“Just For Men” = ‘ Just For the Trash Can’ – Replaced by a new Kit by L.A. Colorist from Killer Strands

NON-IRRITATING Kit to Cover Gray on Both: Head & Face

Recently,men have contacted me regarding covering their gray and wanting to know how to do it successfully without irritation to their skin/scalp. Its really quite simple, but with finding out what they were using yesterday in the ingredient list sent me into a mild Coronary…. it took me a day to recover and explain…please read yesterdays post, for further info.Now, with today's post, I’m addressing the issue I began to yesterday.

Personally I would stay far away from any kit that says “Just For Men” “Loving Care” & there is a 3rd one I cannot remember the name of??? - PLEASE –PLEASE get over your fear of using regular hair color. There is no “trick” to only covering the gray hairs and leaving the rest alone…..NONE –ZERO ….JUST GIVE IT UP. Its Bullshit, they are trying to trick you into thinking there is a nifty- trick to coloring only your gray hairs and THERE ISN’T ! There is no way to only color select hairs on your head short of painting each hair individually. BUT…………..that does not mean there is not a method of coloring men's hair where it looks realistic and natural. I’ve done it to hundreds of clients for 17 years – I had a huge amount of men’s color clients….I don’t know why….but I did.

PLEASE read all the POSTS and Testimonials that are everywhere on the INTERNET – all the complaints about "JUST FOR MEN" . But, anyway, finally you have your answer. I’m here to help and to be honest I’m sorry I have not addressed this sooner, I feel bad now that I have read all the problems men have been having.

Coloring Hair now-a-days is a very very simple and successful process.

Here is what it involves:

Mix 1 ounce of 1 Hair Color and 1 ounce of another Hair color into a bowl…….(into a $1.29 plastic Tint Bowl)

then add:

2 ounces of Developer…………….

then…….Stir/Mix …and Apply. …………and That’s It . . .

When you paint it on your head with a small paint brush ( pretend its a fence).

Now, there are just a couple basic supplies you will need to make this successful and you can be on your road to coloring your hair every 6-8 weeks at home. . . and it will look GGGREAT, I promise. Most of which you can get in our store:

http://killerstrands.myshopify.com/

You need:

• Tint Brush
• Tail Comb
• Tint Bowl
• Application Comb

http://killerstrands.myshopify.com/collections/tools-and-supplieshttp://

Then, all of you need to go to Home Depot and purchase a 3-Way WALL mounted extension mirror. Although I found a pretty reasonably priced one on EBAY and a few other online stores, I find men – would rather go to Home Depot.

Mount it in your Bathroom, so you can do the back of your hair YOURSELF. Take back control of your hair color, like the women are doing, please don’t think this is just happening to you…the women deal with this same crap, I promise you.

To be perfectly honest, most of you need to have this mirror anyway. I feel every single person on the planet should have one of these mirrors. I will stand in a line and glance at various peoples hair ( because that’s what I do!!!) 50% of them never even touch the back of their hair. Which is what the rest of us LOOK AT!

EVERYONE put it on your list of things to do this week….. Purchase an Extension Arm Wall Mirror – there is a well priced version on EBAY. . .

We will now have available for sale in the store, the following Kits:

• KILLER COVER GRAY – MR. Kit > In 2 Types….(1) KP – Koleston Perfect > Permanent Hair Color …….(2) CT- ColorTOUCH > Demi-Permanent Color,
• both come in 12 Colors , with us adding the 2nd color you will need + the Developer, 1 pair of Gloves, & a measuring Cup. EVERY thing you need but a "paint" {tint} brush , really.
• If you want any "red" or "reddish" tones in the hair color ...you MUST mark that at check out - that will require 1 email exchange....but that's all

http://killerstrands.myshopify.com/products/wella-koleston-perfect-permanent-color

• KILLER COVER GRAY – MRS. Kit……..in the same 2 options……this will be forth coming. There are hundreds of posts for the women, its about time I helped the guys out.

