By Sam Escobar, Good Housekeping
Millions of women dye their hair each year, but for every one who gets the result she wants while maintaining healthy hair, there's another whose locks are left feeling like straw.
So before you start mixing that at-home dye (or heading to the salon),
it's important to determine whether or not your hair is in good enough
shape to color. Luckily, Elizabeth Maloy, stylist and color specialist
at Paul Labrecque Salon in New York City, has the perfect trick for figuring it out.
[post_ads]Maloy
recommends taking a piece of your hair with your fingers and holding it
straight, then putting a drop of water onto it. Start counting how long
it takes to absorb — this can indicate how healthy your locks really
are. "If the water is absorbed by the hair in less than ten seconds, the
cuticle is compromised and strands are too damaged to be dyed
properly," she told InStyle.
Not
convinced? There are a few other ways to double-check the health of
your hair. "If the hair is wet and stretches more than usual, or the
texture turns a bit gummy, it is not safe to dye," says senior colorist
Meri Kate O'Connor of N.Y.C.'s Eva Scrivo Salon.
If
you're still not sure, she recommends getting a consultation first
because any good colorist is trained to be able to tell if your tresses
are dye-ready. "This, as well as a strand test, are the best ways to determine whether or not the hair is healthy enough to color without compromising your head."
