Did you catch India Knight’s review of Josh’s permanent hair colour in Sunday Times Style this week? India chose to try Josh’s 5.0 Light Brown for her first ever at-home colour application, after many many years of leaving root touch-ups in the hands of salon professionals.
India’s verdict? “Finally, an at-home colour kit that is easy to follow and delivers professional results… It looks ace and I love it: rich and tonal rather than flat and wiggy.” So, if you’re thinking of giving it a go but you’ve got the first-time colour fear, fear not. Melanie Smith, Creative Master Colourist at the Josh Wood Atelier is here to calm any at-home colour nerves ahead of your first application. Read on for her tips to help make the whole process simple (and less daunting).
Choose the correct colour
“Josh’s permanent kits are designed to shade-match to your hair, so making sure you’ve got the correct colour is key. The easiest way to find the perfect shade is to complete Josh’s online consultation – it only takes a minute or two and it’ll recommend the perfect shade and products based on your answers. If you’d prefer to get colour advice direct from our Atelier team, you can send any questions over to hello@joshwoodcolour.com, too.”
Don’t forget to do a patch test
“First things first, you should always complete a patch test 48 hours before applying any permanent colour. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Full instructions can be found in your permanent kit.”
Get prepped before you get started
“I always get organised before I start a client’s colour; it just makes the whole process much easier. Lay out everything you need in front of you: empty out your colour kit components, have a good read through your instructions, make sure you have a dark/old towel to hand along with a brush and clips to make sectioning your hair easier (more on that later).”
Decide which application technique is right for you
“If you’re happy with the colour of the ends or lengths of your hair and you just need to cover your roots, just touch-up your roots! It’s a myth that you need to apply the colour all-over your hair. This tends to make colour look unnatural and too blocky as your hair should be slightly lighter on the ends.
“If your previous colour has faded more than you’d like, you can always refresh the ends with the colour for the last ten minutes of the application. Just make sure you always tackle the greys at the root/around your hairline first as they will take the longest to cover and will need the full development time.”
Tackle your hair in sections
“Less hair is much easier to work with, so sectioning to get some of it out of the way will make applying the colour a cleaner process. Part your hair down the centre of your head and split each half into two sections from the middle of your head to behind your ears (so you have four sections in total). Clip each section out of the way until you’re ready to apply your colour.
“Use the tip of the bottle to separate your hair into smaller sections (about half an inch wide) as you apply. For the front sections, start with sections closest to your parting, apply from the hairline towards the back and repeat all the way down to your ears. For the back sections, start at the crown and apply down towards the hairline. If you find colouring the back of your hair difficult – ask a friend to help you out or, if you’re going solo, concentrate on the areas that will be more visible (say, for example, the nape of your neck if you tend to wear your hair up). Finish off by dotting colour along your hairline to make sure you catch any stubborn greys or baby hairs.”
Think about post-colour care
“With Josh’s shades, you’re only depositing colour; they’re not designed to lift your colour, which is what tends to damage your hair. Josh’s colours also condition your hair while they develop, so your hair will actually feel better post colour. That being said, keeping your hair nourished afterwards will help to prolong your colour. Try applying a mask treatment once or twice a week to keep your shade locked-in for longer.”
Got any other questions before you get started? Drop us a message for advice direct from our expert colourists – they’re always happy to share their tips whenever you need them.