There are few DIY beauty procedures that are as difficult to execute as the salon-worthy at-home hair colour.
To save you a total DIY disaster, celebrity hair stylist and hair colour connoisseur, David Keough, busts the myths you’ve been agonising over to ensure you select and achieve the perfect at-home hair colour.
RESCU: What is the best state for hair to be in before at-home colouring?
David Keough: Hair should be in its best condition possible, so regular conditioning treatments are a must to keep hair in tiptop shape. If hair is more porous/damaged in areas colour can cling more to the hair, so a healthy base structure will help you achieve the most flawless colour results. It’s best to wash your hair the day before you intend to colour.
The scalp has natural oils that will help protect your hair during the colouring process. Also avoid having any styling products in the hair as this can stop the colour penetrating into each strand.
RESCU: What should we consider when selecting a colour?
David Keough: To ensure the most natural looking results when colouring at home, its best to select a shade within 2 levels lighter or darker than your starting colour. Identify your shade level, then look for a shade1-2 shades lighter or darker than this level. Then you need to consider what tones you’d like to see in your hair. Generally if your complexion is more honey/almond, you tan easily or your eyes are brown or hazel, choose colours with golden/beige tones. If your complexion is pale, rosy or has an even ebony colour or your eyes are blue or green, choose shades with an “N”, for natural.
RESCU: If we want to go lighter, how do we ensure we avoid a DIY disaster?
David Keough: If you want to go lighter than 2 shade levels, it’s best to consult a professional colourist. You can also opt for gradual lightening treatments such as the John Frieda® Go Blonder Controlled Lightening Spray, which will gradually lift your blonde hair by 2 levels.
RESCU: What are your top tips for those with thick hair to ensure consistent, even colour?
David Keough: If colouring at home with Precision Foam Colour, follow the instructions and use the whole bottle if your hair is particularly thick or long. The Precision Foam Colour liquid actually creates up to 2 litres of foam when dispensed, so there should be more than enough for one application. The foam consistency makes the colour very easy to apply and spread. The more foam you apply and the more you massage it in, the better the colour results will be.
RESCU: What about for those with thinner hair?
David Keough: Follow the instructions carefully and use enough product so that your hair looks as foamy as the pictures in the instruction leaflet.
RESCU: Covering greys for the first time, how do we go about this?
David Keough: Precision Foam Colour provides 100% grey coverage, so is a really quick and easy to use option to cover grey hairs. Ensure you read the instructions carefully to follow the timings for the best grey coverage.
RESCU: How long should we really wait before we rinse at-home hair colour?
David Keough: Follow the instructions carefully; the times are different for different application methods (eg root touch-up/all over). Generally 30minutes maximum for 100% grey coverage.
RESCU: What’s the best way to get rid of at home hair colour stains on our skin?
David Keough: If you get any product on your skin it can be easily wiped off straight away to avoid staining with a damp washcloth or facial wipe.
RESCU: How often should we be washing and treating coloured hair?
David Keough: It depends on the condition of your hair, how much natural oil the scalp produces etc. Generally every 2-3 days to keep hair healthy and colour preserved. Dry shampoo is a fantastic product to keep your blow-dry fresher for longer.
David Keough’s Pro Tip for making your colour last longer:
You can keep your hair colour looking fresh and amazing for longer by using the John Frieda® Colour Care shampoos and conditioners in Sheer Blonde, Brilliant Brunette & Radiant Red. Also a weekly treatment will keep your colour locked in for longer, and you can now purchase the Intense After-Colour Conditioner (the exact same product that’s in the boxes of Precision Foam Colour) in a full sized tube.
RRP: John Frieda® Precision Foam Colour $22.99 each, available from Priceline, Woolworths, Coles, Chemist Warehouse and selected Pharmacies. To find your perfect shade, visit www.johnfrieda.com.au and use the online shade selector tool.
John Frieda® is a commercial partner of RESCU.com.au
