What you need to know about hair colour

WHEN it comes to colouring your hair, everything and anything goes!  Not only do different types of hair colour give you different results, the chemical processes you already have on your hair can greatly affect the colouring process and results you get.

You can consult with your hair stylist for her input and professional advice. Before you choose a colour, you need to first choose which type works best for you.

Temporary hair colour- As the name suggests, this colour won’t last long. They are usually marketed under the term “hair rinses” and only coat your hair’s cuticle; they don’t penetrate it. Because of that, they are perfect for relaxed hair as they don’t place a lot of additional stress on it. Temporary hair colour gradually washes out over time, usually a period of a month or so depending on how often you shampoo.

BUT if your hair is gray or white, temporary hair colour is not temporary,according to Chichi of ChiBest Salon, Magodo, Lagos. “ It will leave a permanent stain on your hair”

Semi-permanent hair Colour-This hair colour is made for darkening or adding depth to the hair, not for lightening. It coats the hair much like a rinse, but some types do contain small amounts of peroxide (not enough to lighten the hair). You will often find an activator inside a home semi-permanent colour box, which makes your colour darker. This is a good option for adding richness to your existing hair colour and will last about four to eight weeks.

“Be careful applying this colour all over. It’s best to concentrate on the roots’

Permanent hair colour-This is perfect to give you a whole new look or for covering significant amounts of gray. However, because of the higher levels of peroxide, permanent colour is better for: