Heyyy Girls!!
With the on set of monsoons in Mumbai, I've always had to face the problem of hair fall, frizzy, un-manageable hair and sometimes lifeless limp hair. It seems like the cloudy gloomy weather makes my hair really sad and miserable. If you have colored hair then you know that you need to take extra care of your mane during the rains. I have been coloring my hair since I turned sweet 16. And I've rocked every color between ash blond to red. I am a trained hair stylist so I've even colored them many a times myself. It could be a color from a box to the tubes I get from the beauty shop. Yes, there have been times when there have been color disasters but its never deterred me from experimenting with my hair myself or at a salon every six months. Simply put, I love coloring my hair!
But Hair color needs maintenance and make that lots of it. If you get your hair colored at a salon your colorist will educate you about the after care and how you can maintain the vibrancy and life of your color to the maximum. If you color your hair yourself at home then you may pick up a good quality shampoo and conditioner available in the market. I like to switch between shampoos and alternate between washes. Its got something to do with my belief that any product you stick to for a while stops giving you the results it did when you first start using it. There are no theories to prove this out there so feel free to stick to any trusted product you might be using for years. The first time I colored my hair I used the Schwarzkopf Igora hair color. Schwarzkopf is a German hair product giant.The Schwarzkopf color chart available back then in India was quiet limited. Things have changed since then and these days many salons in and around Mumbai are choosing to affiliate with Schwarzkopf . But I've been using L'Oreal hair colors exclusively only because in Mumbai, L'Oreal seems to have more salon chains than any other hair product company. L'Oreal markets its colors very well in India and that also happens to be one of the reasons that hair color has become synonymous for most with L'Oreal. They keep innovating and introducing several different product every few years under different names. I remember using the Majirel or Majibrown hair colors from L'Oreal previously.
With the on set of monsoons in Mumbai, I've always had to face the problem of hair fall, frizzy, un-manageable hair and sometimes lifeless limp hair. It seems like the cloudy gloomy weather makes my hair really sad and miserable. If you have colored hair then you know that you need to take extra care of your mane during the rains. I have been coloring my hair since I turned sweet 16. And I've rocked every color between ash blond to red. I am a trained hair stylist so I've even colored them many a times myself. It could be a color from a box to the tubes I get from the beauty shop. Yes, there have been times when there have been color disasters but its never deterred me from experimenting with my hair myself or at a salon every six months. Simply put, I love coloring my hair!
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| My newest highlights! |
But Hair color needs maintenance and make that lots of it. If you get your hair colored at a salon your colorist will educate you about the after care and how you can maintain the vibrancy and life of your color to the maximum. If you color your hair yourself at home then you may pick up a good quality shampoo and conditioner available in the market. I like to switch between shampoos and alternate between washes. Its got something to do with my belief that any product you stick to for a while stops giving you the results it did when you first start using it. There are no theories to prove this out there so feel free to stick to any trusted product you might be using for years. The first time I colored my hair I used the Schwarzkopf Igora hair color. Schwarzkopf is a German hair product giant.The Schwarzkopf color chart available back then in India was quiet limited. Things have changed since then and these days many salons in and around Mumbai are choosing to affiliate with Schwarzkopf . But I've been using L'Oreal hair colors exclusively only because in Mumbai, L'Oreal seems to have more salon chains than any other hair product company. L'Oreal markets its colors very well in India and that also happens to be one of the reasons that hair color has become synonymous for most with L'Oreal. They keep innovating and introducing several different product every few years under different names. I remember using the Majirel or Majibrown hair colors from L'Oreal previously.
Once your hair is colored you need to treat it with real caution. You don't want to use extra heat on it or any product that may cause it to become dry and brittle. Color contains ammonia or in the layman terms Bleach. You are trying to use chemicals to lighten or further darken your hair. Now this is exactly where Indians stand to loose out. Indian hair is generally dark brown/jet black, is slightly wavy/curly, has a lot of volume and good moisture content. Sticking to reds, mahogany, burgundy and other colors from the brown or copper family is a good idea because you don't need a lot of chemicals to give you the desired color. It's always suggested that people with dark hair should lighten their hair only by three shades from their natural hair color. Opting for golden, honey, blonde, ash blonde colors will certainly damage your hair. If your colorist promises zero damage, he/she is duping you. Hair colored to these shades becomes dry, tends to be brittle and have split ends. It does not have the tensile strength to undergo any other heat or chemical based procedure. If you really want to get these colors in your hair, its wise to opt for highlights in the same as the extent of damage is limited. If you have hair that is colored and damaged, you need not loose heart. There are some really good products available in the Indian market which are not necessarily expensive. Lets give you the dope on these helpful products!
