Advice Column

The most popular Q & A by Confessions of a Cosmetologist! You’ll find real advice, questions from readers just like you, and more!

Are Full Bangs for Me?

Are full bangs for me? I get dozens of e-mails every week asking this very question. About 80% of those who ask me for advice on whether or not they should get bangs will do it even if I suggest that it probably won’t work out based on their hair type, styling routine, etc. So, […]

Posted in Advice Column | Tagged arefullbangsforme, bang, bangs, cuts, cutyourbangs, fullbangs, getbangs, hair, haircolor, howto, howtocutyour | 1 Comment

Should I Use Sally’s Hair Color?

You may be asking yourself…”Should I use Sally’s hair color?”…at least I hope you are. The first step to not cultivating a huge hair color disaster for yourself is questioning yourself. Spontaneity is a wonderful thing, but when it comes to your hair…you owe yourself a little time to think on it! Should I color […]

Posted in Advice Column, Hair | Tagged boxcolor, boxofhaircolor, clarifyingshampoo, clarifyingtreatment, Color, colorconsultations, coloredhairgels, colorprocess, cosmetologist, Cosmetologists, cosmetology, hair, haircolor, licensedcosmetologist, messupyourhair, naturalhair, peanutclippers, permanenthaircolor, permrods, professionalhaircolor, professionalhaircolorist, Sally'sBeautySupply, sallys, sallyshaircolor, semipermanent, semipermanentcolor, shouldicolormyownhair, temporary, waterbottles, whyyoushouldn'tuseboxcolor | 18 Comments

How to Buy Professional Hair Dye

Are you wondering how to buy professional hair dye for your own at home use? Well…..you can’t. If you do find some online then it’s not coming from a reliable supplier. Not only that, but if you’re not a hairstylist then you probably have no idea about what you’re doing. This isn’t a “tricky” post […]

Posted in Advice Column, Hair | Tagged boxhaircolor, buyprofessionalhair, buyprofessionalhairdye, Color, dye, hair, haircolor, haircolorist, hairdye, howtobuy, howtobuyprofessionalhairdye, professional, professionalhair, professionalhaircolorist, professionalhairdye | 79 Comments

Should Hair Extensions Tangle Easily?

Should Hair Extensions Tangle Easily? Dear Erika, Do you use hair extensions? According to your personal experiences, is it normal for them to tangle easily after months of use? Thanks, -Anonymous Dear Anonymous, I don’t use hair extensions in my own hair, but I have put them in my clients hair. It depends on how […]

Posted in Advice Column | Tagged extensions, hair, hairextensions, tangle | 2 Comments

Why won’t color stay in my hair?

Why won’t color stay in my hair? Hi, I get my hair colored silver/grey and I wait 3-4 days before I wash my hair. But when I do shampoo, which is with purple shampoo, a lot of it washes out and has a coppery color and then there are grey streaks as well. Is it […]

Posted in Advice Column | Tagged blondes, clarifying, cleansingshampoo, coppertones, grey, hair, haircolored, purpleshampoo, semi-permanent, shampoo, silver, whitehair, whywon'tcolorstayinmyhair | 2 Comments

Perms with Highlighted Hair

Perms with highlighted hair are not generally recommended. I usually suggest that clients choose one or the other. Either you get highlights/color, or you keep your hair natural and get a perm. I know…wavy, highlighted hair looks so pretty! There are other ways to get it, even though they may not be permanent. I would […]

Posted in Advice Column, Hair | Tagged colored, ColoredHair, highlighted, highlightedhair, Highlights, perm, permalternatives, perms | 5 Comments

Switch From Box to Salon Color

Not sure about how to switch from box to salon color? It’s not the same for everyone, and I get a lot of messages about how it should be done. Below is one example….please remember that specific advice for one person may not work for another….especially with hair color! I’m sharing this to help […]