Daily Makeover™ REFRESH, REINVENT, REPEAT!

Anytime there is a change of season it is always a great time to change your hair color, but autumn is especially a great time to try on a new fall hair color. A new change in your hair color will give you the extra pick up to bring in the new season. Gone are the lazy hazy days of summer that call for sun kissed blonde streaks. Fall hair colors call for rich hues of rich chocolate, creamy caramel, burnt auburn and fiery burgundy. Along with giving you that extra pick me up, the rich dark colors of autumn will help give your hair a rich shine it so desperately needs after being subjected to the summer elements of the sun, wind, chlorine and other chemicals your hair has been exposed to.

Choose Your Fall Hair Color Wisely

Choosing the right fall hair color is vital to help you look your best. The key to finding the right color is to start with determining what skin tone you have. You don't want to choose a color that is going to wash out your complexion or make your complexion look ruddy.

Healthy Hair is a Must

Once you have determined the best fall hair color for your complexion, you will want to make sure you get your hair in shape for the coloring process. If your hair has sustained massive amounts of damage over the summer you want to be certain it is in tip top shape to ensure the color spreads evenly as well as to avoid damaging your hair even further.

Testing 1, 2, 3

So you have determined what your skin tone is, you have chosen the hair color you are going to use and you have conditioned your hair back to a healthy status. You may be ready to get down and dirty, but this is not the time; not yet anyway. There are a few minor tests you must complete first. I know testing sounds boring, but it is an important part of the process if you want to receive the best results with your new fall hair color.

Skin Test

First and foremost, you must be certain you are not going to have an allergic reaction to your hair color. Assuming the hair color you have chosen calls for equal parts of color and peroxide, you will want to mix up a small amount (approximately a teaspoon) of each and apply the color to the skin on the inside of your elbow with a cotton ball. This color should stay on your skin for about 24 hours to be sure you will not develop a negative reaction to it.

Hair Strand Test

In the meantime, while you are waiting to make sure you don't have a reaction to your color, you will want to test a strand of your hair to be sure you end up with the right fall hair color. You can do this with your hair still attached but it will be easier if you snip a small piece weaved from a discreet area from the back of your scalp and tape the end up with scotch tape. You can either use the left over color from your skin test or mix up another teaspoon if needed. Cover your hair strand completely with the color and let it process for the time given in the directions of the color you have chosen. After processing you will want to follow the directions to rinse and condition your strand of hair.

You will then want to dry it completely to get an idea of the true color. You should also view your hair strand by laying it on a hand mirror and taking it out in the sunlight. Fluorescent lights can sometimes distort the color so it is better to look in direct sunlight to get a true reading of the color results.

Enjoy Your New Fall Hair Color

If you are happy with the results and you haven't had a negative reaction to your skin test then you can proceed to finally getting down and dirty and apply the color to your hair. Now you can welcome in the autumn season with your brand new rich fall hair color!

Author Bio: Brenda Mohney is a hairdresser turned computer geek. She has combined the two talents at her site, FunWithHair.com where she offers more tips, ideas and hair color pictures you can use to find your next great hair color!