Doing my research on “Just For Men”it just broke my heart that they have absolutely NO options, but to go to a Salon. Well, at least 50% of them who want this service will NOT GO TO A SALON. . . . they can’t be bothered.

I just read 103 Testimonials (Folica.com) about the disaster that JUST FOR MEN is creating against men of all ages and hair colors…Its time I helped them out and gave them a “Killer” KIT to purchase. So it will be easy for them.

Women, if you know of any men . . . please let them know….I really feel like I have “dropped the ball” on this one….and feel ‘just horrible’ …I truly do.

You have the choice of

1. KP – KOLESTON PERFECT – Permanent Color or
2. CT–COLOR TOUCH - Demi-Permanent Color within each Kit.

I’m trying to make it S-I-M-P-L-E

Within every Kit:

{in order to cover GRAY properly} 1/2 the Formula MUST be a “N” Series Color or a “Neutral”. If you want to know why its a very very long story, I know my men. . . they don’t care. They simply want to get the job done efficiently and correctly.

So that is how the Kits are referred to….You will ask or order a 6N – CT Killer GRAY Kit for Misters….. or a 8N – KP Killer Gray Kit for Mr. We will take care of the rest. But, you will need to take a little time and determine which color your hair is that is your own color……I highly suggest you get someone else’s help on this one little tiny matter. It is really hard to determine this on oneself…..Trust me. You will only need to do it once…..then you are home free.

It is not super critical…..within these Wella European Colors they run a full level darker than they appear or than any other American chart. The Level System is a Universal System for Hair Color … and is used worldwide in every country on the planet.

So, if you order a 6N and have not written in the check out box that you have taken the “darker factor” into account. We will send you a 7N.

I’ve been doing this a lot of years and have well over 10,000 Heads under my belt..I have had a huge male COLOR clientele as well….so tons of experience – I promise. With Gray hair; going one level lighter is also a smart idea . . .1 level darker….is NOT….It looks super weird- like shoe polish.

Whether you need a 6N-KIT in KP……or maybe a 8N Kit in CT….?all you need to do is figure out how light or dark your hair is. That is what the LEVEL SYSTEM is.

Level 1…………….is Black

Level 12…………..is Platinum/White

and here are all the colors in between:

The numbers in between are the different lightness of blonde’s to dark Browns. All you have to do is figure out how light or how dark your own ( non gray) hair is ---> simple.

A very common color is LEVEL 7, which ‘says’ its medium blonde…check that out…do you think that is medium blond or ANY blond??? I don’t , and I do this shit for a living. So once you figure out which Level of lightness or darkness you are – go to the Wella Color Page http://killerstrands.myshopify.com/products/wella

find, your Level and figure your percentage of Gray, if you have no one to help – join our group, up-load a photo of you hair in there…….and there are plenty of super qualified people to help. So many many options to solve your hair crisis….especially covering your gray. Also determine the percentage of gray to determine which color you should use. . .CT or KP. Another little tip > > > > if you want the color to fade out as you shampoo . . . then choose the CT (Demi Permanent) …..that’s another tip. If your gray is super stubborn, use the KP….another tiny tip.

I’m sure there will be questions but lets get this started and see how we do. . . remember when you make a purchase you are more than welcome to ask questions in the box at the end of check-out and they will be answered and applied to your order. For now, I personally do all the recommendations and color selections with all orders. So a nice little bonus when purchasing from Killer Strands.

The only color that won’t work this way is Red heads, which I am – so I have a special affinity for. They will need to purchase the REDHEAD Kit and you will be sent an email and we will figure it out, by you answering a couple questions…there are really only 2/3 Levels of Redheads. Be sure to purchase the REDHEAD KIT, and we will email you.

The next decision needs to be which color you want to use.

