Should The Carpet Match The Drapes?

Rick Wellman hears this question a lot. But before his clients get sexy in the city, he recommends against them trying to make the two areas of hair the same color.

“Your hair below naturally doesn’t see as much sun as the hair on your head,” he explains. “So you should expect it to be a couple of shades darker.” Additionally, says Rick, hair below has a much different texture and, for obvious reasons, the skin around it is much more sensitive to the kind of coloring your scalp may be used to. “I’ve had clients at the end of a coloring ask me if they could sneak off to the bathroom with whatever color there might be left over. And simply from a safety perspective, that’s just a bad idea.”

Still, if you insist on a more monochromatic look, Rick recommends using products specifically suited for changing color down under. Betty™ Color offers a variety of buffered colors that have added emollients and anti-inflammatory ingredients to help sensitive skin. The key is to keep the chemical off the skin and, above all, to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. For added protection, prep the skin with Vaseline® prior to coloring. Remember, even with the added gentler ingredients, proceed with caution. Don’t use the product if you have any skin abrasions, and at the first sign of any burning or tingling you should remove it immediately with soap and water. When finishing, you can apply chamomile lotion to help stop oxidation and an antibacterial lotion to help reduce any potential infection.

Another option to matching, of course, it to simply go bare. If you were considering laser hair removal, you would do well to consult the specialists at Completely Bare Whatever your decision, make sure it’s right for you—and safe. That way, you can shine where the sun doesn’t.