Are You Afraid to Color Your Hair?

 

By: Beauty Editor HRHAIRSTYLES.COM

 

My experience with hair color started in my late 20's when I first started getting gray hair. I would get blonde highlights every few months to help camouflage the gray. That worked for about 5 years or so. Then I decided to get an all-over color since the amount of gray hair was gradually increasing. I used to go to the hair salon for all my hair color treatments. After having 4 kids (less time and less money!!) I decided that I was going to take the plunge and do my own color at home.

 

That first time sure was scary. I was so worried about getting some strange color or ruining my hair. As it turns out, 89% of colorers fear a fake-looking color result or making a mistake according to a 2009 L'Oreal Paris Haircolor Incidence Study.

 

Since that time I have been coloring my hair regularly, usually sticking to the same brand and color- light brown. I have about 50% gray hair, with some of it being very resistant. My regular hair color product covers about 95% of my grays. I've been told by my hair stylist that I would need to get my hair colored at a salon to get 100% gray coverage.

 

When I recently was asked to try out a new hair color product, L'Oreal Paris Sublime Mousse by Healthy Look, I was a little nervous for 3 different reasons. First, I had heard that mousse hair color usually pulls a darker color that what the picture on the box might be; Second, I was concerned about hair damage since the application instructions said to apply the product to the whole head for the full 30 minute processing; and third, I was concerned about the gray coverage.

 

L'Oreal Sublime Mousse by Healthy Look is very easy to apply, has better than (my) average gray coverage results, leaves the hair in a very soft condition and has a natural looking, shiny hair color--all in less than 30 minutes. This is a hair color product that I will definitely use again!   Beauty Editor HRHairstyles.com   See Application Video   Get L'Oreal Sublime Mousse Now - DOWNLOAD COUPON

I called the toll-free number in the instructions to speak to a hair color specialist. I wanted to see if there was a way to do a strand test, since the directions didn't mention it. They said it was not possible to do a strand test.

 

I asked about the hair color pulling darker and they said that yes, that was possible especially since I was applying the product over existing color. They did mention that the formulation was much gentler than other comparable permanent hair products and that applying the product to all of my hair for the full 30 minutes would not cause damage. Well that was definitely reassuring. I had always been told not to apply the hair color to the whole head each time because it would cause damage.

 

I also asked about the gray coverage and if it would help to leave the hair color on for longer- I normally leave hair color on for about 1 hour. They said that this product would stop working after 30 minutes, so leaving it on more than 30 minutes wouldn't be necessary.

 

After talking to the haircolor expert at L'Oreal, I was still very concerned about getting a darker hair color result. So I decided to do my own little "strand test". I mixed up the product as it says in the instructions (FYI - Do Not Shake) and pinned up all of my hair except a section of hair at the bottom. I applied the L'Oreal Sublime Mousse to just that hair on the bottom. I figured if my hair turned out black or something undesireable, it would be much easier and less urgent to fix hair that can't really be seen. I kept the mousse in for the full 30 minutes and rinsed it out.

 

I blow-dryed my hair and reviewed the color results. My hair color was just slightly darker than it was before coloring, and there was one major difference. The uneven hair color tones at my ends (from previous colorings) were now gone. I was happy with the color results. So, I then applied the hair color mousse to the rest of my hair. The product has an easy-to-use foaming pump that allows for a quick application. It is important to really massage the product into the hair, much like a shampoo. I really concentrated massaging the product into the root area.

 

Overall, I would say that the L'Oreal Sublime Mousse is very easy to use, leaves the hair in soft condition, provides a little better gray coverage (about 97% coverage) than my regular hair color and results in a very natural-looking color that is very shiny. This is a hair color product that I will use again.

 

Disclosure: A free review sample of this product was provided by L'Oreal Paris via Glam Media.