Preparing Your Hair For Coloring Hello there, color-chasers! So, we hear you’re considering a trip to the magical, often mystifying land of hair dye. Preparing your hair for coloring  Well, buckle up, buttercup, because you’re in for a wild ride. Transforming hair color isn’t just an art; it’s a full-blown, technicolor, high-definition, 4 K-ready science (break out your lab coats!). And while changing your hair color might seem as simple as picking the boldest design on a tattoo artist’s wall, there’s much more to it! Oh yes, my amigos, we’re walking into the jungle of preparation here! As the famous paint thrower (ahem, artist) Picasso once said, “Learn the rules like a pro so that you can break them like an artist.” So, lace up your boots and grab your machete of knowledge because this isn’t a scenic meandering walk; it’s about hacking through some complex preparation guidelines. Whether your hair’s more thirsty than a fish out of water or grease-slicked like classic Danny Zuko, pre-coloring prep is your best buddy, your partner in crime, the Watson to your Sherlock! Bottom line? Want to pull off that unicorn mane or brilliant balayage? Knowing your hair and planning is as crucial to your color appointment as the dye. Let’s dive in and uncover this world together! Just remember, hair today, color tomorrow! The Myth Exposed – Clean Hair Colors Better Ah, the age-old myth – does dirty hair grab color better? Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for some myth-busting! Spoiler alert: the answer is a resounding NO. Dirty hair does not hold color better, and arriving at your salon with an oily, unwashed mop on your head will only spell disaster for everyone involved. Your stylist is neither a miracle worker nor a fan of ‘au naturel’ hairstyles. So, let’s dive into the recommended hair-washing schedule before your salon appointment, shall we? Ideally, you should wash your hair 1-2 days before your color appointment. This strikes the perfect balance between being too clean or dirty – think Goldilocks of hair prep! Doing this will give your scalp a natural protective oil layer, acting as a barrier against all those pesky chemicals lurking in the hair dye. Plus, it gives your hair some “give” when backcombing for balayage. Now, while you shouldn’t sport a hairdo that could double as an oil slick, going to the other extreme is also not ideal. Washing your hair on the day of your appointment might deprive it of that perfect mix of cleanliness and natural oils. If your hair is super slippery, your stylist might need a PhD in hair wrangling – a skill not usually taught in the salon. So, dear reader, remember this golden rule: wash your hair 1-2 days before your color appointment and achieve that sweet spot between the Sahara desert and an oil spill. Your stylist will thank you, and your hair will live to shine another day! And that, my friends, is how to debunk a long-standing myth with style and sass! Decoding Your Hair Type Oh, dear reader, have you ever reflected upon the whims and wonders of your very own strands? The tale they tell and the texture they flaunt? Therein lays the key to your colorful success. Understand your hair’s type – curly, wavy, straight, thick, thin, medium, dry, oily, or average. Note it down, maybe not with fancy old ink, but at least in your memory ledger. Adapting to this hair autobiography, your color response tends to differ. For instance, take Curly Sue over there. Her hair is rebellious, much like her personality (rumor has it). Color tends to show lighter on those bouncy waves than on our straight-haired Samantha next door. So the eccentric purple Sue dreamt of might become a sublime burgundy. Who would’ve predicted? Well, we did. And that’s why you must be aware of your hair’s mysterious ways. Now, over to knowing your hair’s needs. Think of your hair as a petulant toddler (stay with me here). The more TLC you provide, the more it cooperates. Identify your hair’s talk. Is it screaming for hydration before the dye washes ashore? Or is it craving some protein to stay robust amidst the chemical carnival? Believe me, friend, knowing this before dialing that salon number is half the war won. Yes, you got this! So, do you think we are good to proceed? Of course, we are on to the next adventure! Don’t Fear The Scissors – Haircut First, Color Next So you were thinking of getting a new hair color before a trim? Well, hang on, there’s a twist to the tale! Not to sound like your grandma, but trust me, getting that haircut before coloring is like dating before marriage – you want to know what you’re getting into. Think of it this way – you don’t paint a wall before knocking it down while renovating. Similarly, color works best on freshly trimmed tresses. When you cut your hair first, your stylist can see the whole canvas clearer—no hidden split ends or unruly dry locks lurking in the depths. It’s like seeing Brigadoon out of the morning mists, a fabulous revelation! It’s all about ensuring that spunky color gets the VIP treatment, spreading joy evenly, and not playing hide and seek with your locks. Oh, and for the love of Rapunzel, don’t mock your stylist about losing length to color. Your cut pre-coloring shouldn’t scare you. We’re not going all 2007 Britney on you! It’s a balancing act between length and color distribution. Aim for Picasso, not a Pollock splatter painting! So, the big takeaway here- hair first, color next. Scissors are your friends – embrace them. But don’t worry, nobody’s recommending a major chop job. But hey, if you happen to be channeling your inner ‘Joan of Arc,’ who am I to stop you? Pre-color pampering – The Power of Conditioning Masks Alright, my chic chameleons, let’s dive into the lush world of hair masks – the unsung heroes in...