THEY say blondes have more fun, but brunettes are mysterious and sexy. If blondes are day, brunettes are night. Seasonally, blondes are spring and summer, and brunettes are autumn and winter. But what do you choose? This summer, will you go lighter or darker? Here are the rules to follow if you’re ready for a hair change.
The Light Side
Rule #1
MAKE a salon appointment if you want to go platinum blonde. For a DIY job, it’s risky to lighten up more than two shades beyond your natural colour – you could go orange!
Rule #2
FIND a dry shampoo. Refreshing your hair without shampooing will help keep the colour vibrant for longer.
Rule #3
DITCH the all-over highlights. It’s outdated and looks unnatural. Rather stagger the highlights so that it looks like you were born with sun kissed streaks.
Rule #4
DEEP condition often. If you’ve bleached your hair to become blonde, you’ve already stripped it of some colour and moisture. To avoid looking like you’ve got straw for hair, use a deep conditioning treatment, and use it often.
Rule #5
BLOW-DRY on the coolest setting, especially if you have to blow-dry hair every day. This will do minimise the damage that hot air can cause.
DIY TIP:
FOR natural highlights, mix lemon juice and water in a spray bottle and spritz on your hair. Sit in the sun for about an hour and the lemon juice will naturally lighten your hair.
The Dark Side
Rule #1
IF you’re lucky enough to have naturally dark or black hair, then limit the use of hot ironing tools. You’ll not only frizz and dry out your hair, you’ll also lose its natural colour coati ng.
Rule #2
START with a semi-permanent colour, especially if you’re worried about dyer’s remorse. It stains only the surface of hair, so it’s easier to lighten again if you change your mind.
Rule #3
USE styling clay to give your style some movement. Warm up a dollop in your palms and apply to the ends for a piece-y effect.
Rule #4
THINK twice about going jet-black in one swoop. You may love it on a celeb, but it can look harsh if you’re fair-skinned. Rather ease into it by trying a dark brown shade first.
Rule #5
DON’T forget the brows! If your eyebrows are too light, it will ruin the illusion of being naturally dark haired. Use a dark brow pencil to fill them in.
DIY TIP:
Brew a strong pot of coffee and let it cool, then put the coffee in a spray bottle. Once a week, after shampooing, spray the coffee throughout your hair. Let it sit for five to ten minutes, then rinse and condition. The coffee helps to boost your colour and add richness and depth!
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