If you've ever even remotely considered dyeing your hair a bold, on-trend hue like purple, there's no better time to take the plunge than right now. With so many embracing the bright color trend, you'll be in good company with vibrant, violet locks.
Here, just a few of the glam ways to rock the color.
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If you're the DIY sort who wants to tackle this beauty project at home, there are definitely some things you should know before you crack open that color kit.
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Abbie Thompson, an Ion Color Brilliance Educator with Sally Beauty Supply, offers up some tips for nailing the perfect hue in the comfort of your own home (or anywhere, for that matter).
1. Lighten Up
First you have to consider whether or not you're willing to pre-lighten, which might be helpful if you have particularly dark hair. "Although it may not be a necessary step, it is most likely needed to have the ability to closest match the swatch's intensity," says Thompson. If you decided to go this route, try the Ion Color Brilliance Creme Lightener ($7.99, sallybeauty.com) or Wella Color Charm Powder Lightener Packet ($3.79, sallybeauty.com).
2. Prep School
Aside from lightening, you'll want to take into account the porosity of your hair (meaning its ability to absorb the color). To determine the porosity of your strands, feel it. If the texture is straw-like and rough, it could be overly porous and not the the healthiest time to lay color over it. You also want to keep a close eye on the processing time to ensure great color.
3. Purple Passion
There's a wide range of shades available in the purple family, so you have to choose the one that speaks most to you. Thompson loves Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Hair Color 3vr in Deep Velvet Violet ($10.49, amazon.com), Pravana ChromaSilk Vivids in Violet ($11.88, amazon.com), and Ion Color Brilliance Semi-Permanent Brights in Purple ($5.49, sallybeauty.com).
4. Go Time
You have your color kit, and you're ready to go, but Thompson has some advice to keep in mind. "Like all contemporary colors, the pre-lightened or natural level of the hair will directly impact the end result," she says. "We recommend lightening to a level 7 for Ion Brights Purple. At a level 7, there is a very strong gold tone remaining in the hair. If the hair is too dark, the finished result may not depict the swatch. If the hair is too light, the purple base may just act as a violet toner and cancel out any yellow in the hair, leaving an end result of brown. We highly recommend performing a test strand to ensure the hair is properly prepped for desired results!"
5. Rinse Cycle
When your processing time is up, Thompson recommends rinsing your hair in cool or cold water until it runs absolutely clear. Resist the urge to shampoo. Instead, use an after-color treatment that will help seal the cuticle, like Ion Color Brilliance After Color Treatment ($4.99, sallybeauty.com) or Pureology Zerosulfate Neutralizing Color Sealer ($6.45, amazon.com).
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