Thinking about coloring your hair at home but don't know where to start? Finding the right hair dye can feel daunting. You've likely searched online for the best hair color trends and might even have some ideas, but aren't sure how to achieve your desired results. Understanding color theory, the hair color wheel, and hair color levels can help you achieve gorgeous DIY results.
Color theory is the study of how colors interact – how they combine, contrast, and influence one another. It explains what happens when you mix colors or layer them, which is essential for understanding how hair color works.
You can use a hair color wheel as a visual guide to understand these interactions. The wheel demonstrates how warm tones sit opposite cool tones, illustrating how these colors or tones can neutralize each other.
For example, consider Garnier Nutrisse Ultra Crème permanent hair color in 434 Deep Chestnut Brown. The color label has two key components: levels and tones. The level indicates the lightness or darkness of the color—it's the base value. Choosing the right level helps you pinpoint your position on the light-to-dark spectrum. Understanding levels helps you identify your natural color level and determine the target level for your desired hair color.
To determine your hair color level, isolate a section of hair from the crown of your head. Hold it away from the rest of your hair in good lighting. Then, compare it to a hair color level chart.
Hair color levels are categorized on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the darkest and 10 the lightest.
Keep in mind that the greater the difference between your natural level and the chosen dye level, the sooner your roots will show. A dye closer to your natural color results in a more subtle change and a less noticeable grow-out period.
Let's break down an example: Medium Golden Brown.
• Level: It's a medium brown (level 5).
• Tone: It has a golden tone (3).
• Result: This combination creates Medium Golden Brown (5.3)
If you're unsure about choosing a warm or cool shade, start with a neutral tone until you see how it looks.
Once you've colored your hair with a neutral shade and seen the results, you can experiment with warmer tones like golds, coppers, reds, and auburns for your next coloring.
If you want to avoid warmth, stick with cool or ash shades, which help control and neutralize warm tones.
