NEW TO HAIR COLOR?

We understand that your first time receiving color at a new salon can cause a great deal of anxiety. Our job is to make your first visit for hair color the most relaxing as possible.

One of the reasons hair color can be so nerve-racking are the many options and variations available to you. Where do you start in order to end up with the look you want? We’ve created this page to help you answer questions about hair color before you commit to coming in for services.

At Maximum FX, we offer twenty-eight different color service options which allows us to work with virtually any budget. For a full list of color prices, you can find them on our Hair Color menu page.

The key is to communicate with your colorist before she starts mixing the color. Explain — or show her a photo of — the look you’re after so she can outline the options for getting there. To make sure the two of you are speaking the same language, it helps to know the lingo. Here is a primer:

Temporary Temporary color, which contains no ammonia and only a small percentage of peroxide, can only darken hair. Over time, the color fades to a translucent stain, but the roots need to be maintained to avoid a mismatched look. Semi-permanent is the least-damaging hair color process.

Demi-Permanent This type of color is very good for covering gray; it can only darken hair, not lighten it. Roots need to be touched up every 4 to 6 weeks. The formulation contains peroxide, but no ammonia.

Permanent Color Permanent hair color, which consists of both peroxide and ammonia, can make hair darker or a few shades lighter, and provides excellent coverage for gray. The color lasts until hair grows out, and roots need to be touched up every 4 to 6 weeks.

Glossing/Glazing This process involves placing semi-permanent color on the hair for a short period of time to darken hair slightly or to change its tonality (for example, changing an ash blonde to golden brown). Clear glossing/glazing is also available to add shine to hair without altering the color. Gloss or glaze needs to be reapplied every few weeks.

Highlights Highlights, which involve the use of bleach or permanent color to lighten hair, are great for blending grays. The roots need to be touched up every three months.

Lowlights Permanent or Demi-Permanent color is used to darken sections of over-lightened hair. Lowlights can also be used to blend grays. Roots should be touched up on an as-needed basis — usually at least every three months.

Balayage A lightener (powdered bleach) is hand-painted onto select pieces of hair to emphasize the lines and layers of a hairstyle. The color will grow out, and roots aren’t noticeable because the color isn’t applied as close to the roots as it is with other color processes.

Maintaining Your Color

Once hair color begins to fade, it’s too late to return it to its original shade with color-enhancing shampoos and conditioners, so we recommend at-home maintenance from the start. Color-enhancing shampoos and conditioners can be effective as well. Be sure to keep your hair away from salt water, chlorine, and the sun as much as possible. Finally, wash hair less frequently to help prolong the brilliance of your freshly colored hair.

Also be sure to read our blog article “Three Questions You Shouldn’t Be Afraid To Ask Your Colorist” written by our Director Of Color Education, Erica Colon for more valuable information about hair color.