Read Before a Huge Hair Colour Transformation.

We all get the urge every now and then to do something dramatic and change up our look. And what better way to do that than a huge hair colour transformation.

Going from dark hair to platinum, light hair to dark hair, bright, rainbow or pastel hair are all massive changes and whether or not you’ve just been through a breakup, bit of a breakdown or just believe that change is as good as a holiday, there are some crucial things to consider beforehand. 

✔️ Hair history- First things first, understanding the history of your hair is probably the most important thing when it comes to changing your colour. So have a think back on all the colour that your hair has been through over the last couple of years. Have you got any artificial colour in there? Has it been bleached? Any old foils or balayage hiding underneath a dark tint or toner? 

 

Even if you haven’t coloured your hair in years, depending on your hair length, there may be may up to 4 or 5 years of colour history hidden in your locks. It seems like a lot to try and remember but it is extremely important that you and your hairdresser know what’s in there to avoid any disasters or unpredicted results. 

f your hair is short, obviously there will be less hair history for you to have to try and remember, if your hair has even been coloured at all. 

If you’ve got completely virgin hair that has never been coloured before in its life, then congratulations! Your hair is in the perfect state to go through a huge change, and you’ve got every hairdressers dream hair to work on. 

 

✔️ Reference pictures- The fun part! Take time in browsing Insta, Google and Pinterest for hair inspiration. Whether you’ve got a hero image of the look you want to achieve, or hundreds of hair pics saved, they’ll all be helpful to your hairdresser in curating the perfect look for you.  

Check out Chumba’s Instagram page for hair inspiration!

It can also be helpful to show your hairdresser images of hair that you DON’T like. So, it’s beneficial to have a couple of those saved as well just to give your hairdresser the clearest idea possible. Pictures are a hairdresser’s best friend so the more the better. 

Here’s an awesome article on The Best Celebrity Haircut and Hair-Color Transformations of 2020.

 

✔️ Realistic Expectations & The Journey- It’s important to keep in mind when deciding on something new that not every hair image that you see is going to be achievable straight away. Every hair colour transformation is a journey. Especially if there is any color correction work or fix ups that needs to be done. This is the part where we take a step back and have a look at:  

-What we’ve got to work with (your hair and its history) 

-Where we want to get to (your reference images) 

-How we’re going to get there (the journey) 

Depending on the current quality, condition and colour build up on your hair, achieving some colour looks in one session are simply impossible. For example, if your desired result is a pastel pink or icy platinum blonde, but your hair is black boxed dyed, this is a situation where many lightening sessions over many weeks will be required to lift your hair to the desired level.

Another example would be if you have had a full head of blonde foils but then decided to go all over brown for winter, and now you want to transition back to being an all over blonde. Again this is another situation where a few sessions may be required not only to get you to the level of blonde you want to be, but to ensure your hair stays healthy with no breakage.

Your hairdresser will come up with a plan based on all these aspects when you have your consultation, but it is important to understand that achieving your dream hair may take a few sessions. 

 

✔️ Maintenance & Upkeep- Before you decide to go through with your hair transformation, its important to consider the maintenance and upkeep that will come with your new style.

Many of types of hair colour come with a lot of commitment, whether that’s because you’re on a journey towards your dream hair or touching up your blonde regrowth. You’ll need to ask yourself whether you can commit to coming into the salon regularly.

 

 

It’s imperative too that you’re able to look after your new colour at home. Using salon quality products picked out for you by your hairdresser will ensure that your colour lasts and doesn’t fade too quickly, which you can experience when using lower quality supermarket shampoos and conditioners.

Your journey planned out by your hairdresser may also include regular treatments every few weeks to keep your hair healthy and strong for your next colour service. Or regular toners to keep the colour fresh. 

 

✔️  Consultation- If you’ve checked every box and have decided to go ahead with your transformation, the last step is to have a consultation with your hairdresser. This is the time to talk about your hair history, go through your reference photos, discuss what is realistic for your hair and come up with a plan with your hairdresser. You will also get price quoted and time quoted. This is also the time to discuss home hair care so you can continue looking after your hair at home.

 

 

It is important to have a consultation prior to your appointment, especially if you have colour in your hair already. That way your hairdresser can take a test strand of your hair to see how it will react to different colour products and reveal your hair’s colour history. Please be as honest with your hair’s history as you can, this will eliminate any surprises or disasters like breakage or uneven colour results.

From here your hairdresser will come up with a plan of how to get you to your desired look with confidence, knowing exactly how your hair will respond to different colouring processes.

To book in for a free consultation for your hair colour transformation at Chumba Concept Salon click here!

 

Author: Jessie Riches, Senior Stylist @ Chumba's Windsor Salon

 

JESSICA RICHES