What hair colors are there?


Generally, a distinction is made between the natural hair colors blond, red, black and brunette. People with a dark complexion usually also have dark hair, while people with a rather light and pale complexion usually have blond hair.
Any hair colors that differ greatly from shades of blonde, red, black and brown are not considered natural colors that nature intended for humans. However, if you want to dye your hair, you have an almost unlimited choice of colours. The color palette ranges from mahogany and auburn to copper blonde and classic gray, so no wish remains unfulfilled.



What do the numbers in hair colors mean?


Professional hair colors are often marked with numbers or a combination of numbers and letters. The following applies:



Number


Criterion


Explanation




Number before the slash (or comma or period)


The depth of color


The higher the number, the lighter the tone (1/ = black, 12/ = platinum blonde).



first number after the slash


the color direction


represents the main tone or color reflex. Also refers to whether the resulting color has a warm or cool hue.



second number after the slash


the gloss


Determines the secondary tone or reflex of the color. This is less visible and usually corresponds to the main tone.







Hair color and hair tint - what's the difference?


Which type of product you choose depends on your desired target hair color. There is usually a distinction between tinting, intensive tinting and permanent colouring.
I recommend a tint (durability level 1) if you want to refresh your hair color and give it more shine. The color does not penetrate the hair structure, but lays purely externally on your hair, making a tint the gentlest technique. However, you can't change your hair greatly or lighten it by tinting. Also, tints do not cover gray hair. On the positive side, there is no annoying build-up, as the tint washes out after about eight to ten hair washes.
In contrast to normal tinting, intensive tinting (durability level 2) contains chemical ingredients. This makes it more durable and lasts for about 28 hair washes. With an intensive tint, your hair is artificially pigmented, so you can even lighten your hair by one shade. However, if you are a brunette and want to go blonde, you will need a bleach or permanent hair colour.
Permanent hair colour, also called colouration (durability level 3), is suitable for extreme colour changes or to cover white or grey hair. The colour penetrates deep into the hair and cannot be washed out as with tints, but remains for a longer period.



How do I find out which hair colour suits me?


Which hair colour suits you depends very much on the colour type. There are four different color types: Spring, summer, autumn and winter type. The main distinction is whether your skin has a warm or cool undertone. If your face appears slightly bluish, it has a cool tone (summer and winter). If your skin shimmers rather yellowish, it is a warm complexion (spring and autumn).
Online you will find various websites where you can take a color advice. Here hair specialists help you depending on your personality, your preferences, current hair color trends, the season and other aspects to find your perfect hair color.




How much hair color do I need for which hair length?


If you have short or medium length or shoulder length hair, one pack of hair color is usually enough. For long hair you should rather take two packs to be on the safe side. In any case, read the information on the product carefully to determine the yield of the color.
Decisive are the product and the manufacturer, because here the amount of color you get in a package can vary. Furthermore, it depends on how thick your hair is. With very full hair you definitely need more color than with thinning hair. It also depends on the consistency of the colour. How well it spreads, you often only find out by trial and error.



How do I mix hair color?


While the exact process of mixing depends on the product, there are general instructions you should follow:



Type of color


Instructions for mixing




Semi-permanent colors


ready to use
you can mix shades together, as long as the process is not oxidative




Permanent colors


not ready for use
mix with hydrogen peroxide before use




Plant colors (henna etc.).)



mix with hot water
it creates a paste that spreads well in your hair
you can add different contents to henna to change color reflections (walnut, red wine or tea)




Oxidative colors you mix with hydrogen peroxide. Usually you use equal parts peroxide and color cream. You should mix the chemicals in a non-metallic bowl, because metals can react unfavorably with the hydrogen peroxide. It is best to mix the components with a plastic paint brush. When you mix hydrogen peroxide and an alkali (usually ammonia), an oxidation process begins immediately. This process has a limited reaction time, so you should apply the mixed colors quickly.




How long does a hair dye last?


This depends on various criteria. It depends mainly on the texture of your hair, the product, the application and care. Some products last several weeks optimally in your hair, others even for months. You decide when it's time for a new color application. Use these tricks to make your hair color last longer:

only shampoo 24 hours after coloring
wash less
use the right shampoo (color shampoo)
only shampoo at the roots (the ends will be washed as you rinse)
intensify the color with color conditioner
use conditioner to seal the color
use heat protection when styling (heat can cause your hair to fade)
use sunscreen spray for your hair (UV-Rays can fade)

Either grow out dyed areas or over-dye them. If you don't renew your color for some time, it can fade and look dull in the meantime. You'll see when it's time for a new splash of color.




Are hair dyes harmful?


Many permanent hair dyes don't usually pose a risk of serious harm, as products from reputable manufacturers in particular have to pass elaborate approval processes.
However, hair dyes are not entirely harmless either. A large number of them contain chemicals, some of which can trigger allergic reactions up to and including anaphylactic shock. Substances that are particularly likely to trigger allergies include:

Toluene-2,5-Diamine Sulfate
Paraphenylenediamine (PPD)
Resorcin

Ammonia, which is used in many hair dyes to loosen the protective cuticle layer of the hair so that the color pigments can penetrate better, also makes the scalp more permeable to harmful substances.
Generally, the less contact the hair dye has with the skin, the lower the risk of allergies. Therefore, you should wear gloves when self-dyeing and give your hair a break so that they can regenerate.



Is there hair color without chemicals?


Yes, you can find some natural hair dyes without chemicals on the market. Among them, the most commonly used vegetable dye is henna. Henna has been used for thousands of years to color skin and hair.
With modern product development, vegetable dyes are now available for blonde, red, brown and black, which are getting better at covering gray hair. However, the application of vegetable hair dyes is much more involved than mixing a chemical hair color.
Caution: although products advertise with terms such as "Henna", "Organic", "Natural" or "Bio", some non-certified products still often contain questionable or even banned substances, even if the product name suggests otherwise.



How do I remove hair color?


To remove color from your hair faster, a hair scrub or oil treatment will help. You can make a natural hair scrub from coffee powder, sugar or baking soda. Stir the ingredients in equal parts with water to a paste and then distribute it in damp hair.
If hair color is on your hands or face, you can remove it with baking soda. To do this, mix two teaspoons each of baking soda and a mild dishwashing detergent with some lemon juice, wet a washcloth well and dip it into the paste. Rub the mixture onto the discoloured skin in a circular motion, slowly scrubbing the stain away. Finally, rinse with lukewarm water.
For not too stubborn stains, you can also try using liquid dishwashing detergent alone as a hair color remover. In general, remove hair color from your skin as soon as possible because the longer you wait, the harder it is to remove. In the end, you should take good care of your skin with, for example, a mild toner and a soothing cream.


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