Natural Hair Color's Most Common Questions & Misconceptions Debunked

If you’re unsure about what the best type of hair color is for you, we hope you can make a safe and smart decision by reading through these frequently asked questions.

Here you'll find more about our signature hair color technology and the top questions both industry wide and areas you may not be awaware of when choosing hair health + best color for longevity and shine. 

 

BE  Hair Color  
+
VivaBond Signature Complex

 

VivaBond is a hair-transformative breakthrough in formulation of science, technology, and nature. A unique harmony of encapsulated hair nourishing and rebuilding ingredients from Evoq’s Forces of Nature Seed, Sea, Sky and Stem strategy that penetrate inside the hair fiber creating the perfect long-lasting balance between health, performance and protection.

The Problem to Dull, Fading and Damaged Hair

Over time the hair’s outer layers crack and weaken, preventing healing treatments and color from penetrating the hair and expediting fading.

Enter Beauty Ecology’s Proprietary Youth-Renewal Vivabond Signature Complex

Experience your solution to weakening hair from damaging color, dehydration, UV exposure, aging, and everyday hair and scalp stress with Vivabond Youth Renewal Complex.

This potent restorative infusion rebuilds strength, balances, and protects your hair and scalp’s natural properties for visibly shinier, fuller, and healthier-looking hair.

 


 

How does the color work?

When we apply the color mixture to your hair, the alkalinity in the color opens the cuticle layer on your hair surface, and the dye pigments enter into your hair cortex. The alkalinity is also a reactive agent for the oxidation of the dye molecules while the developer provides the oxygenation. Once the dye pigments are oxidized, they expand and fuse with your natural hair structure, and the bond formed is permanent.

 

Why is your ammonia-free formula different from other brands?

While there may be more ammonia-free products, they may contain other harmful ingredients. Our formula uses the finest dye pigments in an ammonia-free and low alkalinity conditioning solution. Our goal is to keep your hair as healthy as possible. In addition to being ammonia-free, our formula is also free of PPD, resorcinol, gluten, phthalates, and chemical preservatives.

 

What is an alkaline agent and what does it do?

Alkalinity and acidity are measured by pH levels. A pH of 7 is neutral, and an alkaline agent has a pH balance above 7. In hair color formulas, alkaline agents are used to open your hair’s cuticle. Ammonia is the alkaline agent in color formulations.

 

Will I get complete coverage with your formula?

We’ll give you 100% full coverage every time - including gray coverage!

 

Is bleach used? Can you do you do highlights without using bleach?

With our formula’s ability to lighten up to five levels, we can replace bleach in over 95% of cases. We can lighten the whole or partial head for highlights, and the enlightener system is fortified with keratin. We’ll use the Vivabond Complex to strengthen and hydrate your hair after high lift applications. Keep in mind that there are some desired results that only bleach can achieve, so we still use “bleach” in some situations.

 

Is your hair color safe for my allergies?

Fortunately, by removing the compound PPD and other harsh ingredients, our color formula is safe if you have chemical sensitivities or allergic reactions. If you are highly sensitive and still concerned, we can do a 48-hour patch test to ensure the color is safe for you to use.

 

What is an allergic reaction?

An allergic reaction is your body’s response to either a harmful or harmless substance. If your body becomes sensitized to a substance, it can become an allergen. Always listen to your body and stop if something doesn’t feel right. You can become sensitized to substances over time, too.

 

Why are some people allergic to hair color?

Allergens can get into your body topically, like hair color. We’re not totally sure why some people react to things that other people don’t. Studies show that an abundance of internal stressors crosslink and cause an allergic response when a combination of toxins and chemicals get built up in your system.

 

Is this color formula Gluten Free?  
Yes! In addition to being gluten-free, our formula is also free of dyes, sulfates, parabens, phthalates, neurotoxins, aluminum compounds, formaldehyde donors, propylene glycol, DEA, and carcinogens.

 

Will coloring my hair damage it?

It’s true that your hair can be damaged by using hair color products that are high in ammonia and MEA and contain few conditioning ingredients. Ammonia can weaken your hair and strip the outer layer of each shaft. Many color formulas are now “ammonia free”. Our color formula has conditioning and the proprietary reparative complex, VivaBond, added in so we ensure your hair is healthier after the service than it was before.

 

I’m just starting to go gray. Is there a way to blend the gray into my natural color?

Yes! We have many strategic ways of coloring and foiling to help you in the transition for blending away gray for beautiful and natural looking results.


 

You say you have plant enzyme developers versus peroxide?  What does this mean?

We prefer plant enzyme developers because they are a gentler and safer alternative to regular peroxide products. Hydrogen peroxide has been used in hair color for a long time as the reactant agent that delivers the tones into your hair cuticle. Now, we can use plant enzyme developers to naturally accelerate chemical reactions to cut your hair color process time in half. The enzymes nourish, heal, and protect your scalp and hair, so you’ll leave us with soft, shiny, manageable, and luxurious hair.

