Between 65 and 75 percent of American women color their hair each year. It’s only a guess, but we’d say about 50 percent of those women find themselves unhappy with their hair hue each fall. “Changing skin tones and the changing colors of the clothing you wear have a noticeable effect on the look of your hair color,” says Anastasia Graham, Senior Stylist at the James Joseph Salon in Boston.
When you notice your summer tan starting to fade and you’re spending more time in sweaters than sundresses, it’s time to make a hair color change. To give your washed-out summer color a boost and keep your hair looking healthy and vibrant through the holidays, just follow these simple steps.
Adding warmer tones to your hair is an easy way to bring some color and life back into your complexion. If you have highlights, ask your stylist for low lights; they’ll make your lighter strands stand out while warming up your base color. If you’re a brunette or a redhead, Graham suggests asking for a richer, deeper shade than what you usually go for during the summer months.
“The darker shades of make-up typically used in the fall and winter can make your summer hair color look washed out,” says Graham. “They can start to compete,” he adds, underscoring the importance of changing your hair hue to one that’s more complementary to your makeup. You can also bring out the best in your hair hue by using the right shades of makeup: blondes can brighten their color by wearing metallic eyeshadows; plum and burgundy lipsticks can enliven brown hair; and rosy pink lips and cheeks, as well as sheer green eyeshadows, go great with red hair.
“Hair glosses are an easy and affordable change that makes your hair look richer and shinier,” according to Graham. A salon gloss contains semi-permanent color so it adjusts your hair’s tone for about four weeks. If you want to go richer without completely re-coloring, it’s the way to go.
Regular conditioning treatments, whether at the salon or at home, can preserve your new color so it doesn’t fade from its warmer shade. “Using deep conditioning products can also make your hair look healthier as the winter weather gets more harsh,” adds Graham.
Drying out your hair and scalp with hot showers and heat stylers like curling and straightening irons can sap moisture and reduce hair’s natural oils, making your color look less shiny and healthy. Turn down the temp when you wash up, or at least take shorter showers. And according to Graham, “hot tools are fine when used properly and with a thermal protecting product,” so don’t forget to spray on the protection before you style.
Megan O'Neill is Beauty Editor at EndlessBeauty.com
