W

hen it's time to give yourself a drastically new look, you could do more than change your clothes, makeup or haircut. What's guaranteed to freshen your image is a new hair color.

Hair coloring is a powerful tool that helps express your personality. Your hair color and texture speak volumes about you.

If you have never switched your black hair for any other shade, going a lot lighter will brighten up your appearance.

The problem is, many Asians, including Indonesians, tend to be afraid of going lighter because they think lighter hair colors make their skin tone look darker.

Besides, there has long been a perception that black hair is beautiful and healthy.

"Hair coloring is the second favorite service after a cream bath *hair spa or hair mask*, according to a survey held by hair product Matrix Indonesia," said Lina Mulyani, the senior product manager of Matrix Indonesia.

"But women mostly choose black to cover their white hair because they are afraid lighter colors will not suit their skin tone," she added.

For women with Asian skin types, black hair makes a dramatic statement. But for those seeking a little boost, lighter hair can provide a rejuvenating change.

Brown is a good for a start, since it is the closest color to black and is not too eye-catching. Deep brown (with various shades) is predicted to be the trend for next year.

"If you've never dyed your hair before, going brunette is a good option," she said.

Western people usually use the color of their eyes to match hair colors, while Asians use their skin tones as a guide before coloring their black hair.

Brown has many different shades that can be matched to skin tones.

"Even though Indonesian women have similar light brown skin coloring, they have different tones because the pigment structure differs from one woman to the next," said hair expert Rudy Hadisuwarno.

"You should match skin tone with shades to get the right color for your hair. If, for instance, you are suited to a red brown, it doesn't mean the color will be good for your friend who has the same skin color as you."

Rudy shared several tips on how to chose the right brown shades to match your skin. The first step is to prepare some cloths in five different colors: red, yellow, pink, orange and dark blue.

Yellow represents golden colors, orange means copper, and dark blue represents mocha. Red means reddish brown, and pink can represent warm browns.

The next step is to put the fabrics over your shoulders and match the color of the clothes with your skin tones. The color which gives a glowing yet bright effect to your skin is the best choice.

"It's similar to when you choose outfits or makeup. If, for instance, you do not look good in a red blouse, then don't go for it," Rudy said.

"If you choose the right brown, it can make your skin brighter. The key is to pick the right brown."

Get yourself accustomed to a lighter hair color by getting a deep brown shade first.

If it turns out fabulous, let the color settle in for several months and give your hair time to relax before getting another treatment. Then you can try your new look and choose a lighter shade.

Matrix hair products, established by Arnie Miller in 1980, recently launched its latest coloring products, called "Chocolate Menu", which is part of the Wonder Brown coloring series.

The range of colors appears in five different shades: sweet copper brown (or orange chocolate), stylish golden brown (caramel chocolate), elegant warm brown (cinnamon chocolate), sparkling mocha brown (grape chocolate) and pretty red brown (strawberry chocolate).

According to a survey conducted by Matrix Indonesia, Lina said, when Indonesian women start to be fashionable enough to change, they will choose red-brown.

Prominent hair stylist Johnny Andrean also chose brown as next year's trend. Since 1978, Johnny Andrean has owned about 180 beauty salons in big cities across the country, and has established the school of hair and makeup.

The beauty and the sparkle of sea-based gemstones, ranging from red ruby and pearl to amethyst, have inspired him to release a series of hair colors called "Glow" for women who always want to be fashionable and up-to-date.

Gita Herdi Hastarani, the senior manager of public relations and promotion at Johnny Andrean, said the upcoming trend consisted of three colors: Mahogany Ruby, Brunette Pearl and Burgundy Amethyst.

Mahogany Ruby is a combination medium brown with red mahogany shades. The color gives modern, naughty yet stylish impression.

The second option is Brunette Pearl, which combines brown and gold shades, and is inspired by the South Sea Pearl. This color gives a feminine and sweet effect to the user.

Another color is Burgundy Amethyst, a combination of burgundy with the violet of amethyst. The color gives an elegant, mysterious, strong yet super sexy look.

You can use either one of these colors or combine two. For instance, you can mix Mahogany Ruby with Brunette Pearl or Burgundy Amethyst.

If you still have no idea what color suits you, ask your hairstylist to get the best look for you.

TIPS

The risk with coloring hair is it may get washed away. Use hair treatments (shampoos, conditioners and hair masks) designed for color-treated hair that help preserve colors longer because colored hair needs extra treatments compared to "virgin" hair.

If you have a dandruff problem, it might be better if you cure the problem first before deciding to dye your hair.

Don't use anti-dandruff shampoo because it will wash away the color.

Do color therapy treatment once every two weeks at beauty salon.