Tried marbling your hair?



Wondering whether you should take the plunge and colour your hair? Or are you the more seasoned kind, and are merely pondering what colour your tresses should take on next?

Well, you have company. Hair colouring has been an obsession with much of mankind for many centuries. Ingredients that were popular then, like walnut shells and henna, are used in present day hair dyes and colours as well.

Here are some do's and don'ts to make sure you are on the right track and don't face any hair colouring dilemmas.

What's in

We are going back in time to all that was hip and cool.

~ Gothic, big, loud hair is back, but the shiny, glossy look is now slowly fading to be replaced by a more matt, unkempt look.

~ Hair colours like deep/ intense purple and pink are the colours of the season.

~ Khaki and shades of biscuit work well with the matt look.  

~ "Auburn, red and copper tones are really in right now," says model-turned-actress Aditi Gowitrikar.

Two hot techniques

Global colouring (colouring all your hair) is no longer the rage.

Highlights are still good, but there's something even hotter -- both the marbling and Balliage technique rule the roost today.

What's marbling?

~ Marbling involves using contrasting or complementing shades that merge into each other -- bright red and brown, for example.

"Marbling is good example of hair colour placement that is very hot right now," says Natasha Sara, a popular stylist at Hakim's Aalim, a popular hair salon in Mumbai.

And Balliage?

~ Balliage is another colour placement technique that involves colouring different parts or patches of hair to enhance your hair style.  

You can opt for a variety of colours if you opt for the Balliage technique.

"The Balliage technique is a good change from highlights and the process is quicker; highlighting can sometimes take upto four hours," explains Nitasha Shukur, creative director, Juice, another popular Mumbai hair salon.

Money talk

The cost of colouring your hair starts at Rs 1,500. Depending on the length and thickness of your hair, it can cost up to Rs 7,000 or more.

Hair colour for men

~ The loud, matt look stands strong for men too. Silver and shades of tobacco are in among the guys.

~ Aakil, a post graduation student, opted for the marbling effect. "My hair colour is a combination of blond and brown and it's cool."

~ If you're the adventurous and courageous kind, and like to stand out, give stencilling a try. It involves shaving down the hair length and colouring it in a chosen pattern.  

Hair stencilling is a common sight during big sporting events like the World Cup, as guys parade with the World Cup trophy or the map of India stencilled on the back of their heads. Be warned, though, stencilling is a high maintenance option.

~ Older men have always been and still are conservative about hair colour. They normally opt to dye their hair when they start going grey. The only difference is, instead of the dark, natural hair colours they chose earlier, they prefer lighter shades now.

~ Model Rohit Sagar says, "I think colouring is great. I've just coloured my eye brows."

 

Colouring your hair? Take these precautions
Planning to colour, streak or add highlights to your hair?

While you find the idea exciting -- and even debate marbling and Balliage, the latest trends we suggested yesterday -- you might be wondering if your hair will be affected in the process.

Can hair colour cause damage?


Colouring your hair could lead to some amount of hair damage. This is because hair colouring products use some form of chemical agents. The chemicals are used on the open hair cuticle to deposit colour into the cortex (inner layer in single strand of hair). This makes the colour last. Without the chemicals, the colour would fade the next time you shampooed your hair.

"Frequent chemical altering of the hair is especially damaging. It affects the natural lustre and elasticity of the hair," says Natasha Sara, who works at Hakim's Aalim, a popular hair salon in Mumbai.

First timers may experience some dryness of the hair that can be remedied with a strong conditioner. "I use extra conditioning to deal with the dryness caused by the hair colour," says model-turned-actress Aditi Gowitrikar, who streaked her hair golden.

Hair can be extensively damaged with repeated chemical applications, leading to dryness and loss of lustre. Sometimes, it even affects hair texture and straight hair becomes wavy or curly.

Sonal Shah, a second year MBA student, has coloured her hair thrice. "My hair looks great now but the texture is really bad. It's rough and tangled," she says.

So, heed these pre and post hair treatment tips.

Before heading for the salon

 If you have damaged hair or split ends, a trim before colouring is recommended, as your hair ends are prone to soaking up excess colour.

~ Hair spa treatment is available in salons for hair damaged due to repeated colouring. This treatment includes massaging, steaming, etc. It is administered to improve and add shine to damaged hair.

~ Perming and straightening hair involves a strong dose of chemicals. If your hair is already damaged by this, try and avoid the pre-breaching process.

~ Do not apply henna if you are thinking of using artificial colouring products. Henna not only makes your hair dry; it also forms a barrier and affects the strength of the colour.

~ "A four to five months gap between the time you apply henna and the time you opt for colouring your hair is good," says Sara.

~ A patch test is a must, especially if you're colouring your hair at home. A patch test is conducted to check for any negative skin reaction to the colour. It is easy to administer. Simply apply some colour on the inside of your elbow, keep it on for 15-20 minutes and wash off.  If there is any skin reaction, avoid using the colour; try another company's product or consult a professional.

~ If you're scalp is sensitive, make sure you inform your stylist.

~ If you have scratches or abrasions on your scalp, wait until they have healed before colouring your hair.

Post colouring precautions

~ Use a good colour preventive shampoo; it makes sure your hair colour doesn't fade quickly. "People with coloured hair should avoid harsh shampoos like anti-dandruff shampoos," says Roshini Kanjee, who works at Enrich, L'Or?al.

~ Using a good conditioner is a must after colouring. A conditioner helps restore the hair's texture and the nourishing vitamins dried out by the colouring process.

~ Model Jessae Randhawa went in for multiple colour streaking. "Repeated colouring did effect my hair. The main damage was dryness. I use a good shampoo and conditioners like L'Oreal and Tigi's moisturising conditioners," she says.

~ People with very dry or damaged hair can use replenishing balms or hair serum after colouring.

~ Avoid colouring your hair on a regular basis.

"If you're colouring your hair to hide the grey, then it should only be done once a month. The younger age group can change hair colours after a gap of three to six months," says Marci Fernandez, hair stylist at Exquise, L'Or?al.  

To colour or not to colour…

Your hair colour can be an expression of your personality. Go ahead and give it a try. Just remember to take the recommended precautions.

Here's wishing you a great hair day.