Hair Q&A with Jo O'Neill

Super colourist Jo O'Neill, is currently the International Technical Director for TONI&GUY, so if anyone has the answer to you colour dilemmas it's her. Read on for her answers to your questions...

Hello Jo

 

I have had my hair coloured and the last couple of times the shade is darkest brown (almost black), my normal hair colour is mid brown, and just past shoulder length. I really don't like it and it doesn't suit my skin at all. I'm 31 now and am wanting to go a couple of shades lighter, do you think I should have highlights to brighten it up a bit while I wait for the dark colour to fade (if so what sort of colour) instead of going for a complete hair strip and re-dye? Please help.

 

Many thanks

Helen  

 

Hi Helen,

 

My best advice is to start working towards the colour that you want to be, rather than compensating with an entirely different colour in-between.  You can start by entering into a gentle cleansing programme in any TONI&GUY salon, this will start to remove the colour in your hair, stage by stage, and you will gradually get a level lighter everytime you go.  It will take some time before you reach your desired colour, but you need to be patient - in the end the condition of your hair will be better.  Colour correction really is for the experts, so make sure you have a consultation with a TONI&GUY Technician, it is not one to self-attempt.     

 

 

 

Hi Jo,

 

I have really red skin on my face, particularly on my cheeks and was wondering what hair colour would help neutralise these tones. I am naturally a dark blonde, however I have been dying my hair for years. At the moment it is a few shades lighter than my natural colour.

 

Thanks

Robyn

 

Hi Robyn,

 

I would suggest something soft to complement your skin tone - the natural colour that you are born with is the colour best suited with your genetics, but other colours that work well with a redder skin tone are soft coppers and strawberry blondes - these are neutralising colours and will help to balance out the redness. 

 

 

 

Hello Jo,

 

I really enjoy reading this column! I'm 23 with thick mouse coloured hair just below my collar bones with a not-too-heavy fringe. Despite religious care (gentle natural shampoo, rich conditioner, regular hair masks, heat protected styling etc), it is extremely prone to dryness and split ends.

 

I'm finding my mousey colour and undecided length pretty boring - I'd like to grow it, but I'd also like to liven up the colour. Last time my hair was dyed by a hairdresser it was to a richer warmer brown, but within three weeks it faded to ginger and then blonde. It was a nightmare to grow out and made the condition of my hair even worse!

 

Hence, I was wondering if there is a professional colouring service you could recommend which won't give me root lines, won't turn blonde, and will be kind to my rough textured hair. I have considered henna, semi-permanent and vegetable dyes, but most hairdressers seem insistent that a normal chemical dye is the only option. Any thoughts of yours would be very much appreciated!

 

Thank you for your help!

Juliet

 

Hi Juliet,

 

I definitely suggest that you go down the semi-permanent route first, it will deposit colour and tone into the hair, whilst simultaneously conditioning.  All colour will naturally fade and dryer hair can be more prone to a quicker colour fade, but to help maintain your colour TONI&GUY have a colour enhancing range available in boots, which contains colour pigment and refreshes colour in-between salon visits.  You need to have regular colour services to maintain a beautiful rich and glossy colour and condition - starting with the semi-permanent, then once the condition of your hair has improved you can move onto glossing.  Glossing is slightly stronger than a semi-permanent, it lasts longer and still has no ammonia.  Avoid putting pre-lightening products onto your hair (bleach), they only increase the dryness.  Spend time with your colourist to gradually improve the condition of your hair and work towards your desired tonality.  

 

 

 

Hi Jo

 

My hair is naturally a mucky blonde; I then bleached it for a couple of months myself at home to a really light blonde. Then I dyed my hair myself for a couple of months to a really dark brown. I'd like to get my hair back to a really light blonde, ie: white blonde.

 

What's the best way to do this?

 

Thanks

Maggie

 

Hi Maggie,

 

It is quite a long process to get your hair from dark to light, it needs to happen in stages.  Initially you need to enter into a hair cleansing programme to remove the colour in your hair - how long this will take will depend on how many times you applied the brown colour yourself, it could take several months.  You need to consult with a TONI&GUY technician who can guide you in this programme and make sure that you are using products at the same time that will maintain moisture in your hair, as cleansing colour out can cause dryness. 

 

 

 

 

Hi Jo,

 

My hair colour is 80 per cent grey and very short.  I would like to cover all the grey but not sure whether to have high/low lights or chose an all over colour cover.  My hair also grows quite quickly.

 

Many thanks

Elaine

 

Hi Elaine,

 

If the hair is very short highlights will only give a soft colour appearance and cover the grey tone by about 50% to 80%.  The other alternative, all over colour will give 100% grey coverage and will enhance your overall image.  You would need to have regular salon visits if you wanted to maintain 100% coverage (4-6 weeks), and with a completely new colour you may have to consider a new make-up palette and clothes etc.  But this can be something really refreshing and confidence boosting.  I say go for a new look, but discuss it fully with your TONI&GUY technician to determine the perfect shade for you.

 

To find your nearest TONI&GUY salon visit toniandguy.com.

 

 

Click here to see more hair Q&A


Do you have a hair dilemma you want to put to the experts? Then email  us at hair@ukhandbag.com or click HERE

Share this Print this