A Client’s Guide to the Hair Coloring Process

According to a study by Garnier, one-third of women dyed their hair during the Pandemic. With the Pandemic long over, many people are returning to salons for their haircare. Salon procedure is quite different from how you might treat your hair at home, though.

Not only do salons have a range of specialized equipment that you can’t find in a typical store, but their staff are trained to style hair and perform other beauty treatments most wouldn’t know. We’ll discuss how salons approach hair coloring and how it differs from home treatments here.

Types of Hair Coloring

Hair coloring can take many forms, and people have found many different ways to use coloring. There are three different types of hair dye used by most salons. They are permanent, demi-permanent, and semi-permanent.

A. Permanent

Permanent coloring is the best at covering gray hair and won’t wash out. Permanent hair dye will grow out as your natural hair grows back in its original color.

The other downside is that permanent dye uses chemicals like ammonia and peroxide, and in larger concentrations. These chemicals can damage hair cuticles and, in some cases, lead to hair loss. 

B. Demi-Permanent

Demi-permanent coloring offers about as many colors as permanent dye, but with fewer chemicals, and it hides root color. This dye can last for 24 washes. 

This does come at the cost of some chemical use, though. If you’d prefer not to expose your hair to peroxide or a heightened pH balance, demi-permanent dye isn’t for you.

C. Semi-Permanent

If you’re looking for a simple option with minimal chemicals, try semi-permanent dye. This is a quick, pre-mixed solution, if a short-lived one. Semi-permanent dye lasts about 7 washes. 

The ease of using semi-permanent dye means that you can use it at home. It’s also common enough that you can find it at most stores.

The Hair Dyeing Process

The process of dyeing your hair is simple. The stylist will make sure that your hair is washed and brushed. Healthy hair is easier to dye.

The salon will usually put an apron over you and may put something on your hairline and scalp to protect it from dye. Though essentially harmless, hair dye is often tough to remove from the skin.

The stylists will mix the dyeing solution and dye your hair bit by bit.

After applying the dye, wait for it to set, and then wash your hair again. The washing and drying can also take time due to hair porosity.

Hair porosity is a measure of how much water your hair retains. Thinner hair holds more water than thick hair. Unhealthy hair holds more water than healthy hair. The more water hair holds, the longer it takes to dry.

Hair Coloring: What to Expect

Hair coloring can seem like a hassle, but the process itself is simple. We’ve discussed it here, but there’s always more to learn.

You can learn more about hair and beauty treatments by reading our blog. If you’re looking for a great salon in Charleston, visit us at Gibson Hair and Makeup. We have a team of master and senior stylists with years of experience to make sure you get the best treatment possible. 

Feel free to contact us if you want to make an appointment or have any questions for us.