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7 rules of DIY hair colour



With 57 per cent of women more likely to change their colour than their cut, a new season shade might be just what you need! Bronwyn Fraser, national education manager for L’Oréal Paris, gives us her at-home colour tips to get locks as lush as Eva Longoria Parker’s.

1. Carry out a skin allergy test 48 hours before you colour.
2. Read the instructions – advice and technology changes!
3. Wash hair 24 to 48 hours before colouring. Shampooing the same day strips the natural oil that protects the hair and scalp and acts as a natural protective barrier.
4. Always wear gloves and old clothes. A shirt is best as it can be unbuttoned and you won’t have to pull it over your coloured hair. Also use an old towel to prevent staining from spills or drips.
5. Keep track of the time and always stick to the recommended development time. It’s easy to forget what time you started when you’re flicking through a magazine or watching TV!
6. Rinse your hair thoroughly after the completion of the development time, so it’s ready for the next stage.
7. Condition your hair with the product provided to ensure the longevity and shine of your new hair colour.

ON-TREND SHADES
We love Sarah Jessica Parker’s lighter, right-on-trend hair colour. ‘Natural-looking shades are the most popular hues at the moment,’ L’Oréal’s Bronwyn Fraser says. ‘We recommend consumers stick within one to two shades of their natural hair colour. Or add highlights for a multi-tonal look.’

HOW TO: Colour hair at home

STEP 1 To apply colour evenly, part hair into four sections, from front to back down the centre, and from ear to ear.



STEP 2 Apply colour section by section. Work slowly in each quarter to make sure you coat each and every strand well.



STEP 3 Set a clock and allow the colour to develop – check the product’s instruction leaflet as times vary.



STEP 4 Rinse hair thoroughly then apply the provided conditioner, which will help lock pigment into your locks.



What you can use
1. Avon Detangling Comb, $5.99, 1800 646 000.
2. Garnier Fructis Color Last Fortifying Cream Shampoo/Conditioner, $5.95 each, 1300 659 259.
3. Spornette Grippers, $11.95 (for a pack of four), 1800 251 215.
4. L’Oréal Excell10’ colourant, $18.35, 1300 659 259.
5. Garnier HerbaShine Fortifying Cream Colourant, $14.95, 1300 659 259.