- Stay within two to three shades of your natural colour. For instance, you can easily lift a mousy colour to a bright blonde, but you can't do the same with mid-brown hair. Instead, lighten to a coppery or pale-chestnut shade, or go deeper with rich reds or chocolates.
- Not sure how light you can go? Daniel Galvin's hot tip is to imagine the colour your hair would go naturally at the ends if it were shoulder length and had been bleached by the sun.
- If you have a lot of grey hair to cover, double-check the suitability of the product. If the pack isn't self explanatory, call the helpline, (most companies have one) and talk to an expert.
- Think you've found the right colour but still find yourself stressing at the check-out counter? Relax... the strand test will reveal all. Apply colour to a small section of hair that's well hidden.
- Read the instructions once. Then read them again. Most colour calamities stem from an impatient, can't-be-bothered-with-the-details approach.
- Sometimes, two pairs of hands are better than one – get together with a friend who's also colouring their hair so you can help each other work on hard to reach areas.
- Don't guess the timing. Set an alarm clock or timer to make sure you check the colour development at the recommended stages.
- If you're colouring virgin hair, apply the colorant first to the mid-lengths and leave the root area until last, as warmth from your scalp tends to speed up the development. However, when you're retouching your colour after the first time, do the opposite – Apply most of the mixture to the roots first and blend the rest through.
- Treat just-coloured hair like a cashmere sweater – when rinsing, use cool water rather than hot as it helps close the cuticle and keep hair supple.
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