Hair Color & Your Cancer Treatment

I understand that you don’t know what you don’t know.  I have no idea what my life would be like without hair color on my hair, but I understand that that school of thought isn’t for everyone.  So, if it is for you keep reading, if not I understand.

Our hair is our crowning glory.  I don’t know about you, but if I am having a good hair day, then all is right with the world.  If I am having a bad hair day, watch out.  I can not even imagine what it would be like to have a no-hair day. 

I understand that not all cancer treatment lists hair loss as a side effect, but if it does, I can only imagine how protective of it you would be when it grows back in.  If you don’t lose your hair during cancer treatment, it can change your hair’s texture and sheen.  So, let’s say you have your hair, either because it has grown back or you never lost it.  Whatever the circumstances let’s talk about hair color. 

Hair color can be used to enhance or even change your look, but how do you know what to tell your stylist what you are looking for?  And yes, I will always refer to a stylist because I do not recommend coloring your hair at home. 

• Here are a few of the things that I want to chat about today

• How to better communicate with your stylist the look that you want

• The Different types of hair color

• The Different hair color techniques

• Precautions that you can take during your hair color service

I figured out a great way to communicate to my salon guests to get a feel for the hair color they were looking for.  I asked them a simple question. Do you want your hair to Whisper, Talk, or Shout?

Whisper would give me the idea that they barely wanted a change in their hair color.  That they wanted to see something but nothing overpowering.

Talk meant that they wanted to see a subtle change.  They wanted people to say “What did you do different, but nothing that was overly bold. 

Shout meant that they wanted a huge change that would be noticed by all.  They wanted people to stop them on the street asking them about their hair color.

The other suggestion I would make is to take pictures with your stylist of your desired look.  Pinterest is a wonderful place to find all sorts of hairstyles and hair colors.  Pictures are a great way to relay your vision to your stylist to ensure that both of you are on the same page.

Different types of hair color will give you different levels of upkeep and different results.  Let’s walk through those types.

There are 2 different types of hair color:

Permanent:

Permanent hair color becomes a permanent part of the hair.  The developer that is used opens the cuticle of the hair shaft and deposits the color into the hair.  Then it closes the hair shaft to make the color molecule a permanent part of the hair.  This color has to grow out and can be a bit more maintenance. 

Semi-permanent:

Semi-permanent hair color simply lays on top of the hair shaft and does not become a permanent part of the hair.  This color can enhance your current hair color and slowly washes out of the hair in 4-6 weeks. 

Different types of color techniques

There are different types of color techniques to achieve different results.

Knowledge is power.  If you are introduced to these techniques you will know better what to ask for. 

Hi-lite:

A hi-lite only adds color to strands of your hair not necessarily every strand. This can be done by placing foils in the hair or by pulling your hair through a cap.   A hi-lite can be subtle or bold.  It can look natural and unnatural.  The new growth on a hi-lite can be much more subtle. Your hi-lite may need to be touched up anywhere from 6 weeks to 2 months.

All over color:

This color is applied to every strand on your head from scalp to ends.  This can be done to enhance your color or it can be done to completely change your color.  This technique can be used with permanent or semi-permanent colors.  If this is permanent color it will last until it grows out and may need to be touched up anywhere from 3-6 weeks.  If it is semi-permanent it will last until it washes out of the hair, about 4-6 weeks.

Color retouch:

A color re-touch is a simple procedure where color is applied to the scalp area where the new hair has grown in.   In most cases, this color technique is done every 4-6 weeks.

Balayage:

This color technique adds subtle hi-lites to your hair by strategically combing color onto strands of your hair.  The look is very natural and only needs to be re-touched every 8-12 weeks 

There are a few precautions that need to be taken before you have your hair colored during or after treatment.

Strand test:

A strand test is where color is applied to a strand of hair to test the outcome to ensure you will receive your desired result.

Patch test:

A patch test is where color is applied to the skin just behind your ear or on the inside of your arm.  The color processes for its normal time and then removed with soap and water.  You then wait 24 hours and head back to the salon to have the area where the color was applied, checked for redness or irritation.  As long as there was no reaction, the color appointment may proceed as normal.

One last thing that I want to encourage you to do is to take pictures for your stylist to give them an idea of what you are thinking.   I have realized as a stylist for more than 30 years, I am not a mind reader.  Taking pictures of things that you like and things that you don’t like will give your stylist a clearer vision of what is inside your head!!!  Pinterest is a great place to look for inspiration.