Hair's the Scoop

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Q: I'm a brunette and recently colored my hair using a cool, medium brown (28-day). The color oversaturated and now my hair is almost black. Is there any way to fade the color faster (without causing major damage)? Thanks! — Clare F., Washington, D.C.

A: Sorry to hear, Clare! I've asked celebrity colorist Rita Hazan for her expert advice:
"Definitely! Use a clarifying shampoo. Or if you don’t have one on hand, you can use dish soap, such as Palmolive. Wash a few times over and over for a few days to a week, and it should help strip some color out. But be sure to use a very hydrating conditioner — you don't want to dry out your hair!"

Have a beauty-related question that you've been dying to ask? Drop us a line at hair@lifetimetv.com.

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Feeling the heat of spring's scarlet fever?

Check out the links below for everything you need to switch to, or stay, red this season:

Need inspiration? Browse Hair's the Scoop, or find your best look amongst the 830+ featured on All the Looks.

Gina Gilbert — Julia Roberts and Julianne Moore's colorist — shares how to enhance, achieve or convert red hair.

Once you've found your shade of choice, be sure to seal the deal.

Are you a DIY kind of girl? Learn how to ace at-home hair color with these tips from celebrity colorist Rita Hazan.

Try on new hair colors and cuts over at Total Beauty Makeover.

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According to Hollywood hair guru Robert Hallowell, red hair is best left to the pros. "Creating beautiful red hair color can be one of the most challenging hues to achieve for most hair consumers." Why? "Since the government placed various bans on some of the red dyes considered safe for consumers, over the counter hair color kits generally offer a much more limited range of the red tones necessary for creating vibrant red hues."

Celebrity stylist Rita Hazan recently weighed in on going red, too. Click here for her expert advice.

Are you currently a redhead? Or would you ever experiment with a scarlet shade?

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We're always told to protect our skin during the warm summer months, but what about that other age-telling element— our hair?

To keep our tresses in top form this season, I've asked celebrity colorist Rita Hazan for her expert advice:

Create a Shield
To keep hair shiny and your color vibrant, use products containing SPF. My favorite product is Phyto Plage Protective Sun Veil, it’s a great SPF for the hair and helps preserve your color, without being greasy.

Think Outside the Box
I always keep a mask with me in my beach bag. Every time I go in/out of the ocean or pool I always put the mask in my hair— it offers two-fold protection: 1) The sun acts as heat, which allows the mask to really penetrate the hair, giving me a treatment all day 2) It keeps my hair from getting frizzy on the beach. Any mask will do the trick!

Condition Regularly
Be sure to use a conditioning treatment to keep hair healthy, at least once a week, and use a shampoo and conditioner for color treated or damaged hair to pump up the moisture and protect your color from fading.

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If you didn't catch this morning's Today Show feature on "taking your hair color into your own hands," click here to view it in print. It's a great reference for first-time and lifetime DIY colorists alike.

And to perfect your technique, check out celebrity stylist Rita Hazan's expert advice.

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Healthy-looking, vibrant locks rely on a vital balance of moisture. So to ensure you're making the most of your conditioning routine, I've gathered the following tips and tricks from Hollywood's hottest hairstylists:

Cool Your Conditioner
"Leave conditioner in the fridge to keep it cool. This way, it will instantly seal the cuticle because it's already at a low temperature."
—Tippi Shorter

Butter Up Brittle Strands
"To moisturize dry hair, apply organic almond butter to the parched areas. Let the butter soak in for 30 minutes, then shampoo and rinse well."
—David Babaii

For those who prefer to use a conventional product, try Phyto Phytonectar Oil. "I love it! You put it on dry hair and leave it for 30 minutes, or even overnight."
—Rita Hazan

Condition With Care
"The scalp's natural oils condition, so keep conditioner away from your roots when washing to avoid weighing down your locks. To be safe, start applying it at least three or four inches away from your scalp."
—Mark Townsend

Let It Soak
If your hair is in desperate need of TLC, skip your next blow-out and simply "apply a leave-in conditioner all over damp hair and pull it into a loose bun while it dries." Do this before bed and you'll wake up a smooth, frizz-free style that looks as good as it feels.
—Nathaniel Hawkins

Travel Smart
When traveling, "make sure to pack a good [shampoo and] conditioner and avoid the complimentary ones found in hotels, they're usually way too harsh."
—Adir Abergel

Have any favorite tips or products of your own? Do share!

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According to the New York Times, at-home hair color is on the rise.

Yes, it's rather obvious statement given the current economic climate. But, read between the lines, and you'll discover a few noteworthy tidbits like:

Your colorist can help you shop for the right shade(s).
Many stylists are open to assisting clients choose the right brand and shade of DIY kits (for use between visits) to ensure their efforts are not compromised.

Mark your calender: A new, "foolproof" coloring system is launching in June.
Umberto Savone plans to unveil a new system called "U Color" ($12) that's packaged in sachets and simple to apply.

Have chemically-treated hair? A salon visit might be worth the splurge.
Home colorists get the best results when hair isn’t permed, relaxed or highlighted.

Click here to read the full article, and here for celebrity colorist Rita Hazan's tips on acing at-home hair color.

Source: Creatas Images/Jupiter

According to reports, "one-third of women [in the U.K.] would prefer to eat less than cut their beauty spending."

Of course, this study was conducted before the world economy took a tumble. Whether you're residing in a prestigious penthouse or living with multiple roommates in a suburb somewhere, the current state of things has likely changed the way you spend your beauty funds.

Lucky for our locks, however, cutting costs doesn't have to mean sacrificing style or hair health. Swapping products, at-home treatments, and extending salon-styled 'dos are all great ways to be frugally fabulous.

See below for links to some of my favorite tips and tricks from top celebrity stylists:

> Edward Tricomi shows us how to achieve a salon-style blow-out at home.
> Straightening ethnic hair has never been easier, thanks to Ted Gibson.
> Sally Hershberger discusses why budget-friendly haircare products are where it's at.
> Ace at-home hair color with tips and techniques from Rita Hazan.
> Jeanie Syfu explains how to achieve a red carpet-worthy updo for under $10.
> A MIZANI expert shares his secrets for long-lasting curls.

Source: BananaStock/Jupiter

Coloring your hair at-home can be a daunting task. What shade to choose? How to highlight? That little box can either save you a good deal of money, or have you speed dialing a stylist to sort out what you’ve started.

To ensure your hair always looks 'naturally' gorgeous, I’ve enlisted the help of celebrity colorist Rita Hazan.

Her expert tips and techniques:

- Always pick a color that you understand and that sounds natural, and stay away from anything that sounds fake, like "Cherrybomb."

- Try to stay within two shades of your natural color for the best results, and be sure to follow the directions.

- Set the timer from when you start, and not finish, as at-home color tends to turn out a little darker than you think. If you leave it on too long, it can get really dark.

- When highlighting, always style your hair the way you wear it and then choose the strands you want to highlight- It saves a lot of time and you have control over what you're doing.

- If the end result doesn't turn out the way you want, you can always call the telephone number on the back of the box; They are generally very knowledgeable and can help you with your dilemma.

Have any of your own at-home hair coloring tips? Do share!