Budget-Friendly Haircolor Maintenance Tips

Celebrity haircolorist and stylist Nelson Chan, founder of the eco-friendly Nelson J Salon in Beverly Hills, offers cost-effective maintenance routines for women concerned that their haircoloring appointments don't break the budget in these tough economic times.

"If budget is preventing a client from coming into the salon every four weeks to touch up their base and highlights, I advise women to color the re-growth at home and then come to the salon only for their highlights and cuts," explains Chan. "While it's possible to easily do the re-growth at home, the highlights are complicated because they require more skill, as their placement is so important."

Chan's advice for at-home haircoloring at four week intervals is as follows:

• Don't overlap the haircolor; apply it only to the re-growth areas
• Use ammonia-free haircolor to refresh this area, as ammonia damages the hair
• Or use semi-permanent colors
• Color re-growth every four weeks
• Always follow coloring with a moisturizing treatment 

I had the chance to visit the Nelson J Salon in May and Nelson and his staff really know their stuff. With a diverse group of clients who range from modern busy executives, hurried socialites, time-deprived industry regulars, stay at home moms, to celebrites who expect "camera ready" results in a minimum of time, the Nelson J Salon also offers house calls on request.  The salon is located in Beverly Hills.  For more information, visit www.nelsonjsalon.com.

One of the products that I use to extend time between my hair color appointments is Clairol Nice 'n Easy Root Touch-Up.  It's a quick, easy way to touch up your roots and cover stray grays around the hairline.  It lasts about 3 weeks and is so simple, anyone can do it.  There are 16 colors, so you should have no problem finding your shade.  And it doesn't matter which brand of haircolor--professional or at-home--you use.  Clairol Nice 'n Easy Root Touch Up is available wherever health and beauty aids are sold for a suggested retail price of $ 6.99.

 

Comments

[Candace Silvasy]

Hi: Great post, I'd like to add I like the Revlon Root Touch up, it's only $3.50 in Cincinnati and works great. I have fast growing hair, so I have to touch up 3 weeks max. Candy

[Beauty411]

I've never tried the Revlon brand; will have to check that out on my next Target run. Thanks for the tip & for stopping by! :)

[Mikey]

I've had dye jobs before but LONG ago. I'm an "older guy", and for Halloween, I did a non-permanent dye job at home with L'Oreal "moisture spa"(?) #26. Surprise! I kinda liked it, but have not been able to find the same color again (I got the first box on the west coast, now I'm back on the east coast). Before I try one of the root-dyes you mentioned (Cairol, Revlon) I wonder if you can recommend one for me. My hair is naturally an ash brown w/gray, and I have a SHORT goatee-patch that is grayer than the rest of my hair. The whiskers seem more resistant to the dye. I went across the aisle to check on Mennen dyes, but they only have colors in browns and black ! I'm interested in a more reddish hue, but dark. Also, in a mag, I read that I can find better dyes in a beauty supply shoppe instead of the drug stores.... if that's right, how do I find these shops?
Thanks, from this Mr.
Mikey

[wilben]

Great tips thank you for this site.

[Theresa Kruger]

Thanks for these tips! It's nice to see that they have root touch up products now instead of buying a whole bottle of product you won't use all at once. I find that most hair products are a little darker than they show on the box. I try to go a a couple of shades lighter than what it shows on the box.