Changing your hair color is a drastic move. I remember the first time I did it, everyone kept insisting not to even touch the shade. It was back when I was 16, and my hair was this strawberry blonde color that looked more orange than red or blonde. I looked like Chuckie from the Rugrats. People kept telling me, “If you dye it, you will never get your color back the way it was!”

Boy, were they right.

Find Your Right Hair Color

I have a pale complexion with pink undertones. Because of that, I tried to avoid a blonder shade or a burgundy, because my face would turn into a bright pink mass. My friend convinced me to go a light brown – it was drastic, considering the change, but I went for it. I thought it looked good – until I was 19 and saw myself in a picture. I was totally washed out! I had no color, looked drab, and my hair looked flat, dull, and dead.

I ended up letting my natural color grow out. The brown faded, luckily, and within 6 months my hair was a darker version of my natural strawberry blonde. And now I love it. I guess it took some time away from my red for me to grow attached to the color. It made me unique, and I finally embraced it. After some time I added peek-a-boos of bleach blonde, and I couldn’t be happier.

So how do you choose where to go with your color?

Don't Be Drastic Dying Your Hair

First, look at your natural color. Find a color that is only 2 shades lighter or darker, so that it won’t be too drastic (please don’t go blonde to black; you will ruin your hair!). Make sure the dye is about 30-shampoo semi-permanent, so that you can always let it fade back to natural like I did. It’s also healthier for your hair.

Next, consider the color of your skin. Are you warm or cool? Some ways to tell is by judging your veins through your skin. If you are cool, they should appear blue, and if you are warm, they should appear green. Or you can use a blue or orange scarf compared against a natural face (no tanner or make-up). If the blue scarf looks best, you are cool; if the orange, warm.

Click here for hair colors for warm skin tones.
Click here for hair colors for cool skin tones.

Click here for a list of H3RS approved hair dye products.

Don’t try to dye it by yourself. If you can’t afford a hair stylist, $70 dye, ask a friend you trust who has a knack for perfectionism (my friend had OCD, so she made sure it was perfectly coated). My hair was about 3-inches below my shoulders and one bottle covered me, so make sure you get enough. Cover your shoulders with an old dark towel and use conditioner around your hair line to prevent staining your skin and clothes. Follow the dye’s instructions.

You Can Layer Hair Colors

After your hair is dyed and dried, look at your eyebrows. Do they match? If not, don’t try to dye them by yourself – that needs to be done professionally. Just use an eyebrow pencil and you should look great!

Also, once a week, you should deep condition your hair. I usually dampen my hair, coat the tips up to mid-shaft, wrap into a bun, and go to sleep for the ultimate deep condition. Use a scarf to tie around your hear or a shower-cap to prevent a mess. My hair feels so soft, beautiful, and healthy the next day, and I can’t tell that I used to dye it anymore.

I hope this helps! Remember, do not do anything drastic, and your hair should turn out great.

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