Color Me Beautiful...At Home!

Buttery blondes, chocolatey browns, vibrant reds . . . If the only thing standing between you and the hair color of your dreams is hard-earned cash - you know, the kind top-notch salons charge to work their magic - then dream no more.

In today's result-driven, user-friendly world, it's easier than ever to achieve the haircolor of your dreams by surfing the shelves of your local drugstore and heading - pocketbook intact - to the privacy of your home to make it all happen.

Of course, the right color isn't going to jump off the shelf and into your hands - and it's not going to follow you home and expertly apply itself. Like anything worth attaining, you'll have to invest a little effort to achieve glowing results.

Still interested? Then read on.

One of the biggest secrets to achieving top-notch results is choosing the right product and shade based on your hair's existing color, condition and chemical service history.

Of course, you'll also want to ensure that your hair is in tip-top shape before applying color and create an optimal at-home working environment.

And last, but certainly not least, you'll need to know where to turn for pre-color advice and (heaven forbid!) post-color help; and - dare I say it - but yes, I must . . . when it's best to leave the coloring to a professional.

The first step to ensuring a happy ending is to determine the type and shade of hair color you want.

Each has its own advantages. Semi- and demi-permanent colors do just what their name implies - they fade out with subsequent shampoos, which means you're not left with strong lines of demarcation as new hair grows in. They're also gentler on the hair, since neither contains ammonia (or ammonia substitutes) and only demi-permanent contains peroxide (and only in very small amounts).

On the other hand, semi- and demi-permanent colors can't cover gray 100 percent (although they do leave a slight stain on gray strands that resembles scattered highlights) and they can't lift - or lighten - the hair's natural pigments to deposit a lighter color.

Semi-permanent colors are great for subtly enhancing the hair's existing (natural) color and wash out after six-to-12 shampoos.

Demi-permanent colors deliver subtle, but more noticeable, color changes, have a greater ability to blend gray and have at least twice the life of semi-permanents, washing out after about 24 shampoos.

Permanent colors, on the other hand, cover gray 100 percent, are capable of lifting - or lightening - natural hair color a few shades and do not wash out with repeated shampoos, although they do lose some of their luster over time. Because they have such staying power, however, they can leave a noticeable line of demarcation as new hair starts to grow in (think roots), which makes regular touch-ups all the more necessary.

For lifting the hair's natural color beyond a few shades - such as turning dark brown hair blonde - you'll want to purchase a double-process blonding kit, which includes a lightener for removing the hair's natural color, so a lighter shade can be applied.

Coloring hair that has already been colored can be slightly more tricky. Although darker shades can be applied over existing (artificial) haircolor, it's important to remember that Color Can't Lift Color - artificial color that is. In other words, once a haircolor has been applied, it's impossible to apply a lighter color over it and get the desired results.

What to do? In the case of existing haircolor, it's best to place a call to the color manufacturer for advice - most have hotlines staffed with color consultants trained to guide you in making the right decisions.

While there may be a way to remove artificial color at home before applying a new, lighter color, there are times when it's best to head straight to a salon, where a professional will do the job for you. (Of course, once a new color has been established, a manufacturer's color consultant can advise you on how to maintain it at home.)

Although all of the major companies list their toll-free numbers on their product boxes, following are the numbers for three of the most popular brands: L'Oreal - (800) 631-7358; Clairol - (800) 223-5800; and Revlon - (800) 473-8566.

Be prepared to tell the color consultant what color you have in mind, when you call. (After all, they'll need to know where you want to go, before they can tell you how to get there.)

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Jonna Crispens is a New York-based freelance writer and editor with a passion for unlocking the secrets to healthy living, anti-aging and personal style at all ages.