HOW TO ASH BLONDE HAIR AT HOME

As people of the 21st century, we all keep searching for ways to make ourselves different and stand out from society. We continuously strive towards trying to show our individuality through various means.  One such way is through our hair. By sporting various hairstyles and hair colour, we often try to impress others and also express ourselves. This is because as humans, we have a natural urge to impress those around us and hair colour is one of the easiest and affordable ways to create your own style and personality.

Scientifically, color can be defined as an optical illusion created when light falling on surfaces, reflects back and reaches our eyes. The outermost layer of our hair called the cuticle is transparent and it is the inner layer called the cortex containing the color pigment which actually shines through this outer layer and gives our hair the color it shows. Our natural hair color is composed of a variety of color pigments such as black, brown, red and yellow. In India, most people have black or dark brown colored hair due to the presence of a dark pigment called eumelanin whereas blonde hair contains very little pigment predominantly yellow-red in colour called pheomelanin.

When colouring our hair, shades of colours are used similar to paints. We have primary shades namely red, blue and green which combine to form secondary and tertiary shades such as copper, red, magenta, mahogany etc. Complementary colours are however made up of contrasting colours and are often used to neutralize hair colour. They are usually brownish in colour.

HOW TO ASH BLONDE HAIR AT HOME

Although colouring hair at home is a work of precision and risk, it is nevertheless an effective way to give your hair the look it deserves. However, you should consult your hairstylist or an expert to determine your hair type and the products suitable for your hair. Here a step by step guide is given on how to colour your hair ash-blonde at home.

• Purchase two shades of the same brand and range.

Choose permanent hair dyes such as Garnier Nutrisse for colouring. Do not mix two different brands ever as each brand has its own unique composition and difference in ingredients could cause unexpected results, which might not be desirable. 

• Choose the appropriate mix (avoid ash and gold).

Refrain from mixing ash and gold colours as the tonal differences between them are too extreme and may result in an odd colour. Ash can be mixed with a neutral shade.

• Mix the contents from the two boxes- the developers and the colour creams – in one bowl.

Usually, the applicator bottles provided alongside the dyes are very small and insufficient to mix the colours in them, so you should use a bowl of your own. A plastic and glass bowl should be used and not a metallic one because certain metals might react with the chemicals in the dye and produce odd colours.

• Apply the hair color on your hair ends and work your way through the roots:

Apply the hair colour from hair ends to roots. Wait for the dye to dry out. If you want a lighter hair tone, once you are done with applying the dye, pile up your hair on your head and wrap it in a shower cap. This will lock in heat and increase the pace of the lightning process.

TOP OVER THE COUNTER THE PRODUCTS FOR ASH BLONDE HAIR COLOUR…

Here we have mentioned some highly rated ash blonde hair colour kits. Choose the one which suits your hair and complexion best. Always consult with an expert to determine the ideal choice of hair colour as well as product. Be careful to choose a product and shade which is compatible with your hair and complexion.

Light Ash blonde colour

Light ash blonde colour is a whiter shade of blonde with an ashy or gray tint. It could be described as cool platinum and is ideal for people with light complexions and light eye colours. Lady Gaga sported this hue, which can be obtained on lighter natural hair colors through balayage or all-over color for those having darker hair. If you choose the right hair colour, you will just need a single application for covering your hair including the grays and occasional quotes for covering natural hair colour that grows. If your hair looks light ash-blonde, you can use the following OTC products for long-lasting colour.

• L’Oreal Paris Excellence Pro-Keratin light ash blonde color
• Excellence Crème Hair Dye, Light Ash Blonde 9.1
• Revlon Luxurious Colorsilk Buttercream Hair Color, 03G Ultra Light Sun
• Clairol Nice ‘n Easy Root Touch-Up Hair Color, Light Ash Blonde 9A
• Revlon Colorsilk Beautiful Color Permanent Hair Color, 05 Ultra Light Ashy blonde

Dark Ash blonde color

There is also this darker version of ash blonde hair colour which gives your hair a cool silvery touch and suits people having darker hair, skin and eye colours. The hair colour can be matched with the skin tone, if required, by warming up with buttery highlights. This color can be an excellent choice for covering naturally graying hair. The main reason women prefer dark ash blonde hair dye or any other ash hair color is that they do not want to colour their hair in shades of golden like orange and yellow. Basically, they do not prefer warm tones in their hair. It may be due to not having a proper match between skin tone or eye color and hair colour. Dark ash blonde colour can be worn on black hair, on brown hair and even dark brown hair. There are many choices in the market to choose from out there, but if you want to abstain from using toners or extensions, you can use one of these dark ash blonde colours.

• LO’real Dark Ash Blonde Preference 7A
• Garnier Belle Color Ease 7.1 Natural Dark Ash Blonde
• Revlon Dark Ash Blonde
• Revlon Colorsilk Dark Ash Blonde 60

HOME REMEDIES TO COLOUR HAIR ASH BLONDE

Lemon and honey

Ingredients

 

• Lemon juice(one-fourth cup)
• Honey 2-3 tbsps
• Water 1 cup

1. Combine the ingredients to make a solution.
2. Pour the solution into a spray bottle.
3. Spray the solution on your hair but make sure not to overdo it.
4. Let it stay for 2 hours and then wash it off with a mild sulphate-free shampoo with lukewarm water.
5. This mixture should be used a maximum of thrice a month.

