First things first, get familiar with knowing your natural hair color level first. The best way to identify your natural hair color level, is to rate it on a scale of 1 to 10. Level 1 being black, and level 12 being lightest blond. Your level is in there somewhere! ( Unless of course your hair color is all grey, which I’ll explain a little later.# Some hair color companies offer swatches #Hair samples to view# to give you an idea of how the color will look once applied. However, knowing your own natural color level before you start any color project truly gives the best results when choosing a desired color. How do we do that? Well, asking a professional hair colorist to help identify your natural "base" color level is an easy approach, Or, if having to choose on your own, here are some professional tips for finding your natural base color level. First, check the back crown area of the scalp #May need a two-way mirror for this procedure, unless you have a trusty friend near by,) as this is the best area for determining base color level.
Determine the closest level using this guide:
Level 1: Black, 2: Very Dark Brown, 3: Dark Brown, 4: Medium Brown 5: Light Brown, 6: Dark Blond, 7: Medium Blond, 8: Light Blond, 9: Very Light Blond 10: Lightest Blond.
Sometimes hair may look as if it falls within two level numbers making it difficult to pinpoint exact level, not to worry, choose the darker level in this case. Some may become very surprised to learn that their hair is actually blond after thinking they had brown hair most of their life! Then always choosing the improper shades for their hair when working with hair color! Color levels ranging from 1 to 4 tend to have reddish tones, 5 to 8 tend to have orange/gold tones, and levels 9 and beyond have golden tones. In most cases, if the hair is not an obvious black, dark brown, light blond or very light blond, it would fall in the range of a level 5 or 6. Once base level is determined, can you then choose an appropriate hair coloring product. A wonderful way of choosing appropriate shades of hair color is to find the shade of color within your natural color base level. Natural base level 5’s should find colors that are for level 5 hair colors. Most times the numbering system on the box shows you that the color level is a 5 by the first number of the "shade number" listed on the box, in some cases not, checking manufacturers suggestions is always important in helping to choose the appropriate product to achieve your hair goals. Most hair coloring mistakes start from the wrong choice of product for the wrong color level! Remembering grey hair, grey hair usually needs extra grey coverage, especially if the grey hair is of course texture. Grey hair also has free range of color choice as you are starting with a clear palette! Grey hair cuticles can be stubborn and needs extra grey coverage type products, so stay within the 100% grey coverage series of color lines. For those who are trying to achieve very light blond hair, using a "hair lightener" as opposed to permanent hair color is recommended. Depending on the color of your hair you started with, remember, using a permanent hair coloring product to "lighten" another hair color previously put on the hair, will not work! Color know-how: Hair Color will NOT lighten another hair color! If this is the case, a lightening blonder should be used, and with extreme caution, depending on the current strength and condition of your hair. Asking a professional hair colorist for advice and services for any lightening or corrective hair services is highly recommended, especially if there is any "damaged hair" involved. In most cases of color correction, having proper hair coloring procedures in the first place would cost far less than having to go through the cost of the corrective services after. Staying within your natural base level in permanent hair coloring is your best bet, adding highlights over top for added glam is wonderful as well! Good luck, and keep that hair beautiful.
