Kala Garner’s Hair Color Tips for the Summer

Have you ever, or are you currently considering coloring your natural hair? As the seasons change, so do our styles – and coloring your hair can be a great way to spruce up your look, especially for the summertime. Of course, that can be a major decision, and our choice to do so is usually predicated on our ability to answer these questions:

1. Is color safe?
2. Which colors work best on dark natural hair?
3. How do I care for my color-treated curls?

Last summer, I got the color-itch. I decided to go brighter and loved it.

Well now, the color-itch has returned and I’m very excited to go brighter again! I am still absolutely loving my TWA and recently got it shaped up (took a little off of the sides). But what’s next? Platinum Blonde? Fiery Red? Midnight Blue? Regardless of which color you or I decide on for our natural curls, coils and kinks, there are certain things we need to take into consideration before going through with coloring. Here are some tips I have learned from applying color myself, as well as getting professional color.

1. Care for your hair first. If you are considering color treating your hair, but know that you have damaged hair, STOP. You know better. Whether it’s damage from heat or previous color, you don’t want to compound your issues and stress your tresses even further. So take some time (maybe 6 months or so, depending on the severity of your damage) to care for your hair by using nourishing products and deep conditioning regularly. Uncle Funky’s Daughter’s Richee Rich is a great conditioner to use regularly to nourish your curls and help to repair or grow out your damaged hair. If you are impatient like me, you can always opt for the Big Chop, and just cut off the damaged hair as well!

2. Consider a dark color. If you have darker natural hair and want to try color, consider a shade of brown or red as an at-home color to apply. The first time I tried to apply a lighter color myself was a #FAIL. Since my natural hair is pretty dark, I would’ve been better served having a professional help me with lifting my natural color to the lighter color I wanted. Also, keep in mind that the lighter you decide to color your hair, the more stress you are applying to your hair’s cuticles, which could change your hair’s elasticity, among other things. Just be aware! My advice: If you are trying to achieve a light or multi-dimensional color job with highlights, let a color professional do your color.

3. Extra attention and moisture is needed. The most important tip for those of you considering color-treating your natural hair is: be aware and be ready for the maintenance required to keep your hair intact. The summer months’ warmer weather can take a toll on our hair. With color-treated hair, you’ll definitely want to take the extra steps needed to protect your hair from the elements. This means making sure to use moisturizing cleansers that are color-safe or are free of the harsh chemicals that will dry out your hair and strip the color. UFD’s Squeaky or Rich & Funky are perfect for this. It’s also key to deep condition at least once a week (again, you can use Richee Rich). Because our natural curls can lose their luster after a color-treatment, keeping your hair well-nourished and moisturized is crucial. In fact, a simple at-home hot oil treatment can also go a long way towards adding the sheen back into your tresses. Bottom line, if you don’t maintain a consistent hair care regimen, you could experience breakage, damage and end up with brittle, sun-beaten hair. That’s not cute! But healthy, shiny color-treated hair is cute!

4. Go Natural. As opposed to using chemical dyes to achieve coloring, consider henna – a natural alternative that is not as harsh on your hair as traditional dyes may be. Henna has been used for centuries, and comes in a variety of colors, from bright orange-reddish hues, to darker browns and even black. On top of that, henna is very easy to work with and perfect for a DIY coloring.

What hair color are you considering this summer? Have you ever had professional color applied to your natural curls, coils and kinks? Let me know, I want to hear about your hair coloring experiences!

Peace & Blessings,

Kala (@thekglifestyle)