"Today's woman has all sorts of reasons for colouring her hair at-home – for some it's the convenience and speed factor while for others it's one way to save a few dollars. However, whatever their reason they all want gorgeous results, which is possible through the easy-to-use at-home haircolour products now available," says Eric Del Monaco, Official Hair Artist and Colourist for L'Oréal Paris and a beauty expert on Global TV's hit TV show, Project Runway Canada.

According to Del Monaco, whether you want to cover grey, enhance your natural colour or change it all together, at-home haircolour is a great alternative for budget conscious women who are on the go and don't have time to go to the salon, but don’t want to compromise on results or quality.

But, before you reach for the haircolour be sure to avoid Del Monaco’s Top Five At-Home Haircolour Mistakes:

#1 – Unrealistic Colour Choice
Use the colour chart on the back or side of the package to find the colour swatch that best represents your current haircolour as it illustrates the colour you can realistically achieve with the product. And, if you are looking to cover grey be sure to choose a product that says it offers 100 per cent grey coverage and conditioning properties, as grey hair tends to be coarser and requires extra-conditioning. L'Oréal Paris new Excellence to-Go haircolour offers just that, with 100% grey coverage and fortifies hair in just 10 minutes leaving it healthier looking than before it was coloured. When covering grey, Del Monaco suggests selecting a shade only one or two shades lighter or darker than your original haircolour to achieve more natural looking results. Also, take advantage of the in-store expertise offered at your local drug store or mass market retailer to find out what product and colour is right for you – especially if you already have colour-treated or highlighted hair.

#2 – Not Following Instructions
To get the results you want it is vital to read the instructions provided from top to bottom before you begin, as each product is different and requires specific application techniques and processing times in order to achieve best results. For example, if you do not leave the haircolour formula on for the required amount of time then you likely won’t get the colour you desire.

#3 – Forgoing the Strand & Patch Tests
Before using at-home haircolour take the Strand and Patch Tests, as outlined in the instructions found in the box to ensure the colour you want is the colour you get and that no irritation occurs – which, is not likely but best to double check especially if you have sensitive skin. Del Monaco recommends for the Strand Test that you select a few strands of hair from the nape area and for the Patch Test that you apply the product with a cotton swab to a small patch of skin behind your ear or on the inside of your wrist.

#4 – Not Spreading Colourant Evenly
For radiant all-over haircolour ensure that you spread the haircolour formula (also called colourant) evenly through your hair. Start by applying the colourant to your roots – applying to small sections of hair versus larger ones and then pull colourant through to the ends of the hair. For those hard-to-reach areas at the back of your head or if you have long hair, then Del Monaco advises using a three-way mirror so that you can see your hair from all angles for easier application. And, when you are massaging the colourant into your hair as a final step don’t over massage your scalp, as this can cause irritation.

#5 – Not Protecting Your Colour
Once you've coloured your hair it is important to care for your colour by using haircare products specifically formulated for colour-treated hair such as L'Oréal Paris new EverPure Sulfate-Free Color Care System line of shampoos, conditioners and treatment formulas designed to meet the special needs of colour-treated hair in order to prolong the lifespan of your colour.

For best results with any at-home haircolour, Del Monaco advises against washing your hair the day before you colour it as leaving it 'one-day' dirty will enable the haircolour to better adhere to your hair for optimal results. By avoiding these haircolour pitfalls and following Del Monaco's haircolour tips you will achieve gorgeous haircolour each and every time from the comfort of your own home.

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Note to Editors: L'Oréal Paris invites you to publish this article in your publication. Please feel free to reprint this haircolour article in its entirety or a summary of specific points as you see fit. If you would like more information or an interview with Eric Del Monaco, please contact Margaret Batuszkin, Cowan & Company at 416.462.8773 ext. 22 or via email at margaret@cowanandcompany.net.