We’ve all been there. You’re scrolling through Pinterest at 11pm, obsessing over a photo of the perfect creamy-blonde/autumn-auburn/insert-your-favourite-shade, and you think: YES. This is it. My moment. My hair will be this colour, birds will sing and life will finally fall into place.
Fast forward to a DIY box-dye disaster (who knew cool blonde could also mean brassy disaster?) or a salon trip that leaves your ends crying for help. The dream? Chic, vibrant, healthy colour. The reality? Overprocessed sadness.
But! It is possible to switch up your shade without destroying your locks. I sat down with Zahira Gora from Karlose James Salon, a rising star in the hair world who’s equal parts professional and talented (and far more across what’s cool right now than I), to get the scoop on how to colour your hair without destroying it.
Step 1: Be Realistic About the Journey
First and foremost, Zahira says be realistic about the time you may need to achieve your goals and ready for a journey that may include a few visits to get to the version you want.
“Going from dark to light—or really, any big colour transformation—takes time if you want to keep your hair intact,” says Zahira. “Think of it like training for a marathon. You don’t just wake up and run 42K. You build up to it.”
What does that mean for you? Patience. Going blonde might take multiple sessions. Going red might require extra maintenance. Even going darker has its challenges (ever heard of colour build-up?).
The key takeaway? Respect the process, and your hair will thank you.
Step 2: Find a Stylist Who Gets You (And Your Hair Goals)
Not all stylists are created equal. And not all of them love doing bright pink balayage or platinum pixie cuts. Find someone who specializes in your dream look.
“A good stylist will tell you what’s possible for your hair, what’s not, and how to get the best results without torching your ends,” says Zahira.
Red flags?
🚩 A stylist who promises major colour transformations in one go (unless you love the smell of burnt hair).
🚩 No consultation before an extreme change.
🚩 No mention of aftercare (if they don’t talk about maintenance, run).
If you’re unsure, stalk their Instagram. Look for before-and-after photos, read reviews, and if in doubt—ask questions. Obviously we stalked Zahira’s and you can check it out here.
Step 3: Be Kind to Your Hair Before and After Colouring
Think of your hair like a relationship. If you want to put it through stress (aka bleaching, colouring, chemical processing), you need to treat it really well before and after.
Pre-colour prep tips:
- Load up on moisture—deep conditioning masks are your bestie.
- Lay off heat styling a week before your appointment.
- Use a bond-building treatment (Olaplex, K18, we see you).
Post-colour survival kit:
- Sulfate-free shampoo (because those bubbles strip your colour and your hair).
- Purple conditioner for blondes every couple of washes (but only every couple and keep the quality to avoid build up–we’re loving Oribe for this).
- Regular trims to keep your ends fresh.
“The goal isn’t just fabulous-for-a-night hair—it’s healthy, always fabulous hair,” says Zahira. “If your hair is breaking or feels like straw, it can take a long time to grow back to healthy and, at a certain point, colour and treatements will not be able to restore it.”
“People forget that hair colour is high-maintenance,” Zahira laughs. “Especially if you go blonde or red—blondes will brass and deep colours will build up or fade if you don’t give them love.”
Treat your hair like an investment, and it’ll stay looking salon-fresh for longer.
Zahira’s Final Thoughts: Colour Boldly, Care Deeply.
Changing your hair colour should be a fun new way to express yourself, not the makings of a future dinner party horror story.
With the right stylist, a realistic plan, and a solid aftercare routine, you can have both stunning colour and healthy hair.
So go ahead and embrace your inner ice (blonde) queen or fiery (auburn) side. Just love the hell out of her when you bring her forth.
You can book in with Zahira Gora at Karlose James Salon here.