Our mission at Beauty Ecology has always been to create formulations that are both gentle and effective—removing harsh chemicals and introducing natural elements that preserve the integrity of the hair and scalp. Anti-aging at it’s best!

I love my natural hair color. Can you make my natural hair color shinier?

If you’re looking to enhance your natural hair color, we can glaze your hair with a clear gloss to make your hair shinier. We also recommend our restorative hair mask by evoqbeauty to add health and moisture to your locks. We believe in getting to the “root” of the issue.

 

Is your hair color organic?

No, there is no such thing as organic permanent hair color on the market today. No professional hair color company currently has that certification, even if they put the word ORGANIC in the name of their company or the name of their brand, it is not considered *Organic.

 

Charcoal Mask + Detox

The word on the street is that charcoal is the new black. Activated charcoal is the latest and greatest ingredient that has so many uses internally and externally. Here is everything you need to know about activated charcoal and ways you can use it right at home.

 

What it is?

Common charcoal is activated when heated with the presence of gas that causes the charcoal to develop internal chambers. These chambers help the charcoal draw out and trap impurities. Most commonly found in capsule form, activated charcoal is known to absorb 100 to 200 its weight and impurities. If this pitch black product isn’t intriguing enough, the beneficial properties will have you hooked.

 

What are the benefits?

Activated charcoal’s ability to absorb toxins within the body makes it an excellent natural ingredient to purify and cleanse. Perfectly paired with your seasonal body cleanse but also excellent to ease an upset stomach or bloating (this should only be done occasionally and 2 hours before/after meals, as activated charcoal can diminish your body’s absorption of vitamins/medications). At Beauty Ecology, we love to blend it into a mask with Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile soap. The absorption abilities is an ideal light exfoliant and skin purifier and has also been shown to relieve bug bites and whiten teeth.

 

How to use it

 

Activated Charcoal Face Mask

 

Ingredients

2 capsules Activated Charcoal capsules

1 Tsp of Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Soap, or any gentle cleanser

Combine all ingredients and mix together using a non metal tool (cotton swab, also can be used for application).  Apply to clean face and neck avoiding eye area and allow to dry completely, about 10 minutes. Once dry, rinse thoroughly until face and water is clear. Pat dry with clean towel and embrace the feeling of flawless fresh skin. Follow up with facial oil or moisturizer. Feeling as if your skin has a nice light glow even days after this treatment? You can thank the Activated Charcoal for that!

 

 

Activated Charcoal Lemonade

 

Ingredients

Juice from 1-2 lemons

2 cups of filtered water

2 drops of lemon essential oil

1 Tbsp Agave

2 Capsules of Activated Charcoal

Warm water on the stove. Remove from heat, add the lemon juice and place the rest of the lemon into mason jar (Zest a portion of the leftover lemon for additional flavor). Pour the warmed lemon water over the lemons in your mason jar, allow to steep for 20 minutes. Remove lemon wedges and add lemon essential oil, agave and Activated Charcoal - Mix well, drink chilled,  enjoy!

 

 

 

Half Up Braided Crown

Have you ever been in a rush and, for the life of you, your hair will just not play nice? We have the perfect hairstyle for you! It takes 2 minutes or less, looks great on hair that could use a shampoo, and can easily be dressed up or down. 

- Create a part (Side? Middle? You pick!).

- Take a section from the part down to the top of the cheek bone. 

- Create a simple 3 strand braid and secure ends with a clear elastic (about 2" from the ends). 

- Repeat on the opposite side. 

- Gently pull on the edges of the braid. 

- Pull braids back to meet at back of head and bobby pin into place. 

Violà! A beautiful style and a bad hair day rescue! 

 

Spill The Bag - Carina

We are so excited to share our new series, Spill the Bag! This month we are taking a look into Carina's bag. 

Since I'm usually running from work to a family gathering or heading out to date night, I need a bag where I can stash my stuff that I need for the work day and for an evening out. Here are my essentials: 

1. Lint Roller: I love animals but it's the worst to be covered in fur all day. 

2. Planner: I love to see everything planned out and check things off my to-do list. I can't believe 2017 is right around the corner! 

3. Gum: Extra is my favorite gum brand and who doesn't love fresh breath?!

4. Lip products: I love a bold lip color and these colors are perfect for finishing out summer. 

5. Snacks and a drink: I'm always hungry or thirsty so I keep a little bag of almonds to nibble on and a can of La Croix (I try not to drink pop) or bottle of water in my bag. 

 

Thanks, Carina, for letting us peek into your bag! Now we want to know: what are some must haves for your bag? 

