posted 08-26-2003 06:40 PM            

For me, my gray looked like tinsel against my dark hair, and I was coloring it more and more to keep the gray covered (I'm 37). Now that I'm dark blonde, the gray isn't as noticable, and the roots aren't too ugly because I didn't go extremely light with the blonde. I'm just working with my roots about every 6 weeks now, before I went blonde, I was coloring every 4 weeks.

I do it myself, and I buy the pricier products...I don't know if it really matters, but I was afraid to use something cheap and end up looking like a burr ball.

posted 08-27-2003 10:28 AM            

When one turns grey and wants to BLEND the color rather than having one SOLID color, the best option is to go at least 2 shades lighter than the desired color. IN other words, if you want your hair to look a medium brown, use a Dark Blond color which would be a shade level of 8 or 9. To prevent the hair from looking too red or too ash (green), opt for a color that says NATURAL on the label - such as Dark NATURAL Blonde.

If the color description says 'Golden', it will contain a yellow/orange base -- it it says 'Warm', it will contain a red/orange base -- if it says 'ash', it will contain a green/violet base. One that says 'natural' contains a mixture of all the colors so the end result is a combination of warm, golden and ash so the color does not result in any type of undesirable 'off' cast.

In order to remove some of the over-deposit of color on the ends (before you apply a new color), mix 1 part peroxide with 1 part shampoo (usually 1/2 ounce of each depending on the length and thickness of your hair). Dampen the ends of your hair with water from a spray bottle - just dampen; do not saturalte or allow it to be 'dripping'. Apply the peroxide/shampoo mixture to the ends and evenly distribute by using a wide tooth comb. Leave the mixture on your hair for about 25 - 30 minutes. This should lighten the ends ONE level and just remove any over-deposit of color without removing too much color. You can always check the progress by wiping off the solurtion on a tiny 'test' strand of hair. If it has not sufficiently lightened the over-deposit of color, leave it on for a bit longer. Remember, when the hair is 'wet' it will look much darker than after it is dry.

After removing the excess deposit of color and shampooing your hair, your hair will be a bit more porous, which (in this case) is a GOOD thing. Next. towel dry the hair, but leave it damp to apply the fresh, lighter color. Follow the mixing and application instructions that come with the 'brand' of color you purchased.

Loreal` Preference is a good color for over-the-counter purchases, or you can choose one of the available "Over The Counter" (semi-professional) colors at your local Beauty Supply.

PS: Even if you do not notice a significant change in the color after leaving the peroxide/shampoo mixture on your hair for 30 minutes (maximum), it will still leave the hair in optimum shape for the next color aplication to pull out some of the residual color and replace it with the lighter color. This is because 20 volume peroxide (which usually comes packaged with the color) will lift for the first 20 minutes, then deposit for the next 20 minutes. This will still be the case if one uses an 'ammonia free' color.