"I want to take the anxiety out of at-home hair color and offer my tips so women can achieve beautiful, natural-looking hair color at home," Jason says.
Consider your hair color needs
- Demi-permanent hair color kits are great to add tone and shine and last through 28 shampoos.
- Permanent hair color is great for gray coverage and for lightening/darkening. I like Clairol's Perfect 10. It delivers high gloss color and flawless gray coverage in just ten minutes.
- At-home root touch-up kits are great to use in-between salon visits. Most provide easy-to-use applicator combs or brushes, which will save you time and give a better end result.
Choose the right shade
- Whether you are going light or dark, as long as you stay within two shades of your natural hair color or starting hair color you should get great at-home results. Anything more in either direction requires multiple steps and should be handled by a pro.
- The hair color pictured on the front of box may not be the color you get. Look at the shade guide on the side of the box to figure out what your color result will be.
- Also, a note about shade names -- shades with the word "ash" means it has fewer golden, reddish tones. Shades with "golden" means the color has red dimension. Brunettes are particularly concerned with this and are always asking me about ways to avoid brassiness -- go with ash.
Follow the Package Instructions
- Do the allergy and color strand test before beginning to color. Many women don't do this, but it is so important! A strand test lets you preview the color on 1-2 strands before you decide to color your entire head.
- If you need additional guidance beyond the instructions provided, many hair coloring companies have consumer resources. I refer many clients to 1-800 Clairol or Clairol.com.
Application is key
- Your ends soak up more color because they're drier, so they turn out a tad lighter or darker then hair color closer to the root. To avoid this, apply color to the roots first to keep ends from over processing and mist water on hair tips so they are moist when you apply color to them.
Maintain your hair color
- Use a color preserving shampoo - The formula is designed to maintain color-treated hair.
- Condition - Dehydration zaps the color from color-treated hair, so keep locks hydrated to maintain a vibrant look.
- Protect hair from the sun - Color needs about 48 hours to settle and provide maximum longevity.
About Jason Backe
Over the last decade, Jason Backe has established himself as a highly accomplished color artist. As Clairol's Color Director and as President and CEO of ted Gibson, he is one of the most sought after hair colorists in New York and his appointment book at ted gibson salon, which he co-owns with partner Ted Gibson, is always full. From editors and models to actresses and executives, clients love Jason's color for its chic and complimentary wearability. They also love his friendly, down-to-earth personality and his positive, upbeat vibe.
As Clairol's Color Director, Jason brings his exceptional talent and expertise to the Clairol brands. "The relationship between colorist and client is one of complete trust and friendship," said Jason. "I want to take the anxiety out of at-home hair color and offer my tips so women can achieve beautiful, natural-looking hair color at home."
Jason considers hair color an artistic expression of personal beauty, and takes great pride in his attention to detail and commitment to impeccable customer care. Jason has worked with celebrities such as Anne Hathaway, Renee Zellweger, Amerie, Idina Menzel, Eltra Rossalini, Lake Bell and Molly Price. His work is also recognized by the top modeling agencies in New York and the models he works on are seen in campaigns for Dolce & Gabbana, Calvin Klein, Chanel and Versace.
Thanks to his extensive knowledge of hair color science and trends, his ability to offer practical advice and his exuberant personality, Jason is regularly quoted in top beauty and fashion publications such as Allure, In Style, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Elle and The New York Times Sunday Styles. Additionally, Jason's work has been extolled in Allure magazine's Directory (2006, 2007 and 2008), Insiders Guide (2006) and Bridal Guide (2006).
Jason began his career working for Aveda where he traveled the world educating stylists, salon owners and managers in technique and business building. Today, he guides and motivates his own staff at ted gibson salon. And as CEO of ted gibson beauty, Jason is intimately involved with the creation of new ted gibson products, which are fast gathering a devoted following. The line has been honored with several industry accolades and awards from esteemed publications such as Women's Wear Daily and Redbook.