KP or CT

If you have 25% Gray as you see in this chart. . . . that is the cut-off point for going from CT {Color Touch} and bumping up to KP {Koleston Perfect} which is permanent and has the turbo booster to help cover the tougher gray. {just a play with words…}

If you want, try CT with your first order, you will see how it works and then decide whether you want to use Demi Permanent again or bump up to KP. Once you begin to use this level of color you can go between the 2 with no problem.

The only thing you cannot do is go from brown to blond. The color must be removed to do that, and that is addressed on many other posts in this BLOG. These kits are only for covering GRAY...PERIOD.

{for those who are single or simply want to gain your own control of your own hair color, and have it turn out perfectly . . . this is your answer.

WE are on the road and will continue on with this. . . so please join our group . . . ask questions in there. . .lots of qualified people and myself stops by frequently. . .

Hope This Helps. . . . somewhat. . . . for now. . . .more to come

Killer Chemist

Only You Can Prevent Gray Hair - Part 3

Hey, Gray and the saga continues

There are many qualifications about gray in the hair and how much gray does the person actually have? Less than 30%, more than 30% but less than 60%, or 60% to 100%? This can make a big difference in your color selection as well as in the formula you will use.

If it looks more natural than gray, there is less than 30%; if it appears even (salt and pepper), it is 30% to 60 %; if it looks more gray than natural, it is more than 60%.

If you have more than 60% gray, do not tint your hair to the color it used to be.... why? You are very used to looking at "lighter" hair <> Granted it was 'white/gray' hair but the overall look to you is lighter than what you used to be, so 9 times out of 10 the shock will not be good. Its much more appealing and effective to start off two to 3 levels lighter than the natural (original) color. The look will be more attractive and personally I feel too dark of hair on a mature person can be harsh, unattractive and basically unnatural. If you are dealing with gray you will have deal with roots anyway, so to deal with them and the lighter color of your hair can all be taken care of at the same time. Its no extra effort, it truly isn't. The lighter color will actually be so much more flattering to your skin, and complexion. Just because she has been promoting her book lately, I have seen Barbara Walters everywhere this week, now she has beautiful hair color for an elderly lady, she has a talented colorist with a great eye. I'm sure no one here is anywhere close to her age, but you get the idea, hopefully.

Gray, or white hair occurs when the hair bulb stops producing melanin. Gray hair is basically un-pigmented: it contains little underlying pigment, or none at all. Its white hair that appears gray by the reflection of darker hairs.

The concept of dominant underlying color helps to explain the way gray hair accepts artificial coloring. Cool colors do not cover gray as well as warm colors, because they do not contain what gray hair lacks, warmth. Warm hair coloring replaces the warm undertones, in effect filling (prepigmenting) the hair.

Manufacturers come up with formulation recommendations based on just average, normal hair in mind - - and its plain nuts. Who has average normal hair? No one in my 10,000 heads has ever had it, so somewhere they are hiding and I realize there has to be a base to go off of, but the case needs to be made super clear to you the public, which is why I am here. To try to help teach you all that buying one box will not color your hair properly, there are simply too many variables in hair texture, porosity, etc.. for one little box to have gorgeous color for you. Once you learn about your hairs particulars plus figure out your formula, then the magic can begin . . . at your hands!

RESISTANT HAIR Resistant and tenacious mean the exact same thing. A tenacious or resistant head of hair has a compact, unlifted cuticle which will RESIST absorption. Remember the cuticle, is like scales on a fish -- now think about those scales... laying down flat and not flexing. That is what a resistant hair is like and with that structure it will not accept hair color very easy, it resists the new color. The surface of the hair is slick, smooth and shiny. Resistant hair is sometimes said to have poor porosity, which is a very common trait of gray hair. It makes for a very difficult go of it, to color, although I have always found ways around the bugger problem.

