Hair color is an important part of many people’s style and self-expression. For those who color their hair at home, using a quality brand like Clairol Professional Color ensures predictable, beautiful results. With some basic knowledge of hair color and proper application techniques, you can use Clairol Professional Color to enhance your natural shade or dramatically change your look.
Choosing Your Clairol Color
Clairol offers a wide range of permanent, demi-permanent, and temporary hair colors. Permanent hair color penetrates the hair shaft and lasts 4-6 weeks before fading and requiring a touch-up. Demi-permanent color coats the outside of the hair and washes out over 24-26 shampoos. Temporary color rinses out in just one shampoo. Here is a table comparing the different types of Clairol Professional Color:
| Type | Lasts For | Good For |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent | 4-6 weeks | Dramatic, long-lasting color change |
| Demi-permanent | 24-26 shampoos | Subtle, temporary color change |
| Temporary | 1 shampoo | Special occasions |
The level system is used to determine how light or dark the color is. Levels range from 1 (black) to 10 (lightest blonde). Be realistic about what level you can achieve from your starting shade. For example, if your natural hair is a level 6 brown, a level 10 platinum blonde is not really achievable in one session.
Preparing Your Hair
Properly preparing your hair helps the color absorb evenly and last longer. Here are some tips for prepping your hair before dyeing:
- Wash your hair with clarifying shampoo 24 hours before coloring. This removes any built-up product.
- Avoid using conditioner after shampooing, as it can create a barrier.
- Dry your hair fully before applying color. Damp hair can dilute the color.
- If you have previously color-treated hair, fill it 1-2 weeks before coloring to even out your base shade.
- Protect your skin with petroleum jelly around your hairline, ears, and neck.
- Wear an old shirt or smock to avoid staining your clothes.
You may also want to trim split ends which can prevent the color from properly saturating the ends.
How to Mix and Apply Clairol Professional Color
Always follow the instructions on the individual box of color for mixing ratios and timing. But in general, here is the process for applying permanent Clairol Professional Color:
- Put on your protective gloves.
- Mix the color cream and developer according to the instructions.
- Divide your hair into four sections and use clips to hold the sections not being colored.
- Starting at the back, apply the color using the tinting brush to fully saturate your hair from roots to ends.
- Massage the color into your roots with your fingers.
- Let the color process for the time indicated on the box.
- Rinse with lukewarm water until the water runs clear.
- Shampoo and condition as normal.
- Style as usual.
To ensure even coloring, divide hair into 1/4″ subsections when applying the color. Always maintain a bit of overlap between subsections. Thoroughly saturate all the hair, focusing on the roots and ends which tend to grab less color.
Maintenance Between Color Applications
Proper maintenance is key to keeping your color vibrant between applications. Here are some tips:
- Use a sulfate-free, color-safe shampoo and conditioner.
- Wash hair in cool water using minimal shampoo.
- Use a deep conditioning mask 1-2 times per week.
- Protect hair from sun exposure which can fade color.
- Avoid chlorinated pools and salt water which can leach out color.
- Use a colored conditioner or glossing treatment for a boost of color.
- Get a root touch-up around week 4 to maintain your look.
Removing Clairol Professional Color
If it’s time for a change, here are some options for removing or altering Clairol Professional Color:
- Color remover – Use a pre-packaged color remover to strip permanent color before recoloring.
- Bleach bath – Lighten hair gently by mixing a weak bleach solution and dipping damp hair into it.
- Full bleaching – For maximum lightening, apply a full bleach such as Clairol Professional Born Blonde maxium lift.
- Cutting – Gradually trim off the colored sections as your hair grows out.
- Grow out – Let your roots grow and blend down gradually into the colored lengths.
It’s best to consult a professional hair colorist to remove color in the least damaging way. Bleaching too aggressively can result in damage.
Troubleshooting Common Clairol Color Problems
Clairol Professional Color should give you terrific results. But occasionally things can go wrong. Here are some fixes for common issues:
| Problem | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Spotty or uneven color | Hair not saturated thoroughly | Reapply color only to light patches |
| Dark roots with colored length | Roots not saturated enough | Touch-up roots with same color |
| Brassy or yellow tones | Not filling hair first | Use a toner or adjusted color formula |
| Dry, damaged hair | Overlapping lightener applications | Deep condition treatments |
| Color fades too fast | Washing too frequently or with hot water | Wash less with cooler water |
Conclusion
From selecting your ideal shade to proper prep and application, the right techniques are key to getting beautiful, healthy hair color results with Clairol Professional Color. Understanding your hair’s base color and texture allows you to choose a realistic target shade. Careful application and maintenance preserves the vivid color between touch-up appointments. With some practice and these tips, you can become your own at-home colorist and achieve salon-worthy results with Clairol Professional Color.
