God you’re discussing this! LOL. I’ve been a fan of highlights for years. And I love my hairdresser too. Wayne does a spiffy job. Just had red and gold threads put in, and I love it.
August 26th, 2007 at 10:44 am · Link
That’s because highlights make the artificial color look more natural, LaDonna. I’ve never met anyone with the exact same shade throughout, no matter the age. If God can put streaks in, so can we. 🙂
August 26th, 2007 at 11:35 am · Link
Well said, Jan! 😆
September 4th, 2007 at 8:15 am · Link
Ack, I can’t imagine going darker. I’ve been going lighter (and lighter, LOL) for years, and I do the multiple highlights thing, too!!
September 4th, 2007 at 9:18 am · Link
Oh gawd, me either, Suzanne! God’s threaded in some “natural” highlights lately on mine, and I figure that’s a “sigh” to go whole hog. 😉