One of the best tricks on the planet is to simply 'begin' using the best color for cuticle penetration, which is Renbow and that is one of many reason's I use it. Renbow is made by a famous Italian Colorist and is huge in Europe. The Line is so famous for its color penetration and quality that Paul Mitchell's entire new line of professional hair color is made by RENBOW, they call it PRIVATE LABEL. That is the only one I know for sure, I don't want to guess at it, but am fairly certain they make a couple others...they use a BEESWAX base, so its pretty easy to pick out, for those of you that have purchased it, once you get past the "mixing' (its a bit harder to mix) part, the colors are stupendous. You can do things with it like apply from the root to the ends without build-up! The absolute best mix for the most resistant gray hair on the planet is to mix Renbow's permanent Colorissimo Plus Renbow's RenColor!

'Tube' (in a tube) colors are the best for penetration and color and 'bottle' colors are the best for color and shine, add the 2 together and B I N G O, you have the Crème de la Crème . This is one of my deep secrets I've been holding back, remember I was going to write a book, so for those of you with a fanatic hair addiction - an ultimate trick - especially with resistant and gray hair.

Resistant/gray hair takes longer than average to soften and penetrate, therefore I leave it on not only to the maximum time but often 10-15 minutes longer. (The color doesn't go "past" the color you picked). Use very low developer volumes but sometimes even that isn't enough, Resistant gray hair some times requires pre-softening or pre-pigmentation.

Pre- softening the hair : to pre-soften those tough wiry gray hairs, apply a 20% peroxide to pop open the hair cuticle and soften the hair so that it will easily accept any color that is applied. Apply the peroxide, comb it through the hair, leave it on for 5-10 minutes, depending on your hair, and then rinse off. Then apply the desired color.

Personally I have never had to do this procedure, I have found with Renbow I never needed to, this was written for those that for one reason or another need it.

If you are interested in Renbow's products, > send email to Killerstrands@gmail.com -- the color charts are posted in the FILES section of our GOOGLE GROUP: http://groups.google.com/group/killerstrands

and for new members your first couple Posts are moderated, hang in there everything is fine.

A couple more Posts on Gray hair and the journey will be complete {for now} ;-) Killer Chemist

Only You Can Prevent Gray Hair : Part 1

Age Graylessly Permanent Hair Color

The single biggest reason the process of hair coloring came about? Covering gray hair. It is still the number 1 reason the multi-billion dollar business exists, although the tide is changing.

So . . I bet many of you have wondered about the covering grays trick. . . and it IS a trick. Each haircoloring service is unique and, in the same vein, can present unique problems. Gray, white and salt & pepper hair all have characteristics that present unique coloring challenges. For instance, gray hair can turn orange if the lightener used is not processed long enough. There are a great many services I can provide here to help you cover up, enhance and (this month) to PREVENT gray. For the first time ever there is a new product that claims to prevent 50% of gray from appearing that I will make available to you, starting today. So today's post will be about this new product, I imagine when I am all done with Gray Hair instruction we will have a total of 8-9 posts, so sit back and relax, I will cover a lot.

An interesting marriage of 2 companies have produced this product, Shiseido and Joico. Now with this combo I am much more interested in the line than I was with Joico's color. I bought 4 tubes and tested all 4. Only 1 out of the 4 would I even consider using, I'm not sure who they are having make their color, but was not impressed.

Now this combo is brilliant sounding. Shiseido mainly a make-up, skin care and body products company decided to step into the world of hair, which is smart, hair products don't take much of a hit when a recession creeps up. People still adore their hair, and would rather not eat than take care of their hair ( clients have said those exact words to me numerous times !).

Instead of introduce a single new category to Shiseido they partnered with a successful hair company, JOICO, to introduce a whole new line. There are 2 main lines of shampoo/conditioner/restore... In this Post I am only going to talk about the RE:NU SERUM as it deals with PREVENTING GRAY, but there is a whole line of yummy looking products I am in the process of testing...it will take me a week or so to make my assessment & if the shampoo and conditioner and styling products turn out wonderful I will let you know.

