It’s a new year, and you are looking to change up your look a bit but have NO idea where to start. The task deems even more daunting for women of color as questions of our hair’s strength and durability begin to circle our minds.
Hair comes in many shapes and forms; from wavy to kinky and everything in between. Texture, formation and other curly-girl concerns need to be taken into consideration when color is being applied. It is important for your well-educated colorist to know the full history of your hair, (i.e. Has your hair ever been chemically treated? Has color ever been applied to your hair? What type? When? And by whom?), to ensure a positive, time-saving and safe application.
So, you’ve arrived to your appointment, excitement has settled in and is quickly turning into anxious energy. Relax you are here to be pampered! To ease your mind a bit our Lead Colorist, Michelle Sadler, has answered 3 of the most important questions that you should arm yourself with to make certain your color goes off without a hitch:
- What color do you think would look nice on me? – “What I usually do is take a look at your skin tone and eye color to create a formulation that is as unique as you!”
- What is the maintenance involved with my desired look? “It depends on how quickly your hair grows and its natural state. For example, women with more than 50% gray will need a color retouch every 6-8 weeks. For women that do not have a concern for gray coverage, may opt for a color pattern that only needs maintenance three times per year.”
- What home care will I need? – “Currently my favorite shampoo and conditioners are from the Wella Care & Styling Brilliance and Enrich lines. These products are infused with Apricot Oil & Orchid Extract that help to maintain the overall health of your hair. A key ingredient of Brilliance is Diamond Dust, perfect for adding shine and moisture, while preventing your color from fading and shifting.”
Now that you’ve educated yourself on hair texture and consultation advice, here are a few more things that you should do before you show up for your COLOR appointment.
1. Come to the salon with your hair free of anything that will delay your appointment or inhibit color services:
- Braids and twist should be removed prior to arrival.
- Hair typically worn in a natural style should be detangled prior to arrival. Doing this can reduce the salon time by 50%.
- Hair with product buildup such as coconut oil, olive, and heavy brown gel prohibits the stylist/colorist to see tonal value of natural hair color.
2. For first time color application, it may be a good idea to allow the stylist/colorist to finish with at least a blow dry. Because hair looks darker when wet, you will most likely be unable to experience the true and end results of your new fabulous do’ without it!
Check out a few more of Michelle’s favorite products for color treated hair below:
Michelle Sadler is the Lead Colorist for the Color Bar at Cole Stevens Salon. She has over thirty years of experience with coloring all hair textures. Michelle stays current on industry trends through research and education. Her clients are her biggest inspiration as she uses skin tones and eye color to formulate one-of-a-kind looks for each of her guests.
If you would like to schedule a consultation with Michelle, please call us at 301.345.0033 or email us at consult@colestevenssalon.com.
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