How to Color a Man's Hair

Women aren’t the only ones using hair color to improve their hairstyle. Guys can also color their hair, whether they just want to have a natural look to cover grey hair or go for a completely new color. Here are some tips for guys looking to get a great man’s hair color.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

To Cover Grey Hair

1. First, your natural hair color must be determined. Sometimes a large amount of grey hair can make your natural color appear lighter than it really is so it’s best to have a professional compare your natural color with color swatches (small colored samples of hair) to find the best color match.
2. The next step is to assess how much grey you have and decide what the best process is for covering your grey.
3. For those with very little grey hair (anything less than 30 percent grey), a semi-permanent hair color is your best bet for a man’s hair color. This color process isn’t permanent and will slowly fade away in 4 to 6 weeks. This process is a great start because it won’t leave you with any new growth (known as roots) to touch up and it blends grey into your natural color for a very natural look.
4. For those with more grey hair (30 percent or more) who simply want to turn back the clock a few years but don’t necessarily need all their grey hair covered, there is a technique called lowlighting. This process, done in the same fashion as highlighting, takes very thin sections of hair all over the head and colors them the same color as your natural hair color.
5. The lowlighting method can be performed either by pulling sections of hair through a highlighting cap and then coloring these sections, or by applying the color to a wide-toothed comb and combing the color through the hair.
6. Both methods will not cover all your grey hair, but do allow you to control the amount of coverage. This method is perfect for men with a lot of grey hair that have decided to begin coloring their hair. When a man's grey hair has suddenly been colored, it can be a shock and very noticeable, so a slow start with either of these methods can eliminate some of the grey but avoid looking obvious.
7. For those men who want complete grey coverage, a permanent color is the best choice. This method will deposit the selected color within the hair shaft and will remain there until grown out. You can choose to match your own natural color or go with a new color—the choice is yours.

Coloring for Effect

8. First you must decide whether you want to stick to a shade close to your natural color or try something a little different. Knowing your comfort range will help you and your stylist choose a correct color.
9. Thumbing through a men’s magazine or browsing through a men’s style website is a great way to get hair color ideas. Don’t be afraid to bring in pictures of a man’s hair color that you like. Stylists love pictures because it leaves little room for doubt as to what you want.
10. For those who just want to color for the fun of it, there are many options for men. Tone on tone color is a great choice for those wanting a trendy hair color. The entire head is colored in a chosen shade and then enhanced with subtle highlights throughout. Think of Owen Wilson with his sun-kissed hair color.
11. Trying a semi-permanent color is a great way to try on a color without the commitment. Though you can only go darker than your natural hair color with these types of color, they will gradually wash out over a period of 4 to 6 weeks. This is great if you like to experiment or aren’t sure if coloring is for you.

Tips & Warnings

• For those men who have gone almost completely grey, chances are your former natural color may be too dark and look unnatural. As we age, our skin coloring changes and a dark hair color, even if it was your natural color at one time, will probably wash out your skin. Instead, opt for a lighter version of your old natural color. It won’t be such a shock when the grey is gone and will work better with your skin coloring.
• Don't forget that permanent hair color is permanent! If you don't like it, you'll have to either re-color it or wait until it grows out. This is why a semi-permanent hair color or subtle highlights are a great starting point.
• Colored hair needs extra TLC so be sure to pick up a shampoo and conditioner that's either specifically for colored hair or is of the moisturizing variety.