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What is the best formula for covering grey(General)

Does your line come with an N series? I used half N in any formula I did on grey hair. With SoColor, it's called the 500 series which is made for grey coverage.

yea its n and nn...what the difference

Don't quote me on this-I'm not familiar with Chi, but it sounds like double neutral. Maybe if certain clients need extra grey coverage, like course hair? Hopefully someone else here can give you a more accurate response.

Useing the n is great for covering the grey to keep the natural colors, the nn has double pigment in it to give you that extra pigment you need for better coverage.

although before we even had nn i would put a dash of salt into the formula and that always worked !! You see the salt works as a presoftener and enables the cuticle to absorbe better.

you can use it 2 ways

1) color + salt (1/2 teaspoon salt per oz.) alone no developer,apply directly to grey let sit for 5 to 15 min. (usally 8 to 10 is fine ).

This presoftenes the hair prior to appling the usual formula w/developer (20vol only of corse)

2) formula +20vol +salt (same ratio as ubove)

I know this sounds crazy but it works, I learned years ago that you never know everything,you never shut your eyes to learning from anybody,dont limit or underestimate who you learn from. Your only limiting yourself from moving foward.

Again, I'm not familiar with this trick. I used Socolor for years and agree with Star that the 500 series gives great coverage. I now use Verocolor and they have a NG+ series that covers extremely well. For 50% or more or resistant grey hair you can either formulate naturals, golds and reds, if desired for a customized formula. Or you can use the NG+ series. For best results, use 20% developer and let process from 45-60 minutes. I have 2 clients that process for 70 minutes. It looks wonderful! But I will do some 'snooping' regarding your salt trick!

I've never heard of the salt either, but I've had a few results that did not cover grey no matter what was used. Presoftening techniques might be the best thing to do in certain situations.

I have one guy client that no matter what color I use, it does not cover his grey hair! It is very frustrating. The best thing that I have found is to put perm solution on it for about 5 minutes, rinse it off, dry his hair and then put the color on. I'll then put him under the dryer for 10 minutes and then start the color processing time over and have him process for the whole time. I'm curious about the whole salt idea-I've never heard of that!

Water Conditioning Salt Institute Logo

Water Conditioning

Water conditioning is a major market for salt.

Most water softening systems pass the water through a bed of special resins, which can exchange sodium ions for the "hard" calcium and magnesium ions in the water. Eventually, the resin exhausts its sodium and must be "recharged." This is done by running salt brine, containing sodium, through the resin bed, removing the calcium and magnesium ions from the bed and leaving a new supply of sodium. The brine is produced by the addition of salt to the water softener. The calcium, magnesium and any excess salt is discharged. Sodium ions are added to softened water; less than 8 mg per liter per grain of hardness. Many websites discuss how ion-exchange water conditioners work.

Many industries require softened water for such uses as processing and dyeing textiles, tanning leather, cleaning dairy equipment and commercial laundering. Water softening systems are installed in some municipal water systems for the dual purpose of protecting the plant equipment and better serving industrial and residential users. But the greatest use of water softeners is in homes. People have come to expect quality in their water as well as in other things in their lives.

The Salt Institute has produced a summary of the benefits of water softening that many water treatment dealers find useful in answering questions which arise during sales presentations. U.S. EPA has a good summary handout too. If you are looking for information about the quality of salt for water softener use, these two articles will be helpful .

I just wanted you all to understand the theory behind the salt thing. believe me, it has been a savior for me .

Ever since I learned this years ago it has not failed me once!!! So when a cliant with medium to course white/grey hair sits in my chair you better believe I,m going to soften it with a DASH OF SALT . He he he he, oh yea.........

Thanks for posting the article MissEvett! It was interesting and informing. It sure makes sense when you put it that way!

You must know the percentage first. 10-20 % use equal amounts of the Natural color and the rest the Desired color in the amount of grey you ha ve.

30-40 percent add more natural and keep adding to balance the color. Double NN series in many color lines do this for you. If you are working on 100 % grey deposit the natural color in a demi color as a filler then mix the color you want.

The way I found out was when I was in collage, I now have a degree in chemistry

. I'm new at this whole salon talk site and still confused about it all.But in time i think i can partake a little more in conversations (

have long nails that i dont want to cut down) Because i use them as tools for work but they slow me down when i type

What confuses you about this site? I will help you with anything you want to know. And about the typing, there is new software out that allows you to talk and it does the typing for you.

Okay!!! So I tried the salt trick in with a color on one of my male clients. It totally liquified the color! It was such a mess-is this normal? So I tried it both ways- just with the color, and then let it sit, then apply the normal color on top-but then it liquified that color I put on top. Then I put lightener on his ends for the last 10 minutes and it liquified that, too. It was dripping everywhere! So we'll see if it covers better, but it was not a great experience! Good thing he's been a faithful client for 3 years and ended up tipping me more because he knew I was trying real hard, but dang!

So Sorry I did'nt read this earlier

WOW, I'm surprised!!!

Did you try it with the measurements I posted? This has never happened to me, and I've been adding dash of salt for years.Try putting less salt in your formula see if it does the same thing. I'm sorry it was a basd expierence for you.another way is by making a very strong salt water mix spray on the area, set under dryer to dry before you apply the color????

This shouldnt be that difficult, I'll look into it to see what could have been the problem. What line of color line did you use?

What I've found to work for me is presoftening with a 20 volume developer, and setting them under the dryer for up to 10 minutes then once that is dry I just apply my color.

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