Maximize Your Summer Glow

Summer is the season to embrace glowing skin that screams health and beauty. Here are a few tips to turn heads and optimize your sun kissed glow:

The foundation to all Good Things

The key to a flawless complexion starts with a little thing called primer. Using a primer will act as a barrier between skin and makeup to help skin look smoother and pores look smaller. Apply Evoq's tinted UV Primer, with built in SPF 35, helps even skin tone and prime the skin for foundation.


Shine in all the right places

Start by mixing a small amount of cream or liquid based highlighter into your foundation. Personally, I love a liquid highlighter. I find they blend much more easily to help you create a natural finish. After your foundation has set into the skin for a few minutes lightly dot and blend more of the illuminating product to the high points of the face such as the cheekbones, bridge of the nose and your cupids bow to create natural looking highlights.

Sun kissed goodness

Lightly sweep bronzer beneath your cheek bones, starting with a little and build with color as you go. This will help define the structure of your face. Try using a bronzer with a light iridescent shimmer to provide a subtle glisten

Natural Lip

Allow your beautiful skin to be the main focus! There is nothing more lovely than a nude lip next to sun kissed skin. Choose a nude with a pink or brown undertone to enhance your natural lip color. Try using a lip oil (a small amount of Evoq youth renewal oil or any light facial oil works just as well) to get a light weight, super-shine lip.

Finish the look with a mascara.

 

**Pro Tip** If you are noticing your summer glow is starting to fade, try applying sunless tanner (We love Evoq's Sunless Tanner!) to your face and neck to refresh your bronzed look. 

Raise Your Game: Brow Threading With Taylor

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The question I am asked most frequently is what is this phenomenon known as threading? Threading uses a string to remove hair and is a great option for anyone, especially for those with sensitive skin. While waxing tugs on the skin, threading only removes the unwanted hair and has little contact with your skin so it doesn't lead to irritation. That's right ladies and gents, no more redness for hours after a wax, leave your eyebrow shielding hat and concealer at home! Attention to anyone using a topical prescription or skin thinning medication (accutane, retinal, ect) DO NOT WAX. If you are using any of these, your skin will lift leaving you with a luminous red scab to pair with your freshly waxed, beautifully shaped brows!

Now that you have a better understanding for what threading is, let's talk about the experience and what to expect.

No brow game, without the pain - but it's bearable! Depending of the skills of the Esthetician and your tolerance threading feels like tweezing multiple hairs at once.

Assume the position - You will be asked to pull the lid of your eye and the skin above to keep the skin from pulling into the thread. The tighter the skin, the less it hurts!

Shape up - Don't forget to be specific with how you want your brows to be shaped but don't be apprehensive to ask for guidance! For example, I will always show you how your natural brow shape should frame your face by looking at your facial structure and advise you to grow them out if looking a bit sparse or short.

A little thing called trust - The experience can either make or break an appointment. Trust your gut when you walk into your appointment - is it clean? Does the Esthetician seem qualified and knowledgeable? You should be comfortable and at ease that you will leave feeling fulfilled knowing that your brow game is strong. With that said, skip the threading kiosk.  If you are anything like me when approaching a kiosk, my feet begin to make longer strides and that piece of lint on the ground just became a lot more interesting. Avoid eye contact and run. Run for your life, run for the sake of your bold beautiful brows! Who knows, the kiosk threading lady could be the next big thing in the brow industry but for now let your Esthetician at Beauty Ecology give your brows the TLC they deserve.

Eyebrow threading is by far the least invasive form of hair removal, that creates the most desirable brow with clean, well-defined edges. Take your brows to a whole new level and make you next appointment with confidence, you must never underestimate the power of a good brow.

 

SMOOTHIE in a BOWL (tummy de-bloat -featuring Banana, Pear and Vanilla)

 Pear, Banana & vanilla

Yes.  In a BOWL!

Makes one large smoothie bowl or two small smoothie bowls!

What You’ll need:

2 frozen bananas

1 cup almond milk

1/2 a fresh pear

1/2 cup of ice

1/2 tsp vanilla powder or extract

1 scoop SUPER ELIXIR Vanilla Nourishing Protein


To make:

Place the smoothie ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.

Pour the smoothie into a glass or a shallow bowl and top with your favourite toppings.

A healthier way to a beachy body!  


Throw the Apple and GRAB a PEAR!

  • Pears are one of the highest-fiber fruits, which keeps you regular to prevent a bloated belly caused by constipation.
     
  • Pears contain a fair amount of vitamins C, K, B2, B3, and B6.
    For expecting or nursing moms, they also contain folate. Pears are great in the mineral department either, containing calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper, and manganese.

  • Pears also contain boron, which our bodies need in order to retain calcium, so this fruit can also be linked to prevention of osteoporosis.

Grab a bowl and ENJOY Lovely!    

 

 

Reference:  Get the Gloss

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