Yes, but it is important to talk to your stylist about the treatment preformed because some treatments cannot be lightened over. Straightening treatments alter the bonds in your hair as does lightening. Doing both procedures is not overly carefully can really damage the hair from over processing. I highly recommend if you are looking into a straightening treatment to avoid the need to bleach or lighten the hair.

The main ingredients to which people have allergic reactions are PPD (ParaPhenyleneDiamine) and Ammonia. If you think you have an allergy to color you can have your stylist do a test patch 72 hours before your color or you can visit a doctor and have an allergy test done. There are many color line alternatives now that are ammonia free and do not have PPD.

According to most manufacturers, directions recommend only applying permanent color to “virgin hair” which is hair that has not been colored or chemically altered in any way, and for two specific reasons, going lighter or covering grey. The reason for this is that permanent color goes into the hair shaft and lifts and deposits color in one step. There is a saying in the hair world, “color doesn’t lift color”, and while this is a very common rule of thumb, sometimes this rule can be broken to try to achieve lightening without the need to go straight to bleach. Although it is not recommended and the outcome can differ in results it can sometimes work the shift previous color to a new result. A demi permanent hair color, also known as a gloss, is a deposit only and is safe for you to put over previously lightened or colored hair. It will enhance shine and refresh faded color.

Yes. Not everyone is sensitive to scalp bleaching. It is very important to pay attention if you are having bleach applied directly to the scalp. If you feel any intense burning or itching, tell your stylist so that your hair can be rinsed immediately. Not paying attention to these signs can result in scalp redness, itching and blisters post service.

Although bleach is a very strong chemical, it will not cause you to permanently go bald. If not careful, bleach can over process the hair, leaving it feeling dry, singed, or melted; breaking off, but after cutting off the damage, your hair will return to normal with correct care. If you are experiencing balding you may want to look into other indications such as a reaction to certain medications, nutritional deficiency or alopecia.

Yes, it’s important not to overlap. If you are overlapping to lighten more, it should be done in sessions to protect the hair and a bond multiplier should be used to protect the hair as its being lightened.

For one, the color almost never turns out how it looks on the box. Second, the dyes tend to always be permanent color and the chemical makeup is stronger and more damaging to the hair without the healthy buffers to protect it. Box dye tends to be not only harsher on the hair during use, but trying to “fix” or remove it can be more difficult than salon professional color.

Yes, but once the hair is already colored your options may be limited. You can use lightener or bleach to go lighter or a demi permanent color to dark.

Yes, just be careful with the application. Getting hair color in your eye could cause serious issues.

Absolutely! Research shows that the chemicals in semi, demi and permanent colors are not highly toxic and can be used safely during pregnancy. Only a very small amount may be absorbed through the scalp and very little may travel to the baby. Each individual may have their own opinion and concerns, so it is best to talk with your OBGYN to decide what you think is healthiest for you and the baby. I highly recommend avoiding on-scalp bleach application although highlights are okay.

It is not recommended.

If your hair has already been through a lot of processing, please talk with your stylist to see if you are a candidate for a lightening service. They may suggest for you to do treatments and follow a home regimen before starting any lightening, or they may decide that your hair condition is too poor to continue with any lightening service. A test strand can always be done to see how your hair will react.

Yes, it is recommended that you follow with a color gloss or toner to enhance or diminish unwanted tones after lightening the hair.

Yes, be sure to use a heat protectant in the hair as well as setting your flat iron on a lower setting. Extended amounts of heat can not only damage your hair but also fade your color quicker.

Yes.

It’s important to use the dedicated developer with its intended color to ensure the color turns out correctly.

Coloring over jet black hair will do nothing but add a layer of color on the hair. Once the hair is black, you will need to lighten it with bleach to change the color.

Using a higher developer with a lighter color can achieve a lighter end result.

Yes! I cant stress this enough. If your hair is prone to fading, try using filler before your color and watch how much longer your results will last! Anytime you are going two shades darker, your stylist needs to add the “missing color” back into your hair so that your results will last. Example, if you put brown over a blonde two things can happen. One, it looks great that day but after the first wash you will experience dramatic fading or your hair will look “muddy” or flat which is caused by your blonde hair lacking pigments. Think of a filler as a boulder and color as sand. If you have a funnel and you put sand in it, will look full but it will start to empty rather quickly. Now put the boulder in the funnel first and then the sand; the filter then stays full.

Some people feel that permanent color can make their hair feel thicker because the chemicals swell the cuticle of the hair.

No, excessive amounts of products and some particular products can repel color. Try to avoid over use of products right before your color appointment. Bleach on the other hand will “eat” through most dirt, oil and product, and it is actually recommended to have dirty hair for on scalp bleach applications as the oils can help to act as a barrier to irritation.