How to Mix Hair Dye to Create the Right Hair Color

Highlights add depth and vibrancy to your hair. Choosing the correct dye color for your highlights can be a daunting task since hair colors range from the traditional to bright pink. Learn the basics of hair coloring before mixing highlighting dyes so you can compliment existing hair color or create unique highlighting styles. Selecting the best highlighting mix means the difference between fabulous hair and a hair disaster.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Look in the mirror and determine if you have a warm or cool skin tone. If you have brown skin with pink or gold undertones you fit the warm profile. Latinos and those with dark complexions have warm tones. If you have pale skin with peach or gold undertones, have red hair or are a natural golden blond, you are also in the warm group. Those with pale skin, pink undertones or no undertones are in the cool category. Most Asians fit in this category as do ash blonds and those with very dark skin.

2. Visit your local beauty supply store and look at a hair color wheel. Match your existing color to one of the colors on the color wheel.

3. Select highlighting products or hair dye within three shades of your natural hair color if you have dark hair. Choose darker shades if you want to lowlight your hair to add depth to your color. Select lighter shades to give your hair a sun-kissed look. Mix your highlight color choices for a unique look.

4. Go very light or go a shade or two darker if you have blond hair. Blonds normally do not need to adhere to the three-shade rule. Mix blond shades for a sun-kissed look. Check your products before using highlights on previously died hair.

5. Check the highlighting products for their compatibility with your skin tone and natural hair color. Buy products made for those with warm or cool skin tones to obtain the most natural highlighting effects.

6. Make an appointment at a local salon for a hair consultation. Try simple mixes of highlighting hair dyes at home but leave the complicated creations to trained professionals.

Tips & Warnings

• If the veins on your wrist look blue you have cool skin tones, green veins indicate warm skin tones.
• Test any highlighting products on a few strands of hair before using them on your entire head.

[Joaodt]

on 7/28/2008 Can normal Colour Tints (e.g. Clairol, L'Oreal "Blondes") be used as colour toners after bleaching?

[daisy49]

on 7/1/2008 what can be mixed to get a nice warm chestnut color. i use loreal bought at a beauty salon sales store.