Colour is the New Black

Because ethnic hair is usually dark, changing its colour can be extra striking. Get hair-wise before letting colour go to your head.

BLONDE HAIR
Trendy, off-the-shelf shades: Golden Blonde and Chestnut Blonde by Dark and Lovely.
Pros: These shades brighten and lighten brown hair; giving it a sexy, holidayish look.
Cons: The more peroxide hair takes, the more brittle it becomes. If hair is relaxed, the lightening process is even more damaging. ‘It’s safer just to add blonde highlight,’ says Noeleen Burger of Soft Sheen Carson.
Weave it in: Safer still are blonde weaves or hair extensions. ‘With these you can go as light as you like without causing harm,’ says Burger.
Wig it: A fair wig of hair looks awesome with dark skin.

BLACK HAIR
Trendy, off-the-shelf shades: Natural Black by TCB, Go Black by Wella.
Pros: Dark shades are great for covering an earlier colour treatment that’s fading.
Cons: Once you’ve gone this dark, it’s hard to go lighter again. Hair may have to be colour-stripped, which is hard on it.
Weave it in: A black weave can give a more natural effect, as your own hair colour keeps it from looking too uniform and severe.
Wig it: This allows you to lighten up again any time. Remember to keep looking after your own hair, especially if you wear a wig often.

BROWN HAIR
Trendy, off-the-shelf shades: Mahogany by TCB and Roasted Chestnut by Dark and Lovely.
Pros: Adding these warm shades to brown hair leaves it looking more vibrant but not radically different.
Cons: lf your natural colour is dark, your hair must be bleached first – and doing two chemical treatments isn’t good for it.
Weave it in: A brown weave in dark hair has the same effect as highlighting, with less damage.
Wig it: Brown is the most subtle colour for a wig.

RED HAIR
Trendy, off-the-shelf shades: Red Hot Mary by Dark and Lovely, Copper Reds by TCB and Racy Wine Spiced Cognac by Caivil.
Pros: Dying ethnic hair red creates a striking effect, especially over a light, natural colour. Expect to be noticed!
Cons: It’s difficult to successfully colour naturally very dark hair red. Don’t be tempted to leave the dye on longer than recommended – all you’ll get is a red-stained scalp, warns Fûn Robertson of Jabula in Cape Town.
Weave it in: The most popular red weave has a maroon tinge that works well with all shades of brown. It’ll make your own hair look livelier and fuller.
Wig it: If you want a head of flame-red hair, a wig is a much safer option than a harsh chemical treatment. Just don’t choose one that makes you look like Ronald McDonald!

GOOD TO KNOW
• When colouring ethnic hair that’s been relaxed, go one or two shades darker or lighter – anything more will cause too much damage, says Burger.
• If you want to colour hair just after it’s been relaxed, use a semi-permanent dye. To avoid breakage, wait two weeks before using a permanent dye, says Shaka of Shaka’s Hair Museum in Soweto.
• Hair that’s been coloured tends to get dry and brittle, so it’s important to condition it well, says Brian Warfield of Johannesburg’s Mzizi Salon. ‘A cotton pillowcase dries out hair – use a silk one instead.’
• ‘It’s important to go for a hair treatment about a week after colouring it, to help retain moisture,’ says Robertson.

Author: Mantsadi Molotlegi