Hair Color 101... for Men
Submitted by SharpMan Editorial Team on Thursday 14th October 2010- Know your options.
- Do it yourself or leave it to the pros?
- Caring for your new hair.
Some SharpMen are blessed with a beautiful head of hair, even as it turns gray. Take Richard Gere, for example. His silvery gray locks give him an air of sophistication that complements the fact that he’s in pretty good shape all around.
Well, if your shape is losing the battle at trying to keep you looking young — or if you just want a change and you’ve tried changing just about everything else about your appearance — coloring your hair may just be the thing you need. And it’s as easy as one, two, three, literally:
The Three Levels
The art of hair color has been broken down into three levels, based on the permanence of the formula used.
Level One is semi-permanent color, which adds color without changing your natural color too much. It shampoos out after six to 12 washes and covers about 50 percent of any gray.
Level Two is demi-permanent color and lasts a little longer, 24 to 26 shampoos. This level contains a little peroxide, which helps it last longer. It does a fairly good job of covering and blending those stray grays.
Level Three is permanent color. Both ammonia and peroxide are used to permanently change the color of your hair.
With permanent color, touch ups are needed every four to six weeks to keep the roots the same color as the rest of your hair. With levels one and two, regular care is also needed if you want to keep the color consistent. You just have to keep track of how many times you wash it and how it looks, and re-apply the color accordingly.
Do It Yourself?
Now that you know your options, it is time to decide if you are going to go it alone and color at home or head to a pro at a salon.
If you want to try an at home method, stick to levels one and two. Just about any do-it-yourself product will work. And there is really no difference between the products for men and women, other than the picture on the front of the box. If you can’t stomach the idea of applying a hair care product with a picture of Sarah Jessica Parker or Sarah Michelle Geller on the label, Maxim Magazine has come out with its own hair color line.
If you aren’t sure what colors will work best for you or want to do something more permanent to your hair, going to a colorist is your best bet. A great way to find a good professional is to get recommendations from people with hair you like. Or if your regular stylist doesn’t offer coloring services, most should have someone they recommend.
Keep in mind that doing it yourself will cost about $4 to $10 per coloring, and a visit to the salon can cost around $50 or more, depending on what you have done.
Go Back or Go Black
Whether you go back to your natural color or to a darker shade, the options are endless. Frosting or highlighting can help hide or soften graying hair, especially when using a color close to your pre-gray (natural) color. When covering gray with a darker color, use a "neutral tone" color to make it look more natural.
If looking natural isn’t what you are going for, go all out and go black. Black or dark brown automatically makes you look younger, and those colors are becoming trendy. Just keep in mind that you should choose a "blue black" color, not red.
If you want to color your hair just for fun or want a new look, bleached blonde streaks on the top layers or bleached tips are a great way to go. Believe it or not, a lot of men do this. While bleach is more permanent, sticking to the tips of the hair makes it a temporary change because you can chop the new color off in one or two haircuts.
Caring for Your New Hair
Once you have taken the step, take care of your hair in a way that ensures that your new color lasts until your next appointment. Taking care of your color means that you can go longer between applications or visits to the salon, and ultimately saves you money:
- Use shampoo and conditioner specifically designed for color-treated hair. These shampoos generally cost about the same as the stuff you’re already using, and really do make a difference. Brands found at your pharmacy are fine.
- Wear a baseball cap when you are in the sun, or use shampoos or conditioners with sunscreen to prevent your color from fading. Again, brands found at your pharmacy are fine.
- Consider wetting your hair with fresh water before swimming to help protect your color from the damaging effects of chlorine. Simply dowsing your hair under a faucet should do the trick.
- Use a wide-tooth comb or pick on your hair and avoid using the hair-dryer as much as possible. Brushes and hairdryers can be damaging and drying to hair that’s been color-treated.