10 rules for mixing paints: a table of shades and mixing rules

Although it doesn’t have to be scary, combining different hair colors can feel like an artistic endeavor. You can create a shade that precisely matches your personality and sense of style with the appropriate method. A world of possibilities, from delicate adjustments to striking transformations, is available when one knows how to combine colors effectively.

Understanding the fundamentals of mixing is crucial to getting the color you want. This entails understanding which color combinations to stay away from and which ones work well together. Whether you want a more adventurous look or a more natural look, there are a few easy rules you can follow to help you stay out of surprises.

This post will provide you with a helpful table of shades to help you mix hair colors and ten important guidelines. With these pointers, you’ll be equipped to confidently experiment and consistently achieve the ideal shade.

Table of shades for mixing paints

Understanding what pigment will show up on the hair after the compositions are combined is necessary before beginning any hair coloring procedures to achieve the desired color. To make this information easier to understand, experts have created a table that combines professional paint shades.

Tan chestnut Dark gray Dark gold Dark reddish-yellow Ruby deep purple Mocha

Paint mixing involves many subtleties and is not an easy manipulation. Determine the original natural shade of the curls based on the data above. Next, ascertain its depth and assign an indicator on a scale of 1 to 10, where 10 represents the darkest shade.

Next, choose two nearby tones that complement the hair shaft’s natural color. After that, you can begin combining the chosen ingredients.

It is best to leave the mixing of coloring ingredients to professionals as it is a responsible process that requires precise measurement of proportions as well as appropriate selection.

Understanding how to mix paints is crucial to getting the ideal hair color. This guide explains 10 essential guidelines for blending various shades, along with a helpful table to assist you in confidently matching and combining colors. These guidelines will guarantee that you always achieve the intended outcome, whether your goal is a modest adjustment or a striking new appearance.

How pigments affect

A natural dye found in the hair shaft provides the final coloring effect. Consequently, eumalin is more prevalent in dark strands, causing the shaft to be completely covered in brown and black pigment.

Blonde curls have a greenish or coppery tint and are high in iron. Pheomalin enriches red strands, giving them a reddish-yellow hue. Additionally, those who have albinism, or whitish or silver hair, either lack pigment entirely or have very little of it.

Finding the dominant tone in the hair is a skill that is necessary when coloring strands to get the desired shade.

The dominant pigment is only present in natural hair color—not in hair that has been dyed.

With the aid of this information, you can select the ideal paint color and achieve a more "perfect" shade. Experts particularly stress how crucial it is to identify the dominant pigment at the outset of coloring processes.

This is because there’s a good chance that some totally superfluous shades will still be on the strands. Determine the hair shaft’s natural color and forecast any undesirable tones that might emerge after coloring to avoid problems of this kind.

Take into consideration the following pigment-related effects on hair when selecting the appropriate shade:

• brunettes are recommended to exclude the appearance of a reddish tint with the help of blue;
• brown-haired people need to avoid the appearance of copper shades and green is perfect for this;
• blondes are often spoiled by an unpleasant yellow color, which is removed with the help of violet.

Experts in the beauty industry use mixtones or colors that are the opposite of the chosen ones to completely eliminate any undesired pigment manifestation. These should only be professional paints if coloring is done at home rather than in a salon.

The intended outcome will eventually be shown by skillfully calculating the ratio of the ingredients to the pigment neutralizer. For those who wish to apply a tint to their hair on their own, keep in mind that funds from different brands should not be mixed together because they are already a finished, well-balanced product.

See also: A video on creating the ideal color at home

Rules for the color circle

Yellow, blue, and red are classified as warm and cold hues in color science.

These three dominant pigments are the only source of all other pigments, which are produced by combining them in different ratios. Experts differentiate between the following groups:

• secondary ones – are formed when interacting with two basic colors in equal amounts;
• tertiary – this is the result of combining primary and secondary colors.

Therefore, mixing warm and cold colors is not possible. For instance, owners of dark hair with a mellow pigment will go well with brown hues, and blondes with a faded hair shade will look good with platinum or ash tones. Colors in coloristics flow from one to the next, changing subtly and without abrupt shifts.

Countercolors that are placed on the other side of the pigment are neutralizing. It is used in coloring to prevent the undesirable shades that the natural and dominant pigment may impart.

Every primary hue has an corresponding counter-color; for example, red is derived from green, blue from orange, and yellow is readily eliminated with plum. You can achieve a natural tone on your curls with any combination. Additionally, avoid combining blue with orange or purple with yellow.

Experts in hairdressing depend on these key coloristics concepts. They choose a good shade based on the client’s dermal type and eye pigmentation, knowing exactly which colors to mix.

Preparatory process

The expert should consider the kind and structure of the hair shaft, evaluate any damage already done, and evaluate the skin’s state before coloring the hair. The master will then decide on the desired color and its natural shade. In addition, he needs to consider how long ago the structural feature of the curls was corrected and whether any manipulation was done to them.

It is essential to read the product’s usage instructions just before beginning the actual procedure.

It is important to prioritize tones that fall solely into a manufacturer’s color range when planning the process of mixing hair coloring ingredients.

It is also not advisable, according to some experts, to combine variations of different series made by the same manufacturer. Owners of colored hair and gray hair are advised by hairdressers to choose a single hair color in advance.

To check for potential allergic reactions, the coloring composition must be pre-tested.

Prior to manipulating and blending colors, the following steps must be taken:

1. Glass, ceramic or plastic dishes (it is prohibited to carry out this manipulation in an iron container). It is worth remembering about the oxidation reaction, which can change the composition of the ingredients.
2. Gloves are a guarantee of purity and safety of the dermis from chemical damage.
3. Fat cream – will protect the skin under the hairline.
4. A brush for mixing the coloring mass.

Hairdressers advise the following right before the hair coloring procedure:

1. Do not apply treatment masks to the curls at least seven days before the planned coloring, since the enveloping substances will not always be removed from the hair shaft during this period.
2. Lubricate unwashed strands with a mixed composition, since the natural fat of the scalp will act as a protective function against their aggressive chemical effects.
3. Distribute the dye mass onto dry curls (if there is moisture, there is a chance that it can dilute the components).

Mixing hair paints can be a fun way to customize your look and get unusual shades. You can produce a broad spectrum of colors while avoiding undesirable tones or mismatches by adhering to the ten rules listed.

To identify complementary hues and get the desired outcome, use the shade table as a useful reference. Never forget that you can achieve the ideal shade before committing to a full application by testing the mixture and starting with small amounts.

You’ll become more comfortable experimenting with color combinations and determining the ideal combination that complements your style with time and practice. Have fun coming up with new shades and relish the creative process!

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