Why You Should Wait for Your Stylist

Believe it or not, hair color is not just as simple as guessing the right shade and seeing what happens.

I wanted to write a post and show you all what some key differences are between over-the-counter color and professional color.

If you've been coloring your own hair for years, kudos to you girl - you have that on lock down! But if you're struggling with your roots coming in during this quarantine, I urge you to keep reading before taking color into your own hands.

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When looking through the store aisle at box colors, you play a guessing game on what shade to pick. At the salon, your stylist personalizes your formula, using as many as FIVE colors to create ONE look for you and you alone.

Hair color is paired with a developer. Each type of developer has a different purpose and is paired accordingly by your stylist based on your needs (highlights, gray coverage, gloss, etc). Box color is given specific additive chemicals not only because of its shelf life, but because the color has to be marketed to work on anyone.

The most commonly bought store brand color is “medium brown.” Those two words mean nothing!! That’s like telling your husband “i’m going to go buy a car today.” your husband is going to ask you to elaborate - what make? What model? What features do you want your car to have? etc.. Likewise, your stylist will ask you questions pertaining to how you define “medium brown.” A box color can’t talk back to you.

Every retail hair company formulates differently. “Medium brown” will not mean the same for one manufacturer as it does for another.

All the brunettes in this formula were customized by me.

Bottom line: it’s 100% possible to color your hair at home and make it look beautiful. Will the results be unpredictable? Most likely. If you’re not happy with the results, you really only have three options ladies:

(1) Live with it.

(2) Color your hair darker to cover it.

(3) Save those precious quarantine dollars for a color correction when you head back to the salon.

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So, now you’re probably thinking, “okay you got me. I’m officially scared of box color. But Katie my grays are out of control. Can’t you mix me up my formula so i can do it at home?”

This isn’t a good option either. Here’s why:

--> If we try to sell you something that says “for professionals only” we are 100% liable. If you have a chemical reaction at home, if color gets in your eye, if your child ingests it - that’s on us. For the safety of everyone, it’s just not a risk we’re willing to take.

--> User error. Ladies, I don’t mean this in the sense that I’m downplaying your ability to apply hair color. How many of you, at your salon appointment, tell your stylist “I wish I could blow dry my hair at home like you do”? Think about why that is: when you blow dry your own hair, your hands and arms are in a different position than when your stylist blow drys your hair. The same concept goes when you try to apply color to your own hair.

--> Many guests have multi-dimensional hair - meaning, you probably started thinking of spring hair by recently getting highlights, lowlights, or balayage. If at home you accidentally cover hair that has been lightened, it may be damaging to re-lighten hair covered by permanent color.

One final word:

Your stylist appreciates every single one of you. Once you’re able to head back to the salon, your business is going to provide for them not just financially, but emotionally. We chose this industry to be around people and these last few weeks have been tough in that sense. We look forward to giving you your dream hair, and hopefully, just maybe, also a hug.