Learning the Correct Way to Color Hair: Beauty School Techniques

In beauty school, learning the correct way to color hair is more than simply reading and following the directions on the back of a dye packet. Students are taught to have a holistic view of the hair, looking at it from an internal, nutritional perspective. Emphasis is placed on how the health of the scalp affects hair coloring, and how there are consequences when using various coloring techniques. Above all, students seeking a career in hair care are taught to color hair in a way that allows precise control of the end color result. Learning the correct way to color hair includes:

  • Understanding how the health of the scalp may impact hair color
  • Learning about the microscopic, physical structure of hair
  • Considering the color and condition of the original hair and how it will impact the final result
  • Learning the numbering system for shades and colors
  • Differentiating between permanent, semi-permanent, and temporary hair colors
  • Determining how to bleach hair accurately, and its effect on hair health
  • Correcting a new and unhappy client's already-colored hair
  • Achieving color stability
  • Knowing how to apply natural dyes
  • Recognizing safety and regulatory issues in hair coloring

Essential Beauty School Hair Coloring Topics

Beauty school courses dedicated to the art of hair coloring spend a large portion of time explaining how to correctly apply each type of product to specific types and textures of hair. The main areas of study are bleaching, permanent hair dyes, semi-permanent hair dyes, and the structure of hair.

  • Bleaching. Discussions on bleaching at beauty school cover the different formulations for bleach products, the action of hydrogen peroxide, and additional effects on hair along with the lightening of color.
  • Permanent hair dye. Classes on permanent hair dye are likely the most complicated in the hair coloring realm. There are several steps involved in permanent hair coloring, and instructors teach about all of the possibilities with each step. Developers, couplers, oxidants, and shade formulation are examined thoroughly. Lessons cover how to use gels, creams, powders, lotions, and toners.
  • Semi-permanent. Courses that discuss semi-permanent coloring include topics like nitrobenzenes, azo dyes, and anthraquinones, different product formulations, the structure of dye, and the mechanism of color change.
  • Hair structure. The structure of hair is determined by genetics and the condition of the hair cuticle. You must evaluate the hair structure of each client to determine the most appropriate type of coloring product, as well as how to apply the product and how long to leave it on.

In addition to the basics, some beauty schools focus on contemporary coloring techniques such as:

  • Customizing color formulations for clients
  • Applying dimensional color techniques
  • Developing specific color combinations using foil placement

When your skills develop in hair coloring, loyal clients abound and new customers appear from valuable word-of-mouth publicity. A good colorist can stay quite busy and earn great money.

Featured Schools

Florida Career College

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Train for the real-world skills that help you launch a successful technology or healthcare career with a degree, or diploma from Florida Career College.

Campus Locations:
  • Hialeah
  • Boynton Beach
  • Miami
  • Jacksonville
Programs:
  • Diploma - Barbering
  • Diploma - Cosmetology
Austin's School of Spa Technology

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Get your career started with training from Austin's School of Spa Technology.

Campus Locations:
  • Albany
Programs:
  • Barbering
  • Cosmetology
Marinello Schools of Beauty

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Get started on your beauty career with training from Marinello Schools of Beauty.

Campus Locations:
  • Anaheim
  • Portland
  • Ogden
  • Reno
  • Las Vegas
  • Chico
  • Provo
  • Layton
  • San Mateo
  • San Diego
  • City of Industry
  • Huntington Beach
  • Wilshire
  • Seaside
  • Visalia
  • Henderson
  • Castro Valley
  • Cathedral City
  • Simi Valley
  • Inglewood
  • Los Angeles
  • Santa Clara
  • Ontario
  • San Bernardino
  • Hayward
  • Murrieta
  • San Rafael
  • Stockton
  • Lake Forest
  • El Cajon
  • Bell
  • Napa
  • Paramount
  • Burbank
  • Victorville
  • Lomita
  • Moreno Valley
  • San Francisco
  • Bakersfield
  • Reseda
  • West Covina
  • Palmdale
  • Hemet
  • Sacramento
  • Fresno
  • Redding
  • Concord
  • Whittier
Programs:
  • Hair Design
  • Barbering
Fortis Institute

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Get the skills and training you need for a great career at Fortis Institute. * Programs vary by location * Please contact each individual campus for accreditation information * Fortis Institute- Indianapolis advertising code is AC-0163.

Campus Locations:
  • Jacksonville
  • Mobile
  • Erie
  • Largo
  • Winter Park
  • Windsor Mill
  • Pensacola
Programs:
  • Barbering
  • Barber Styling
Florida Technical College

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Your rewarding career in Health Care, Technology, or Programming begins at Florida Technical College.

Campus Locations:
  • Kissimmee
Programs:
  • Cosmetology
  • Advanced Hairstyling and Design
Euphoria Institute

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Do you have a passion for beauty and an artistic edge? Would you like to add sparkle and style to your career path? If you aspire to work in the spa and salon world as a hair designer, skin care specialist, make-up artist, manicurist or more, consider an education at Euphoria Institute.

For more student consumer information, please visit www.lincolnedu.com/lincolnconsumerinfo

Campus Locations:
  • Henderson
  • Las Vegas
  • Lincoln
  • West Palm Beach
Programs:
  • Hair Design
  • Cosmetology
John Casablancas Institute of Applied Arts

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The John Casablancas Institute (JCI) provides job-ready training for makeup artists, fashion stylists, and hairdressers.

Campus Locations:
  • Vancouver
Programs:
  • Hair Art Design Program