TIPS

• The ends of your hair are more porous and soak up more color than the roots. Rub condi­tioner over the ends while your hair is pro­cessing. In the last five minutes, apply color to the ends, over the conditioner. The color will penetrate just enough to create an even color.

Shampoo you r hair THE DAY BEFORE you color it. That way, you will be less likely to have streaks.

If your shampoo doesn’t lather very much, it’s LOW pH.

• For root touch-ups (and nothing else), part your hair into four equal sections. Keep the sections in place with bobby pins or clips. Apply the color to the parts themselves. Take each sec­tion and work on the roots of the section, and then clip up again. This keeps the coloring on the root, and keeps you from wasting product.

• Use a shampoo with a low pH level so that it won’t strip out your color.

• Spread petroleum jelly along hairline before applying color to protect your skin.

• Peroxide-based astringents like Sea Breeze can give very subtle highlights. Use a tooth­brush and simply apply product to thin sec­tions of hair. Let it sit ten minutes and shampoo thoroughly.

• Try to find products with thermal protectors. These products have barriers to protect hair from heat.

• Always rinse with cool water after every wash to extend the life of your color.

‘FREEBIE……………………..

J Just the way the sun can fade hair, so can J ^blow dryers, curling irons, and flat irons.

COLORING MYTH

Some women think that their color will not get as dark as it is shown on the box if they leave it on five or so minutes less than directed. That isn’t enough time for the color to take and the results leave the hair looking brassy.

Updated: July 2, 2015 — 5:01 am