Hair Color Blog Archives

Grey hair isn’t just a sign of aging — it’s also a badge of life’s experiences, an emblem of the paths we’ve walked and the lessons we’ve learned. But while it’s a natural part of life, not everyone is ready to embrace the silver fox within. And that’s perfectly okay!

You’re in the right place if you’re searching for trusted guidance on the best ways to cover grey hair. Today, we’ll delve into the wonderful world of hair color and provide insights, tips, and techniques curated by our experts here at Therapy Hair Studio. So, whether you’re just starting to spot a few silvery strands or have a full head of gorgeous greys, read on. We promise to make this journey of transformation as graceful and stunning as you are.

What Causes Hurn to Turn Grey?

The color of our hair, whether raven black, sandy blonde, fiery red, or anything in between, is determined by a group of pigments called melanin. These pigments are produced by cells in our hair follicles known as melanocytes. As we age, these melanocytes start to slow down and eventually stop producing melanin, leading to less pigment in our hair. The result? Hair that is a silvery-grey color.

Certain factors can influence when and how quickly this process happens. Genetics plays a significant role – if your parents went grey early, you might be on a similar trajectory. Other elements include stress, certain health conditions, smoking, and nutritional deficiencies, which can all potentially speed up the greying process.

But remember, there’s no right or wrong time to start greying. It’s as unique as your fingerprint, making you the individual you are. Now that we know the why, let’s move on to the how: How can we tackle those silver strands and have you feeling your best?

Discovering Your Color Journey: Top 6 Ways to Cover Grey Hair

With the right tools and techniques, covering grey hair becomes less of a chore and more of a creative adventure. We’re here to walk you through the top six methods, providing you with the knowledge to make an informed decision about which route you want to take. Here we go!

• Semi-Permanent Hair Color: Ideal for those beginning to notice a sprinkling of greys, semi-permanent color adds a layer of pigment to your hair without drastically changing the overall shade. It’s a low-commitment option that washes out after a few weeks and subtly blends grey hairs with your natural color, resulting in a softer, more natural look.
• Permanent Hair Color: For those with a significant amount of grey hair or a desire for a complete color transformation, permanent hair color offers a total coverage solution. This method works by infiltrating the hair shaft with color, offering a long-lasting and intense result. Regular touch-ups are needed to ensure consistent color as your hair grows.
• Highlights and Lowlights: If full coverage isn’t your style and you’d prefer to incorporate your grey hair into a new look, consider highlights or lowlights. By coloring selected strands either lighter (highlights) or darker (lowlights) than your natural color, your stylist can blend your grey hair into a multi-dimensional masterpiece, turning a perceived challenge into a chic feature.
• Balayage: This French hair coloring technique involves hand-painting color onto the hair to create a graduated, natural-looking effect. It’s a fantastic method for those wanting to disguise greys while adding depth and dimension to their hair. Plus, as the color grows out, the regrowth is less noticeable than with other methods, making it lower maintenance.
• Root Touch-Up Kits: A lifesaver between salon visits, these kits are designed for easy at-home use. They offer temporary coverage for greys, focusing on the root and temple areas where grey hair often shows first. While not a permanent solution, these kits can be a great stop-gap measure to keep you looking your best between color appointments.
• Henna: A favorite among those who prefer a more natural approach, henna is a plant-based product that has been used to color hair for centuries. It can lend a range of hues from red to brown to black. While henna dyes may not cover greys as thoroughly as synthetic dyes, they offer a chemical-free alternative with less predictable, but often beautifully unique, results.

Each of these coloring methods has unique benefits, and the best one for you depends on your specific needs, the condition of your hair, and the look you’re striving for. No matter your choice, our skilled stylists at Therapy Hair Studio in Houston are eager to help you embark on your color journey, ensuring a final result that brings out your inner radiance. Call (713) 355-4247 today or complete our contact form to schedule an appointment.

Congratulations, you’re pregnant! Whether it’s your first or subsequent pregnancy, there will be much to think about throughout your pregnancy. Of course, at the top of your mind, practically every day, will be thoughts about your baby’s health and development. You might wonder, can highlighting or lowlighting your hair harm your baby’s health?

What are Hair Highlights?

Highlighting is a hair coloring activity or technique that uses a lightener, a hair dye, or a color to add streaks to your hair. The streaks are typically two to three shades lighter than your original hair color, making your hair look multi-dimensional. Lowlighting is a similar technique, except the streaks are two to three shades darker than your natural hair color. It’s an excellent technique for women with thin hair, creating the appearance of thicker hair.

Should I Get Highlights While Pregnant?

Although it is generally agreed that dying your hair won’t harm your baby, scientists do not know for sure if it’s safe to highlight your hair while you are pregnant. There haven’t been enough research studies to answer this question definitively. The limited number of studies done so far have primarily examined the potential effects of hair dyes, which contain chemicals and are typically applied to your whole head of hair and scalp. After coming in contact with your scalp, “…exposure to these chemicals from hair dyes or hair products results in very limited systemic absorption unless there are burns or abscesses on the scalp. Therefore, these chemicals are unlikely to reach the placenta.” This conclusion is from a 2008 study in the Official Publication of the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) agrees with the findings. For over 60 years, ACOG has published information based on medical research and Ob-Gyn experiences. ACOG’s official statement on hair dye hair during pregnancy is, “Most experts think that using hair dye during pregnancy is not toxic for your fetus. There are different types of hair coloring, including permanent, semi-permanent or temporary color. These all contain chemicals. Studies on animals show that high doses of these chemicals do not cause serious birth defects. Also, only a tiny amount of chemicals from hair dye is absorbed through the scalp.”

