How to Prepare for Your At-Home Hair Color Appointment

Great color is a collaboration. The hour you spend preparing for your color appointment makes a real difference in how your color turns out and how long it lasts. Here is exactly how to get ready.

Bring inspiration photos, and be honest about them

Photos solve the biggest problem in color consultations: words like "blonde" mean twenty different things. Bring two or three photos of the color you want, and point at what you love in each one.

Tell your colorist your full hair history

Previous color, box dye, henna, and recent keratin or smoothing treatments all change how hair absorbs color. This is not the time to be vague; being honest about your hair history is the difference between an even result and a surprise.

Wash your hair before the appointment

Come with freshly washed hair with no conditioner if your stylist has not told you otherwise. Clean hair without product buildup lets color take evenly. Skip the dry shampoo for a few days before your appointment.

Set up the space

A chair near an outlet and a small cleared surface is all your home needs. Good lighting, near a window if possible, helps you see the final result together.

Plan for processing time

Color takes time: lightening, processing, toning, and glossing can fill a few hours. Clear your afternoon, keep your phone charged, and treat it as time to relax at home rather than time lost.

Stock up for aftercare before you need it

Color lasts longest with a sulfate-free shampoo, less frequent washing, and cool water. Ask your colorist which products suit your new color so you leave the appointment with a plan, not just a color.

Single process, double process, balayage, and highlights are all available at your home across LA and OC. Beauty On Demand LA brings the salon to your home or office across Los Angeles and Orange County. Book at beautyondemandla.com/book-online or call or text 310-499-5858.