Baking soda shampoo

Ingredients

• Sulphate-Free Shampoo (coin size). You can use one sachet.
• 1 tsp Baking Soda
• 2-3 drops of Blue Food Color
• 2-3 drops of Purple Food Color

1. Combine all the ingredients in a jug or bowl along with a few drops of water to make a smooth semi-liquid paste. Set the mixture aside.
2. Now rinse your hair with water and apply the mixture to your hair like shampoo.
3. Leave the shampoo for 10 minutes and then rinse it off.
4. Apply a conditioner after shampooing. You can also add drops of Blue Food Color in the conditioner for extra toning.
5. Repeat this process once a week and not more frequently as it may dry your hair.

Apple cider vinegar

Ingredients

• Apple cider vinegar: 2-4 tbsps
• Water: 8-10 tbsps. 

1. Simply add a few spoons of water to the vinegar to make a diluted solution.
2. Pour the solution through your hair and wash it off after 15 minutes.
3. You can use vinegar around thrice a month but don’t overuse it as it may end up washing off essential oils making your hair dry.

PRECAUTIONS

Colouring your hair could make your hair look great but it is beyond doubt that it is a risky procedure and must be done with full care and caution. Here are a few precautions to be taken pre and post colouring your hair.

Pre-colouring precautions

• If you have split ends or damaged hair, it is better to get your hair trimmed prior to coloring because split ends can soak up the excess colour.
• Heat treatment processes such as perming and straightening expose your hair to various chemicals and can have adverse effects on the hair. If your hair has already been treated with these processes, try and avoid pre-breaching processes.
• Do not apply henna on your hair if you are using artificial colouring products on your hair. Henna dries your hair and adversely affects the strength of the hair colour. If you want to apply henna, keep a gap of at least 5-6 months between colouring the hair after applying the henna.
• If your scalp is sensitive, consult your stylist for proper otc products. If you have scratches or abrasions on your scalp, wait for them to get healed before applying colour. 

Post-colouring precautions 

• Use a good colour preventive shampoo to retain the hair colour. It prevents early fading away of hair colour.
• Hair Colouring should not be done on a regular basis as this may prove to be harmful. If you are colouring to cover grays, it should not be done more than once a month.

MYTHS AND FACTS

Myth: If I wash my hair a day before I color it, it helps in removing dirt, so that the dye spreads over my hair effectively and evenly.

Fact: Actually, dirty hair is more effective in providing a lasting hair colour compared to clean or washed hair. It helps the hair in trapping the colour molecules and covers the scalp with a protective layer. In Fact, even many hairstylists suggest not washing the hair for more than 2 days a week.

Myth: Nothing can be done to make the colour last longer.

Fact: There is one way which can increase the length or duration of hair colour. Conditioning your hair well after colour is one such remedy. There are products available in the market which not only deep condition your hair but also boost the hair colour.

Myth: All salon colours are the same.

Fact: Different hair colour brands offer different properties and are hence suitable for different hair types. Hence, all salon colours are not the same.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Is semi-permanent hair dye safe to use?

A: Semi-permanent hair dyes are free from Ammonia. They are not required to be mixed with developers and lasts for around 4-12 shampoo cycles. They are generally used for enhancing the natural colour of the hair or blend the gray hairs. It is safe to use and should be applied immediately after using a relaxer or perm service.

Q: How long should I wait after dying my hair to dye it again?

A: It is recommended to wait for at least four weeks before colouring your hair again. You should ideally wait for at least 6 weeks between two consecutive colouring as it requires that much time for your hair to recover from the effects of the previous coloring.

Q: Does leaving hair colour longer makes the hair darker?

A: Hair dyes work for around 45 minutes after application. So the dye does get darker for that much time but after 45 minutes, it does not make much difference. For a lighter shade, keep it for 15-20 minutes and for a darker shade, let it stay for 35-40 minutes.

Q: How long should I wait to dye my hair after bleaching it?

A: It is advisable to wait for a minimum period of three days to a week before you dye.  Also, give yourself a deep conditioning treatment in between consequent dyes to improve the health of your hair.

Q: How long should I wait to wash my hair after I have dyed it?

A: After colouring your hair, you should wait for around 72 hours ( 3 days) before shampooing. This is the time required for your hair to completely absorb and lock the color molecules in your hair cuticles for long-lasting hair colour.

Q: What kind of shampoos should I use after dying my hair so that the colour stays longer?

A: Using a mild and gentle shampoo that is free of oils and clarifiers is good for use. 

Q: Do color fillers help in making hair color last longer? 

A: Color fillers are typically tinted protein enrichment formulas that are designed to add substance to your hair that may be damaged or weakened due to hair color or other chemical treatments. These tinted proteins attach themselves to the internal structure of the hair, making it stronger and boosting your hair color.