Easy Tips for Dyeing Your Hair Dark This Fall

Without fail, each year Hollywood celebrates the fall season with a parade of darker hair colors. Already, Kylie Minogue, Chloe Sevigny, and Rihanna have shown off brunette locks.  The annual tradition provides inspiration for switching up your entire look, plus a darker hue is a fun way to coordinate with the season's bold fashions. We chatted with celebrity colorist Marko Tomassetti of Sally Hershberger Los Angeles (clients include Kelly Clarkson and Jane Krakowski) and learned some easy tricks for transitioning tresses successfully.

B: Why is dyeing your hair dark so popular in fall?

Fall is the perfect time to go dark. My clients are often feeling blue that the summer is over and they’re looking to make a change. Hair is usually washed out and dry from the season past, and going darker gives strands a break from highlights and adds new life. Plus, rich brunettes are super sexy hues!

B: Do darker shades work with every skin tone?

Yes! Anyone can go darker, but I recommend consulting your colorist so they can tailor a shade that’s right for your skin tone. Those with olive skin should ask their colorist to add warmth to their hue so that it doesn’t look one dimensional. If you have a lot of yellow if your skin, stick with a medium brown, as a really dark shade will wash you out and make you look pasty. Women also shouldn’t be afraid of a little red in their hair—it adds shine and can help make the dark hue look more natural.

B: How can you keep your color from fading?

If you’re a brunette who’s going even darker, you can go up to eight weeks between coloring appointments (unless you have grays—then you should go about every month). However, blondes may need to visit the salon every four to six weeks as their lighter roots come through. Whatever your natural color, try not to wash your hair more than twice a week, and use a color-protecting shampoo and conditioner to ensure the hue remains lustrous.

B: Have any DIY recipes?

This is a little trick I share with my brunette clients: Brew a really strong pot of coffee (avoid instant), let it cool, then put the coffee in a spray bottle. Once a week after shampooing, spray the coffee throughout your hair, let it sit for five to ten minutes, then rinse and condition. The coffee helps to boost your color and add richness!

Is An Oily Scalp Holding Your Hair Back?

There are few bigger bummers in the world of hair than a chronically oily scalp. Sure, it may sound better than say, an oily T-zone—it’s hidden beneath your hair. However, when it begins to creep up your roots making your morning shower look like a little white lie, a solution is in order. If an itchy oily scalp has you hiding your head in the sand, read on to learn about causes and solutions.
BLAME YOUR PARENTS

We have a lot to thank our folks for, but an oily scalp isn’t one of them. Chances are, if you’re suffering from an excessively oily scalp, Mom and Pop are in the same boat. Before you start kicking yourself, consider that they may just have some parental advice about how to combat the problem that you never would have thought of.
RECOGNIZE THOSE RAGING HORMONES

Whether you are or were a teenager, we’re all familiar with overactive oil glands. We admit, we were much too distracted by our serious case of pizza-face to notice how greasy our roots were, but it turns out the same oil clogs found on our pubescent mugs were taking over our scalps. In adulthood, an oily scalp can be a sign of a hormone imbalance which can be treated topically.
MIX UP A MEDICATED LATHER

The simplest solution to combat oil is to wash with a specially formulated shampoo before you start your day. A shampoo containing coal tar, selenium sulfide, zinc pyrithione, or salicylic acid such as Head and Shoulders or Denorex will help cut down on the excess oil production on your scalp. Use it on the roots only to avoid drying out the rest of your ‘do.
BREAKUP WITH BUILDUP

Styling products make our mane look great by day, but they have a bad habit of sticking around causing even the healthiest scalp to get greasy. Cut down on using product at the roots, or take extra time in the shower to wash away any build up left over from spray cans, gels, and pomades.
LOSE THE CONDITIONER

Cutting down on conditioning may be just what your scalp needs. If you have long hair, try applying conditioner just to the ends to fight damage only where it’s needed. If your hair is short, try skipping the conditioner all together.
WHIP UP A HOME TREATMENT

Combat oil production is easy with items you already have around the house. A couple tablespoons of lemon juice, eucalyptus oil, or apple cider vinegar will control oil production while fighting pore-blocking bacteria. Alternately, you can apply a mixture of equal parts witch hazel and mouthwash pre-shampoo to disinfect, neutralize, and calm greasy roots. No time for a kitchen cook up? Dust off with a sprinkle of baby powder– a DIY dry shampoo that will leave you feeling–and smelling– fresh!
POWDER OFF AND CHEER UP

Carry a pack of hair powder with you to sop up oils throughout the day. An elegant brand like the Shu Uemura Volume Maker Invisible Texturizing Powder will make trip to the powder room seem like more of a cute spruce-up than an oily chore.