Dan's Papers - May 15, 2009

Imagine not going to a salon each month to have your hair colored. Think of the time and money you'd save. If you fear you'd end up looking gray, frumpy or faded, you have not heard, seen or read about Frédéric Fekkai's product that woman can use at home. Called Salon Color, it's available in 20 shades.

In an exclusive interview with Frédéric Fekkai, he explained to me how his product works, and who can use it best. First of all, he said, "It's easy for women to choose the color that best matches their hair, because of the universal numbering system. And you can mix two shades for a perfect match." The product is for women who have tone on tone highlights (highlights without too much contrast to the base shade of color), or someone who wants to cover gray, or lighten or darken their hair a shade or two.

The system isn't for women who want to go from dark hair to very blonde hair. Which is something Fekkai thinks is unsuitable for most women. "That tends to make mature women look older," he said, "and it does not really flatter most shades of skin, since there is so little contrast."

So unless you're a natural blonde, or you look like Gwen Stefani and you're about her age, you might want to stay clear of the palest shades of blonde, which will keep you tied to a colorist on a monthly basis for sure. Furthermore, going from dark to very blonde would be quite a makeover. Fekkai said, "That's a word I really don't like. I would rather see women enhance their beauty. I like to think of color as a way of waking a woman up rather than making her over."

Fekkai doesn't think colorists who see women on a semi-regular basis will be furious that a client has done this. They understand the current economic situation, and the need to be time efficient. The client will still return for highlights,haircuts and other services, and most hair professionals would rather have their clients use this product than a drugstore brand.

On the Fekkai Web site, there is a wonderful instructional video showing how to use the product. If you're nervous the first time trying this at home, why not invite a friend and have a coloring party? I have often done my re-growth at home using a three-way mirror and gotten excellent results. I still return to my favorite colorist for highlights.

One of the great things about the Fekkai system is the method of application. Each Salon Color kit includes: a pre-treatment packet to be applied to the hair before the color, the color and developer, an after color glaze and most importantly, a bowl for mixing and a brush for applying.

You will always get a better application using a brush to apply color to the roots of the hair. In fact, you can do a better job than a professional colorist who uses a product out of an applicator bottle. According to Jim Clinton, of the Vartali Salon on E. 57th Street, who has done my highlights: "Any professional who squeezes the color on from an applicator bottle is doing so for speed and will sacrifice accuracy. This is so '20 years ago.' I have never seen any professional colorist do this in Manhattan."

Fekkai agrees. "You must use a brush; you just don't have the same control with an applicator bottle."

If you are thinking of coloring your own hair, this is the only product to use. And you just might get a better result than any salon professional who is giving you a squeeze job from an applicator bottle.

You can find the complete line of Fekkai Salon Color at Sephora. For more information, go to fekkai.com.