Beautiful Brunettes!

I've done a lot of hair coloring in my lifetime!I work in a beauty salon, so you'd think this would be an easy place to get your hair done!In reality, it's hard to find a co-worker to fit me into their schedule.After all, why should they forgo a paying customer for a freebie?

Sally Beauty Supply isn't where I normally buy my hair color.For products in the salon, (and for my own personal use), I do business at supply stores that only sell to licensed stylists.In a way, we don't view Sally's on the same level as the other supply stores, because Sally's sells to the "public".(Snobby, isn't it?)But my opinion about Sally's has changed.

On a quick trip to grab some things for the salon, I also needed to buy color to touch up my hair.All of the supply stores carry different lines of product, so if I have a big list, I have to run all over town to get everything I need.This time, I was in a hurry, and it was raining, and I was tired of jumping in and out of my car.Here I was at Sally's, so I checked out their hair color, and decided to give the Ion 'Color Brilliance' a try.The color I chose was, Dark Golden Brown.

When I got home, I mixed it up and applied it to my regrowth.My natural hair color is a very dark brown, but now that I'm 55 those white hairs on creeping in!I didn't read the instructions, but it comes with directions for those who need them.Depending on the color choice, it's usually mixed with 20 volume peroxide, and processes 20-40 minutes.I leave my color on the roots for 30 minutes, then mix the remaining color with shampoo and bring it through the rest of my hair.That stays on for 5-10 minutes.This refreshes the(old) color without drying the hair out. Following the color, I apply Alphaparf Essential Oil to add shine. (See my review on this product.)However, the Ion Color Brilliance leaves the hair shiny without the essential oil.

After I styled my hair, I loved how the color looked!It gave my hair more warmth than it normally has.Of course, that's because I chose a warm color. Even when I had "virgin" hair, I had dark auburn tones.With the Ion color these tones 'pop' under bright lights, or sunlight.Otherwise, in normal light, it's a warm dark brown. You should choose an ash tone if you need to cut red or gold tones.

I color my hair every 3 weeks.That's a lot of coloring, so conditioning is a must!

One of my co-workers ask me what color I was using on my hair because she wanted 'my' color.When I told her, she feigned horror when she found out I was using a hair color from Sally's!(snobby, snobby, snobby...)But I'll bet she stopped there on her way home from work, and grabbed a bottle of Color Brilliance!

Update On Apr 14, 2008: Oops!I see a typo in my last paragraph!It should read, "One of my co-workers asked me what color I was using on my hair..." not ask!In my editing, I forgot to change the word! Duh!