Traditionally, coloring hair has been seen as a woman's beauty ritual, something many men would be embarrassed to attempt. A man might be afraid of negative reactions by those around him: his friends, coworkers, possibly his family teasing him that he is getting old. More men color their hair now, despite what you may believe, men of all ages and varieties. It is very easy to go out and purchase a hair color product to do it yourself or with the help of someone you trust. Below are a few tips to help you get started.
First of all, you have to go out and buy that hair color. Do not be afraid! Most people in retail have seen many men buy hair color, they will not laugh at you. In fact, many companies teach their employees to never make a rude or negative comment about a customer's purchase. That might lose the sale, and they certainly would not want to do that. Some stores have a beauty department with an employee waiting there who to assist or answer any question. Do not hesitate to ask, especially if you are unsure about exactly what type, brand, or color to choose.
There are several brands that are made specifically for men, the most popular being Just For Men. They have two types of hair color; one regular hair color and one specifically for facial hair. They even have a line of color that leaves a little gray for a more natural look. The coloring products made for men are great because they have the amount a man would need in colors he would want. They are formulated for men, and take minimal time to apply. If, for some reason, the selection is not enough for you, it is possible to use a woman's hair color, just read the directions in the package.
There are three types of coloring products: Semi-permanent, Demi-permanent, and Permanent. Semi-permanent lasts through about 5 shampoos and is a great option if you are not sure what color to go for. Demi-permanent lasts 20- 28 shampoos and is typically seen as safer because of the lack of ammonia. Permanent is just that, though you will want to recolor every six weeks to maintain your new look.
As far as colors go, choose a shade that is close to your natural hair color. To avoid looking fake, do not choose a color that is more than two or three shades darker than your natural color. Doing so will wash you out and possibly make you look older. Also, do not try to go more than two or three levels lighter than natural, it most likely will not take and could cause a rather ugly result.
Now that you have your color, there are a few things to remember. Always read the directions that come with the product before starting the process. That includes doing the skin and hair tests! Hair coloring products always recommend doing a skin test to make sure you do not have an allergic reaction to the dye. Remember, hair color is full of chemicals and you do not want red, itchy skin for the next few days. The hair test will determine how the color will turn out, before you cover your entire head.
Once you have locked yourself in the bathroom, you must don the necessary equipment. An old shirt works best in case of drips, but you could cover your shoulders in a towel as well. Use the gloves included in the package to prevent the dye, which can be really stubborn to remover, from getting all over your hands. Do not try to guess the time, use a watch or timer, to avoid ending up with under or over-processed hair. Make sure the room is well-ventilated, the fumes can be quite potent and you will want fresh air. Use rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover if you get any dye stains on your face or arms.
Once you have rinsed and dried your hair, check for mistakes. If you followed the directions your hair should look great, but even the experienced do-it-yourselfer's may have an accident now and then. If something has gone wrong, there are a few things you can try. If the color is too dark you can shampoo a few times to help fade it a bit. If the color is just too drastic, stores that sell hair color also carry a hair color remover. The remover will not completely remove all traces of the color from your hair but it should tone down your hair by several shades.
In the case that neither remedy is enough to fix your hair, DO NOT recolor for at least a week. Coloring too many times in a short period is damaging to your hair and could even cause it to fall out. Unfortunately, if the mistake is that bad, you will have to go to a professional. They have the tools, knowledge, and experience to fix your hair without ruining it.
If you've got the right color, maintain it by recoloring every four to six weeks. The more you shampoo, the sooner you'll need a touch up. And the best shampoo to use is one meant for color-treated hair, to keep your hair from fading faster. You could have great, natural looking hair in no time, with minimal embarrassment!