Hair Colour – Mixing Master Class

Following on from our last article about the safety of hair colouring we had several questions raised about mixing colours to get an exact shade for you. This is not an exact science but it isn’t nearly as difficult as it might at first appear. Mixing Tints of Nature products to get your exact colour is actually quite easy.

Why mix colours?
Mixing colours gives a larger range of shades, and allows customers to tailor the perfect colour for them. For customers with grey hair, mixing colours enables them to have a fashionable colour with perfect grey coverage, and it can also prevent colours from being too bright on grey hair.

How do I mix colours?
Simply measure out equal amounts of colour gel with the colourfix in a plastic measuring bowl (never use metal implements with Tints of Nature). For example, you could mix 25mls of 6N and 25mls of 6TF with 50mls of colourfix. The colour gel and colourfix should always be in equal proportions.

What happens if I mix colours with different bases?
If you are mixing two colours with different base numbers together, you will usually end up with a base shade somewhere in the middle. If, for example, you mix together 7R and 5R, you will achieve a 6R.

What colours can I mix to achieve grey coverage?
The natural shades 1N – 8N in the Tints of Nature range will cover 100% grey hair. If you wish to use one of the fashion shades, then you simply need to mix this with the corresponding natural shade in equal amounts (eg, 25mls of 4N and 25mls of 4CH with 50mls colourfix).

How do I prevent colours from being too bright on grey hair?
This will only happen when using the golden, red or mahogany fashion colours. Mix your chosen shade with the corresponding N colour, e.g. if you have chosen 7D, simply mix 25mls of 7D with 25mls of 7N together with 50mls of colourfix.

Can I keep the leftover colour for another application?
Any unused colour which has been mixed with the colourfix should be disposed of. However, any unmixed colour can be saved in the bottle and should last several months, so can be used for another application. Please make sure that the bottle is sealed properly and is stored in a cool place out of direct sunlight.

Grey coverage:
If you have grey hairs which are resistant to colour, try shampooing and use treatment on the hair before colouring. Firstly apply Tints of Nature Shampoo, rinse, apply Tints of Nature Reconstructing Treatment, comb and leave for 15 minutes, rinse, towel dry and then apply the colour as usual. The shampoo and treatment will help to soften the hair and open the outer layer of the hair (the cuticle). Note, do not use conditioner before colouring.

Another tip for colouring resistant grey hair is to cover the hair with a plastic bag and apply gentle heat all over the colour for approximately the first ten minutes of the development time. Please make sure the hairdryer is set on low – medium heat only. Then allow the colour to develop without heat for the remainder of the development time.

Counteracting red tones in hair:
Ash shades are ideal to counteract red tones in hair. You can mix either the Dark Ash Blonde (6C) or Light Ash Blonde (10C) with the natural tones.

Protecting hair which is not being coloured:
If you are only colouring a section of your hair and are worried about getting the colour on the rest of your hair, simply cover it with conditioner. This will prevent any colour penetrating into the hair and will leave your hair soft and manageable.

To remove build-up from two-in-one shampoos:
Shampoo the hair twice using a basic shampoo and then using a sponge, work vodka through the hair and leave for five minutes. Rinse and shampoo twice with Tints of Nature Shampoo.

Propanediol replaces Propylene Glycol
We are pleased to announce that we are removing Propylene Glycol from our products. We are aware that some consumers have expressed concern about this ingredient. We used USP pharmaceutical grade Propylene Glycol and consider it to be safe for use, but are happy to respond to customer concern by taking it out of all relevant products.

Propanediol, a renewably sourced material, will replace Propylene Glycol. Derived from the sugar from corn kernels, it is a certified organic ingredient. Including Propanediol is therefore in keeping with our ethos of using the most natural ingredients possible. Propanediol is an effective moisturiser.

We’re very pleased to announce that Tints of Nature has won Your Hair magazine’s award for Best Permanent Colour as part of their Best Hair Buys 2011! The Best Buys are compiled using the results of testing sessions carried out by both readers and editorial team members, so it’s great to have been chosen by both the public and the professionals.

Tints of Nature’s range of 24 Permanent Colours are made from a unique blend of natural and organic extracts and Vitamins E & C, combined with plant derived conditioners to actually enhance, protect and moisturise your hair as it colours.

Your Hair magazine provides product reviews and style inspiration as well as hair care help, tips and celebrity looks. The full list of Best Buys 2011 winners can be seen in Your Hair’s 116/April issues on sale 17th February.

Author: Steven Chasen

Here at Eco Hip we have a simple philosophyTo offer you the best natural products around, so that you can maintain a chemical-free home, body and spirit.For 15 years we have been striving to give people the opportunity to enjoy and benefit from this lifestyle, using our knowledge and experience to guide you through the process from start to finish. We believe that there is a complete synergy between what is best for you and what is best for the environment.Do you ever stop and think about what goes into the products that we use on a daily basis?Did you know that everyday products such as toiletries and cosmetics are filled with harmful petro-chemicals, parabens, GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms), DEAs, MEAs, TEAs, artificial colours, fragrances and fillers. The list goes on…Why aren’t there stricter regulations concerning these products?Are the waste products of industry being dumped and sold in our personal care and cleaning products?Who is stopping this and telling it how it is?We feel that we have a responsibility to both our customers and to the world around us to ask ourselves these questions every day. That is why we only sell the most responsible and sustainable products.Responsibility to ourselves – All our products are free of toxic chemicals wherever possible and endorsed by Ecocert and the Soil Association.Responsibility to others – We promote Fairtrade produce to stop exploitation and benefit those communities.Responsibility to local communities – We use local suppliers and products wherever possible in order to support the local economy and reduce our carbon footprintResponsibility to the environment – All our products use minimal packaging and recyclable materials. Responsibility to the future – We use sustainable materials and ingredients wherever possible.Responsibility to animals – We do not use any products that have animal ingredients or are tested on animals. Our products are certified as cruelty-free and are endorsed by BUAV and PETA.There doesn’t have to be a trade off between affordability and healthy living either. The choices we make now will impact our future, and we want to ensure that the investments you make now will save you money in the long-term.Sustainability doesn’t just have to connote the environment, but your own household too.In the age of information overload that we live in, we know that shopping online can sometimes be overwhelming, so we carefully source our products, selecting only the highest quality ingredients and most innovative designs, so that you don’t have to.Ecohip is more than just another online shopping website. The Ecohip mindset is all about challenging conventional thinking and finding a new way of looking at the world, believing that smalls steps can gradually add up to make a big difference. View all posts by Steven Chasen