Tracking down my "super gray" clients to give the serum to, is in order, to have a spot-on review...but I highly doubt 2 large reputable companies like this are going to make false claims, just doesn't seem likely to me. So I am going on the science I have reviewed. Joico/Shiseido has used one of my very favorite theories and one I use in fomulating THRIVEN and all my hair products as well. They now feel that "like skin" . . "hair ages" and degenerates with age...so they have used some of the science and ingredients that I used with THRIVEN... I guess that is why I am so excited about this line. The ingredients:

• Ceramides: improves hair's radiance and resiliency; used in many expensive face creams


• Acai Oil: restores hair silkiness & softness; this oil is full of delicious vitamins and minerals, from rain forest , many pro athletes swear by this oil for its strength building properties


• Cashmere Proteins: strengthens hair to prevent damage


• Orchid Extract: protects hair against environmental stresses

Re:nual Serum comes in 2 sizes and is the result of 10 years of the most advanced hair research and development, this revolutionary scalp treatment formulated by Shiseido Laboratories slows down the graying process to keep gray hair at bay and maintain hair's youthful color and texture.

Over a 5 month period: Re:nual Serum users noticed 50% less gray than Non-users. (according to Shiseido Clinical Trials).

Re:Nu AGE DEFY is the only professional hair care system scientifically proven to address and reverse the key signs of aging hair:

• GRAYING


• LOSS OF DENSITY


• CHANGE IN TEXTURE

There are 2 sizes and I will take additional pictures and post....by the end of the day....This line sounds very exciting to me....I hope it performs as well as the science behind it and the ingredients IN IT... I'm sure it will.

Those of you with lots of GRAY and aged hair, this could be the biggest product to be produced for you, EVER.

BTW: This does not mean you will never have to get your hair colored again. Personally the reason I get mine colored is because the color - itself...adds so much to making it look younger. What this would be good for is buying yourself some time when you are busy or traveling or . .? Maybe not having to touch-up quite so often...... I like the anti-aging factors myself. With the ingredients that are in it, this just may be one of the most revolutionary products to come out in a long time.

Please send me an email if you are interested in purchasing Killerstrands@gmail.com

GREY (HAIR'S) ANATOMY - Easy, Cheap & Brilliant Cover for Grey Hair

Works Wonders for the "NEW-TO-GREY HAIR-CROWD"




This method will save you many headaches. . .

1. buys you some time


2. if you change your mind going back to grey without problems...


3. mix it up - show distinguishing greys sometimes - sometimes not


4. cover roots till next appointment


5. cover roots: lessen amount of time's you need Salon appointment


6. only have 10 grey hairs? cover them and nothing else

100% NATURAL Hair Color dye: Authentic

A Cosmetic Chemist from India (a doctor no less: Dr. Hari) was relaying the following story of a totally truly 100% natural hair dye, one of my most asked questions
Its not blond...
but its 100% natural and he says it covers Grey...

As a Natural Hair Dye, Yes it works. But the problem is it (the active L-Ascosrbic Acid) is not stable. If one wants to use Indian Gooseberry (Amla), it should be something like a home-made preparation. Not for selling or marketing - in the real sense. Also, it should be used for about a month. The recipe is, plug the Amla berries from the tree, through away the interior nut (Amla Oil is made from this nut - just for your information) . Make a pulp out of the remaining parts in a small iron pot and apply this pulp (as soon as possible) on the hair (it will strongly stain the hand and the dress - so take care) and leave for about 15 to 20 minutes on the hair (remain inside the home. Don't expose to sun light - for well known reasons - stability of the dye gets affected when exposed to sun light). Then wash it off. Repeat this for one month and any one can see - (SEE) - the difference.Yes, even now, women (and also men) in villages in India uses this. In Indian Gooseberry, there are different varieties (Botanically in the same family, there are different species). The one that is used in India is Phyllanthus emblica. For better results, mix Amla pulp with few tannin containing containing plant sources.Regarding its retentivity, it is something like a permanent hair dye. The plus point is, its safety. Next is, as for as someone is using it, he need not worry about greying of hair.