Dove Intense Damage Therapy Treatment Mask
This is my long time most favoured hair mask. It comes from the Dove brand which we all are quiet familiar with. Dove was possibly one of the only toiletries brand in the Indian market that didn't hire a Bollywood actress to endorse it and convince us to pay up to become fair or beautiful or get really long black hair which in reality are extensions or computer generated, photoshopped images. This brand really has my respect for this. They have always spoken of being the brand chosen by "Real Women". Dove is also the godfather of moisturising products among the drug store brands. And with this Damage Therapy Mask they have truly become a favourite. The mask comes in a tub and costs INR 215 for 200 ml. The consistency is thick like a foot cream and in fact it looks quiet similar too. Dove claims:
"When your hair feels dry and breaks easily, or you're struggling with lots of split ends, it's time for Dove Intense Damage System. Our expert damage care technology: A unique formula with Treatment inside Mask: Treatment with Fiber Actives: Penetrates deep inside to help rebind damaged proteins and reconstruct internally. Mask: with patented Micro Moisture Serum: repairs, intensely nourishes and seals lifted cuticles to help protect against future damage. Did you know? Conditioners mainly repair surface damage but some damage lies deep inside the hair fiber. Intense Damage leaves your hair intensely nourished, signifantly strengthened and silky smooth to touch."
Dove Damage Therapy Intensive Mask Consistency
I use this treatment mask once a week after shampooing and removing excess water from my hair. You need not use much because its really thick. Two fingers of product will suffice for shoulder length hair. Maybe a little extra on the ends of your mane. Leave it on for up to 5 minutes and rinse off with cold water so you can lock in the shine of your hair. Hair is so much softer and manageable and with regular use you'll find your hair and especially the ends starting to get more healthy. It will not magically put the split ends back together but yes the appearance of split ends is reduced. Your hair is so smooth that you need not struggle with your hair even when wet. Take my word and try this one if you're fed up with your dry damaged colored hair and are planning to cut them off, you'll be thanking me and the many other "Real Women" out there who vouch for this one.
L'Oreal Total Repair 5 Repairing Shampoo
Okay this one was sold to me by Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan. No, not personally but she just wouldn't stop persuading me that this shampoo had the "One Solution" to my "Five hair Problems". So I finally had to buy this one. Changing my hair color 3 times a year had taken its toll and I was willing to pay any amount to undo some of it. Money will never be an issue with this product because its cheap yet actually delivers. I purchased the 180 ml. bottle for INR 130. L'Oreal claims:
"Time and external aggressors can damage the hair surface and then attack its structure. Your hair faces 5 problems:
1. Hair Fall* 2.Dryness 3.Roughness 4.Dullness 5. Split Ends
1. Hair Fall* 2.Dryness 3.Roughness 4.Dullness 5. Split Ends
L'Oreal laboratories have developed Total Repair 5 Repairing Shampoo to fight these hair problems.
Damaged hair can lack the natural cement which keeps the hair strong & resilient. To ensure cohesion and strength, the L'oreal Laboratories have created ceramide-cement technology to replicate the hair's natural cement, targeting the 5 problems.
1. Repairs : The hair fibre, the hair structure is re-enforced and hair regains strength like new.
2. Transforms: The hair surface to a regular and smooth condition.
Day after day, your hair is as if totally repaired:
1. Strong 2. Supple 3. Smooth 4. Shiny 5. Protected Tips"
L'Oreal Total Repair 5 Repairing Shampoo Consistency
Don't think all these are just gimmicky marketing words because this one actually works. It works on the damaged frizzy hair and smooths the surface. Hair reflects light but is not really shiny and the smell! Its divine! L'Oreal products always have a delightful fragrance even if they aren't really expensive. This shampoo has a permanent place in my shower because it is true to its word of repairing your damaged hair. And if it rescued my repeatedly color abused hair, I'm sure you'll appreciate this one too.
