After years of entertaining the idea, you finally made up your mind: you're going to color your hair. So now what? It's time for you to do your homework. You'll have to find out as much as you can about coloring, the different techniques available, and all the other factors involved in the process.
Let's face it, some men gray in a gorgeous manner and others just get murky.
So let Inner City Styles help you with your coloring decisions.

Now you're ready to color your hair without having to worry about your hair falling out or turning orange.

Try a progressive method of hair color by gradually going back to your original color or just dive in and dye your hair back to the shade it was when you were a teen.

Keep in mind, that highlights do soften the face and as we age, lighter is better. Never over saturate a dark color.

If you just want to go funky, try lightening the tips of a spiky hairstyle a la Ricky Martin or go totally crazy and color your hair a completely different shade. At least, paint a few well-placed highlights so you'll look like you spent some spare time surfing.

Learn More About Coloring Your Hair!

Hair color is a formula of dyes and pigments to stain the hair, ammonia to prepare the hair to take the color, and peroxide to lighten your natural pigment. Often the process will include a neutralizer to stop the process and a conditioner to help soften and strengthen your hair.

Hair is made up of the outer cuticle layer and the inner cortex layer. The cortex contains the hair's protein and provides color, texture, and elasticity. The ammonia in hair dye swells the hair and raises the cuticle, then the peroxide bleaches the natural pigment and reacts with the dye to actually color the hair.

Hair goes through seven stages of lightening: black to dark-brown, to brown, to red, to red-gold, to yellow, to pale yellow. Changing your hair more than two shades will damage it and look unnatural, whether you do it at home or have it done in a salon. Two-step coloring (also known as double processing) is for radical changes in your hair color. Be prepared for an unnatural look and dry, brittle hair, even when it's done professionally. Most experts recommend any radical change of color be done professionally.

Hair color level system:

• Level 10: lightest blonde
  
• Level 9: very light blonde
  
• Level 8: light blonde
  
• Level 7: medium blonde
  
• Level 6: dark blonde
  
• Level 5: lightest brown
  
• Level 4: light brown
  
• Level 3: medium brown
  
• Level 2: dark brown
  
• Level 1: black