New year, new hair? If you're getting that itch for change, it may be because you've been feeling like something just isn't right with your hair color. Maybe it faded too fast? Maybe it lacks some life? Or maybe it was never right to begin with. Having the perfect hair color is an absolute luxury that everyone is entitled to! Not quite there yet? Here are some mistakes you may be making and tips on how to avoid them to insure consistently beautiful and vibrant hair!!


Not Being Open to Change

Hair color opens up the door to countless opportunities for unique looks and styles. While not every salon visit needs to be a complete hair overhaul, small changes can help revive your look and give you a fresh feel. Try toning down your highlights for a softer more natural look, or boosting them around your face to brighten you up! Next time you're in the salon discuss subtle changes that can be made to your exisiting color to keep it fresh.

Three words: Get a glaze. A glaze is a demi-permanent translucent hair color that deposits both color and shine onto the surface of the hair. It's also a great way to to keep your color fresh and luminous in between salon visits and can correct any unwanted tones (such as brassiness). Glazes can also be simplified to clear coats that add a little shine (think topcoats for your hair).

When caring for color-treated hair it is imperative that in between salon visits you use products that are formulated specifically for your locks. In addition to protecting your hair from fading or discoloration, targeted shampoos and conditioners ( as well as some styling products) can actually refresh your hair color too! Color-safe products come in two categories. The first category, color-enhancing, includes items that keep your color shiny and new-looking (try the Color Lustre collection by Shu Uemura) The second and more common category is color retention, which includes products designed to prevent your color from washing out or changing over time. Try a line like L'Oréal Paris EverPure. It's like having an insurance policy on your hair color!

When cutting and coloring your hair, it's very important to create harmony between the two. Having a cut that compliments your hair color is one of the easiest ways to refine your look and kick it up a notch. Try face-framing angles to complement your highlights, choppy layers to create depth or perhaps a pixie to add a little edge to your single process color. Speak to your stylist about the possibility of a new cut that will make your color pop!

Creating a clear and open dialogue with your colorist is an important part of having a successful salon visit. Oftentimes,when a client is less than thrilled with the finished result, it's typically due to miscommunication. This usually occurs because you interpret words differently than your colorist, which is natural. Describing color (using words like "honey", "natural" or "bright") is subjective to one's personal opinion. Even saying you want your hair colored black leaves room for personal interpretation. A sure fire way to avoid this is to bring in photos of the exact look you're going for. Tear out some photos of hair you like and circle which parts you want emulated in your hair. By the same token you can also use images to demonstrate what you don't want. This way a colorist can look at your photos and more accurately create a look that you will love!

Which of these hair-coloring crimes are you guilty of? 'Fess up in the comments below.

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