Professional dying - worth it?

[sras]

I've had my hair dyed by a professional once before, and although I noticed that my hair felt softer after than it did when I had dyed myself, I think it may just have been the conditioner they used, which I could buy myself.

Considering the outrageous prices of pro dying, do you think it's worth it? Is it actually better for your hair to have a pro dye it then to do it at home?

[naturallyblonde]

roots maintenance is worth it if you can't do it yourself. i live in Southern California and you can tell who does not have good hair coloring from ten feet away.

I would say mantain it yourself but get a pro to do highlights before big events and photo ops.

[sras]

Is it actually better for your hair to get it done by a professional? My mom has dyed her own hair for many, many years, and yet somehow maintains very healthy hair. I'm afraid if I did that, my hair would become dry and horrible.

[beehive]

My personal experience is, if you like different color highlites, then I would suggest getting it done professionally, if you don't than your better off buy it of the shelf.

[JoJo]

I've always dyed mine at home and never had a problem with it drying my hair out or causing any sort of splitting. I think the prices the salons charge are FAR too high! I do agree, though, that if you want certain highlights, it would be better to get it done professionally.

[locksofluv]

I use store brand color, and I find, as long as you trim your hair periodically it will not dry out. I think getting it done professionally isn't any different than doing it at home.

[Toni]

Originally Posted by naturallyblonde

roots maintenance is worth it if you can't do it yourself. i live in Southern California and you can tell who does not have good hair coloring from ten feet away.

I would say mantain it yourself but get a pro to do highlights before big events and photo ops.

I've been meaning to comment on this last statement.
My professional opinion is that it is very possible and safe to color your own hair at home. However, it can be challenging to match colors when you are talking over the counter color and professional color. The at-home type is formulated to be weaker to enable the amateur to safely do it. It is also done at a governed, specifically set time for this regulated formula. The pros have a different formula that processes at a different rate. It takes a stylist who has mastered the art of hair coloring and who has access to matching up brand names. Clairol, for example, can usually be copied back and forth. Yet some other brands can be risque.

Choose to go one way or another with your haircolor. If you decide you want to color it at home, talk to a stylist about any potential highlights you have thought about so she can steer you towards the best brand name for at home kits. I feel a good cosmetologist will be glad for your honesty to advise you in this as it is so stressful to try and fix messed up hair.

And you thought I was going to say, never color your own hair.
If you're unsure, do what the pros do. Save some of your hair from your next haircut, taping several locks to heavy cardboard or laminated paper at 2 inch intervals. Buy the haircolor(s) you like and experiment. Then take the locks, bind them on the same taped end with more wrapped tape, and hold them against your own hair. What do you think?

Regular haircuts and maintenance will take care of your hair very nicely. At-home kits have lots of conditioners and, as I say, are formulated to be gentle to your lovely locks.

[jetblack]

It's totally worth it. I colored my hair for years and never could get it right. That's because my natural color just has too many undertones in it and my hair was way too long when I was doing it. It took two boxes, I was following the directions exactly, and it still never came out right. Oh well. It was fun. Now I pay, I get to relax, and my hair looks fantastic.

[sras]

I actually bleached my hair myself (err, well, my boyfriend did, anyway) once. He missed a few spots, so some spots came out orangey. I had to have my mom fix it... that was an experience... When it comes to regular dye, though, I think I might stick to doing it myself. Thanks for all the answers!

[Crissy]

Originally Posted by sras

I actually bleached my hair myself (err, well, my boyfriend did, anyway) once. He missed a few spots, so some spots came out orangey. I had to have my mom fix it... that was an experience... When it comes to regular dye, though, I think I might stick to doing it myself. Thanks for all the answers!

Oh dear! That reminds me of my spring break and a bottle of Sun In. I didn't think it did anything and I was disappointed. It wasn't until I went for a trim that my hairdresser showed me how orange my hair was. I had to get a brown rinse to look normal for prom.