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Autumn is officially here. Clocks have fallen back, and we're all thankful for the moderate weather below the Mason/Dixon. You've probably noticed that alongside the usual articles in the women's periodicals on "How to trick your man into cooking Tex-Mex" and "101 new positions" (just when we were getting the hang of the old ones) there appear articles on Fall hair trends. This usually includes the suggestion of bringing your light, summer locks to a deeper shade more in line with the cooler weather. But before you break up your marriage on improperly spiced fajitas, give yourself a sprain trying to re-energize your love life or go from Gwyneth to Angelina lets look at this a little more pragmatically. You need to, first, ask yourself a few questions:
1) Is this what I want?
I, myself, am prone to peer pressure. It accounts for my permed hair in High School and my brief exploration of Buddhism but, left to my own devices, I would have tried neither.
Do you want to make your hair darker because you believe that it will enhance your look, or is it because of external sources (ie. magazines, friends, partner)?
Take the magazine articles with a grain of salt. Certainly, your hair may need an adjustment that requires some darker color. Exposure to sun and surf may have lightened your hair during the summer months to a shade that was much lighter than you ever intended. Consider adding lowlights to the mix of your normal highlights. Lowlights are the addition of a darker color, usually an approximation of your natural or base color.
Also, your hair may need a toner to adjust the color. A toner is also known as a "gloss" or a "glaze", no matter which you use the results are the same. The product is a semi-permanent hair color that deposits color on hair. It also has the benefit of restoring shine and to even out porosity which can leave your hair looking its best.
2) What is the right shade for me?
Tone and depth are really important when it comes to looking your best. Frankly, some people look better with lighter hair and darker hair can have a negative impact on their appearance.
Take advantage of Van Michael's portfolio consultation. Your colorist will be able to give you a complete skin tone and eye color analysis. This will help define whether you should wear warm or cool tones and how dark or light your hair can be. By using the portfolio, your stylist will be able to illustrate the exact tones that they intend to use on you. This will help avoid any confusion.
I can't tell you how many times a client has told me they hate any warmth in their hair only to point to the sunniest of golden locks in my portfolio. It's not uncommon for someone to ask for darker hair only to point at a light blond in my portfolio. With the use of pictures to clarify the conversation, disaster is averted.
3) Will I regret this?
I've been doing hair for 18 years, and if there was ever a constant, it would be that almost 100% of people who do drastic light to dark hair changes can have a difficult adjustment period.
Much of this is a knee-jerk reaction to not recognizing the person staring back at you in the mirror, but for some, it is that of true regret. Cognitive dissonance is not so simple when it comes to hair color. It's not quite as easy as returning the item for an exchange or refund.
Expense aside, there are a few other things to consider when going back from a dark shade. Chances are that the stylist will use a filler to color your hair from a light to a darker hue. Filler replaces missing pigment in lightened hair so that the darker shade will be more stable when it is applied. This same aid can also create a barrier when trying to bring your newly dark hair back to a lighter shade.
Things to consider are off tones (usually orange or brassy) and damage. The only hair product that will successfully lighten colored hair is bleach. While bleach is not an innately bad thing, it can cause damage when applied to already porous hair. You may try to replicate your old look and end up with a damaged mess.
I am an advocate for changing your look on a regular basis, but I do urge clients to think about major changes before jumping in with both feet. Sometimes a major life change can trigger the need for an image makeover. Events like this can often lead to a series of bad decisions. Try a gradual change; you may not get the instant gratification, but you will have options to continue the path to a new look or re-evaluate and regain your senses.
Just because the season changes, it doesn't necessarily dictate an image overhaul. Much of this talk is propaganda to lead you to the mall for an entirely new wardrobe.
Before you follow the advice of any magazine, first ask yourself, "What do I really want?"
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