I am too young to show my greying hair... just yet. For the past 20 yrs I have had my hair coloured by the hairdresser but with the last cut and colour costing me $194 I think I need to DIY. But I have no idea where to start in finding a colour and doing it myself. Any tips out there (pardon the pun)???

Where do I start? Choosing the brand and colour etc. Have any of you EBers been in this predicament?

Next I have to tell my hairdresser that I'm only going to get a cut and no colour. I hope she takes it well!

Please don't suggest that I find a cheaper hairdresser - I know they're out there but mine cuts my hair so well so I don't want to change ... I'll just reduce my expenditure with her!

TIA
Suzanne

Personally, I stick to the semi permanent options - L'oreal tone on tone is what it's called. Or something like that. When choosing a colour, the always come out darker on your head than what is on the box so go for one that looks slightly lighter than what you are after.

I love going to the hairdresser, but when it's not in the budget, I get a home colour, and go from there.
Then when I can afford a colour, I go back to the hairdresser.

Can you explain to your hairdresser that it's not in your budget anymore? Mine would do my roots for me, and then put a gloss colour (no colour) over the rest, much cheaper.

At the moment, I am working outdoors a lot, so use the el cheapo "schwarzkopf" live colour to keep it really "bright", it's about $3.99 in the shops lol.
I find then that I am not always colouring my ends and getting such a colour build up.

How old is old enough to accept some grey hairs?

Could you get a colour at the hairdresser alternately? Every 2nd time do a DIY?

Could you maybe find a hairdresser who costs less. I paid $95 today for a colour, foils,cut and eyebrow wax today.

If not the idea of going to the hairdresser for alternate colours is a good one.



AM

At the risk of offending your hairdresser, I'd explain the situation to them. They may be willing to sell you an appropriate DIY colour. They'd still make a bit of profit without having to do anything!

Thanks for the suggestions! At the moment I already only get colour every second time I get a cut so I can't do it any less - or my true colour will be really obvious!! My hair is very short so I can't spread out hair cuts any more than I do.

I really want a good permanent colour - perhaps I can continue to get the foil highlights from the hairdresser if I DIY the main colour.

I just wish grey hair looked nice on me then I'd have no dramas!

How is it costing you $194 for a cut and colour if you have really short hair? It costs me about $130 for medium length hair, cut, foils, tint and blow dry. I live in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

In answer to your question Mianta - that's just how much they charged me last time, I was very surprised as it was more than the previous cut and colour ... but about the amount you'd expect when prices go up, i.e. I don't think it was a mistake! I have no idea what longer hair would cost.
When I first started going to this hairdresser they were cheaper than the one I had been going to and much better as well!

That is very expensive IMO,and yes I am a hairdresser. Maybe just ring and ask for a quote to make sure there wasnt a mix up. My next idea would be to go for foils or streaks to minimise cost and as the hair grows out it wont stand out so much with the grey! I am not an expert in home colouring and wouldnt ever be able to recommend a client one due to not training with them.We train with professional colours and I guess this is why people come and pay for our services. Good luck and I am sure if you explain to your HD she will understand.

Hi I totally feel your pain, i'm 29 and have loads of greys. i actually started going lighter about 6 months ago and it does hide them better (went from very dark brown to mid brown and lots of blonde foils on top) I worry what I'll do if $$ get tight and I can't afford it anymore! Can't really DIY blonde foils!
Anyway my advice is buy a professional permanent colour and peroxide from Price Attack -they will help recommend a shade and tell you how to mix it. The prof colours give such better coverage than supermarket dyes IMO. And a tube should last you two colouring sessions for short hair.
ETA then if you do want go to the hairdresser for colour you can say "im using a 5' or whatever the colour shade is and she'll be able to match it in.

I'm hearing you re: the greys + the price of a haircut and colour. I had a hair cut + full colour (no foils) and a treatment and it cost me $160.00. Just can't do it anymore now that I am on Mat leave.

So, if anyone has a box brand that they swear by - don't be shy in letting us know which it is!

I use a Clairol one that is a bit darker than my normal hair colour. It seems to last a couple of months and regrowth doesn't really show. A couple fo hairdressers have complimented me on it. I would rather spend my hair money on decent regular haircuts. Also don't have the time to sit around while someone else does my colour. Doesn't it take ages?

Tell them the truth - they may be able to do it cheaper for you if you are a regular customer.

Otherwise go to your local Hairhouse warehouse and get them to match a pro brand colour to what you have done now and do it yourself. If your hair is short. you really can't stuff it up too much!!

Or try a Tafe where they do trade school for hairdressers - get your colour done for next to nothing ( but extra long time there) and get your hair cut by your reg hairdresser!!