Most experts advise pregnant women to wait until at least after the first trimester for whole-head hair-dying techniques. Here is a sampling from credible medical sources for how long to wait to dye your hair:

• “Consider waiting until the second trimester.” (The American Pregnancy Association)
• “Some doctors advise women to avoid having their hair dyed during pregnancy (or at least until after the first trimester).” (The American Cancer Society)
• “Many doctors recommend holding off on hair color until week 13 of your pregnancy, just to be safe…” (The Cleveland Clinic)

Do medical experts also advise pregnant women to wait to have their hair highlighted? Hair highlighting methods do not come into contact with the scalp, so the risk of chemicals entering the scalp is much less than that from whole-head coloring. A pregnancy’s first trimester lasts until the end of the 13th week. This time is critical for your baby’s growth and development. Thirteen weeks is a fairly short time to wait to have your hair highlighted. If you are still concerned about getting your hair done with highlights during your pregnancy you should talk to your doctor.

Learn more about a highlighting technique we use here at the Therapy Hair Studio called Balayage. Balayage (pronounced “baa-lay-ahge)” is a French hair-coloring method that works by hand-painting the surface of your hair, starting midshaft and continuing toward the ends of your hair. This method has several advantages over the more traditional highlighting technique using foil. Balayage requires less maintenance, is less damaging to your hair, and avoids chemicals coming into contact with your scalp, reducing the risk of scalp absorption.

Contact Our Expert Hair Salon in Houston

When you’re ready to highlight your hair, please call our expert colorists at Therapy Hair Studio at (713) 355-HAIR or contact us online to schedule a consultation or appointment.

St. Patrick’s Day gives everyone the chance to capitalize on the luck of the Irish. Whether or not you believe in leprechauns, green has recently become a go-to hue in hair coloring. Celebrities such as Kylie Jenner, Lizzo, and Billie Eilish have all embraced the color, and you might be wondering about joining in on the fun.

If you are thinking about dying your hair green for St. Patrick’s Day, you should know that getting the color right may require some research. But with patience, care, and the right hair dye, you can be ready to make a powerful statement. For best results, work with one of our colorists to achieve the optimal shade and keep your hair healthy.

Can I Dye My Hair Green without Bleaching It?

If you are looking for a subtle shade of green, you can achieve this without bleaching, even if your hair is dark brown or black. However, pre-lightening dark hair will be necessary if you want a more dramatic result.

Those with blonde or lighter hair might already have a suitable base for green. However, you might still need to lighten if you want to achieve a pastel or neon green result.

The Best Green Hair Dyes

Once you have decided which shade of green you would like, your next challenge is to choose which hair dye you should use. The following options are among the best on the market.

L’Oréal Paris Colorista Teal Semi-Permanent Dye

This range offers excellent semi-permanent dyes for those experimenting with green locks for the first time. The instructions and application are straightforward. While this formulation is for brunette hair, you will need to bleach first to achieve the color displayed on the package. Colorista offers a bleach kit you can use for this purpose.

Manic Panic Electric Lizard

The Manic Panic brand offers the best range of alternative hair colors on the market. As you can probably tell from the name, their Electric Lizard hair dye will give your hair a bright, neon-green look. As an added bonus, it will even make your hair glow under a blacklight. Results are vivid and long-lasting. You should lighten your hair to the lightest level before use for the best results.

Punky Alpine Green Semi-Permanent Conditioning Hair Color

Punky Alpine offers an affordable option that can give your hair a vibrant green pigment without pre-bleaching. Users highly rate this vegan brand for its wonderful smell. However, the color may transfer to your pillow for the first couple of nights, so use caution.
Adore Semi-Permanent Hair Dye, Green Apple

Adore offers another product on the budget end of the scale, resulting in a pastel-like green color that is excellent for warmer skin tones. The application is trickier than the other options but offers excellent coverage. This dye works best for bleached, lightened, or blonde hair.

Crazy Color Toxic UV, Semi-Permanent

This dye is also formulated for bleached hair and will not work well for darker base colors. However, the color is probably the brightest on this list. Because it is a UV color, it also glows under black light.

La Riche Directions Hair Dye Color Semi Permanent – Alpine Green

Because it is easy to remove, this hair dye is a solid option for anyone who wants to experiment with green. While it works decently well on dark hair, achieving the alpine green pop of color will require pre-lightening. It comes in gel form, which contributes to its ease of use.

Will I Look Good with Green Hair?

Green hair grabs a lot of attention, so you will want to make sure that you are getting the right kind of attention! Many shades of green suit different hair types, skin complexions, and eye colors. Speaking to a qualified hair colorist can give you a good idea of what shade of green will work best for you.

Contact Therapy Hair Studio

While getting a positive result at home might be possible, working with a qualified and experienced colorist is the best way to achieve the stunning look you deserve. You can trust the stylists at Therapy Hair Studio to create your desired effect while taking steps to keep your hair healthy. Our team has been serving satisfied Houston clients since 2008, and we always strive to exceed your expectations.

If you are excited to go green, call us today at call us at (713) 355-4247 or contact us online for an appointment with a certified stylist.