Colouring

Hair colouring, perhaps, has an undeserved bad reputation. If done properly and with good aftercare, the results can be excellent. However whatever hair colour you decide upon, you need to take precautions, as all colouring processes are potentially harmful if the instructions are not followed correctly.

 All Philip Kingsley Shampoos and Conditioners are desiged for use on coloured hair.

Taking care
It is essential with any hair colouring that a skin patch test is undertaken. This usually consists of applying a small amount of hair dye behind the ear or inside the wrist and waiting 24 hours to test for reaction. It is wrong to assume that because you have been skin tested once you will not need to be tested again. For all colouring that touches the scalp and around the hairline, a skin test is recommended every time you colour.For high and low lights, this is not as essential as usually the dye does not touch the scalp or hairline.

Colouring
Hair colouring, perhaps, has an undeserved bad reputation. If done properly and with good aftercare, the results can be excellent. However whatever hair colour you decide upon, you need to take precautions, as all colouring processes are potentially harmful if the instructions on the packaging are not followed.

Temporary Colours
Temporary colours rest on the surface of the hair. These are generally found in the form of colour rinses, applied directly after shampooing and lasting until the hair is shampooed again. A typical example is the ‘blue rinse’ used to mask yellowing in grey hair, but there are a variety of colours that can be added to sprays, setting lotions or other hair products that may be used to add some colour to the hair temporarily. Too much application may dull the hair, but these do not damage the hair structure and are unlikely to cause any scalp irritation. Philip Kingsley Pure Silver Shampoo and Conditioner are designed with violet hues and Optical Brighteners to add shine to grey and blond hair. 

Semi-Permanent Colours
Semi-permanent colours are longer lasting, usually up to six washes. These penetrate the outer cuticle layers of the hair and add various tones to the hair. They can be used to darken the hair and cover up to 30% of white or grey hair. These are unlikely to cause scalp irritation or allergy, although some semi-permanent colours do contain a para-dye and require mixing with an oxidising agent – usually hydrogen peroxide. If this is the case a skin test should be carried out before application.

Permanent Colours
Permanent colours or ‘tints’ will last until the coloured hair is cut off, though some colour fade is to be expected. These will cover 100% of white or grey hair, and are available in a huge variety of colours. The formulations are complicated, and an oxidising agent is always required. They work by depositing small colourless molecules in the hair’s cortex, which then join together to create larger colour molecules that become trapped inside the hair. Using this process both lighter and darker shades can be achieved. A skin test must always be carried out before each application of permanent hair colour, as an allergic reaction, though rare, is possible - remember that a sudden allergy could develop even though you have used the same colour for many years. All manufacturers put warnings on their labels – safety is their principal and essential concern.

Bleaching

Bleaching is the permanent removal of colour from the hair. It is impossible to make the hair a lighter shade without the use of a bleaching agent, and of all the colouring methods bleach is potentially the most damaging. However as with all colouring it gives a great psychological boost, but it should ideally be professionally done. If bleaching your own hair great caution must be exercised in application. Read and re-read the instructions carefully. Philip Kingsley Pure Silver Shampoo and Conditioner are designed with violet hues and Optical Brighteners to add shine to grey and blond hair. 

Highlighting And Lowlighting
Highlighting and lowlighting are techniques for lightening or darkening selected strands of hair with permanent colouring products. Using the various application methods the colouring agents do not actually touch the scalp, and because of the blend of colours in the hair, the regrowth is less noticeable. The most common method of application is by using strips of foil to separate and wrap around the hair strands to be coloured.

Vegetable Colours
Vegetable colours such as henna date back thousands of years. Henna is a colouring agent made from the dried leaves of a shrub, and when used on dark hair produces various shades of red which quickly fade, though some permanent colour remains and it must grow out. The shades achieved are much less predictable and reliable than those achieved with modern tints, and its popularity fluctuates.

Taking Care
Most semi-permanent colorants do not damage the hair, however those used with an oxidising agent will generally cause the hair to be more porous. Always use conditioner, and occasional intensive conditioning treatments such as the Philip Kingsley Elasticizer. Any hair that has been permanently coloured is more vulnerable to damage, because the elasticity (stretchability) of the hair is reduced and therefore the possibility of breakage is increased. The degree is dependent on the amount of colour change and the frequency of application. Regular intensive conditioning treatments such as the Philip Kingsley Elasticizer will help to restore moisture to the hair and prevent breakage. Use a deep conditioning treatment three to four days before and after colouring or bleaching, and, once again, always use a conditioner after shampooing. Even if your hair is fine and limp, using the correct conditioner can increase body and help prevent damage. Remember to use protective styling creams with sunscreen to help prevent colour fade.
See Philip Kingsley Elasticizer

Cancer Risk
The issue of hair dyes increasing cancer risk has been debated and researched many times, in particular in relation to bladder cancer, multiple myeloma, leukaemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Overall evidence from analysis of all the research data has found that there is unlikely to be any link between personal hair dye use and bladder cancer, and seems to exclude an appreciable increased risk factor for other cancers.
See the Cancer Help UK website for more information.

No Scent No Colour Shampoo and Conditioner: Special Care for sensitive scalps, Mildest, SLS and Paraben free


GIVING SOMETHING BACK
 After 50 years in Trichological practice Philip Kingsley is celebrating this wonderful milestone by giving something back in supporting the fantastic work of Look Good...Feel Better.  This charity aims to help women combat the visible side-effects of cancer treatments by increasing their self confidence and esteem at a very difficult time in their lives.   A donation is made from every bottle of No Scent No Colour Shampoo & Conditioner sold.  If you want to find out more or get involved please visit their site at: www.lookgoodfeelbetter.co.uk