Disclosure: I’m sharing #MyOliaStory as part of a Garnier® sponsored series for Socialstars™ The fabulous hair color is all mine.

Keeping my hair color vibrant, healthy looking... and most of all, covering the grays, is important to me. It feels like post-pregnancy that the gray hair is coming out in full force. I don't want to look older than I am, so I have no shame in dying my hair. 4 weeks ago I gave Garnier Olia® a try in 6.0 Light Brown, as my goal is to start stepping down to a lighter color by Summer.

A few years ago I frosted my hair blonde. Yes, you heard that right - frosted. So 80's. And my hair totally looked the part. It was unnatural looking and I couldn't wait for it to grow out. This time I'm doing it right and taking it slowly instead of just diving in.

My 14 year old had to learn the hard way recently when he wanted to dye his hair blue. He has dark brown hair like me and thought he'd be blonde in a matter of 30 minutes. That was a whole lot of nope. His hair turned an orangey yellow and once he added the blue... he was green. My hair color has held up well, as has the shine. It's still a nice shade for the Spring and something I can step myself up to for Fall once I've gotten as close to a light golden brown as I can get without being too brassy for Summer. With 100% gray coverage, my grays are still nicely concealed. My hair doesn't feel dry and is still soft to the touch. In a few weeks it will be time to color my hair again with Garnier® Olia® and I'll be trying to take it a shade lighter. I'm thinking I might also chop my locks for some added effect. Maybe an angled bob or lob. I've had both, and to be honest I prefer to have long hair. But I just keep can't seem to make it work and my hair tends to always be in a ponytail. One thing I can say, is that since coloring my hair, I've been curling my hair more often to show off how great my hair looks. Please check out my Garnier® Olia® review - I'd love to hear if you've used Olia® and/or if you'll be changing up your hair color now that Summer is almost here! 

As an avid hair coloring fiend, I was nervous upon hearing January Jones revelation that her hair is falling out in clumps. Since I literally just colored my hair over the weekend, I decided I needed some expert advice from my friend and celebrity Master Colorist, Jason Backe of Ted Gibson Salon. He's also the Celebrity Colorist for L’Oreal Professionnel, so he definitely knows color! Q: January Jones revealed that her hair is falling out in clumps from all of the hair coloring she has done in the past year. Is what is happening to her normal and something that others who color their hair should worry about? Jason: The question in whether or not the hair is falling out at the scalp OR breaking off in clumps. If the hair is falling out at the scalp I would seriously doubt it is product related. In my entire career I have never experienced hair color to cause bald spots at the scalp (and believe me, I have women who color their hair from brown to blond every 12 days). I have however seen bald spots appear because of diet or stress related issues and although I wouldn’t consider this common, it is not unusual. If the hair is breaking off in clumps then it is most likely a hair integrity issue. Excessive coloring can lead to damage and ultimately breakage – no matter how expertly talented the colorist. If you are a girl who loves to change your color frequently, look for the signs of extremely dry, brittle and breaking hair. This will let you know to pump your breaks and run to the salon for weekly treatments (I am obsessed with the Fiberceutic treatment by L'Oreal Professionnel – it REBUILDS the hair from the inside out – MAJOR) to restore health and integrity before your next color. Q: How often should women go between colorings?  Jason: As a general rule I suggest 3-4 weeks. That being said, there are exceptions to every rule. It's not terrible to color more frequently as long as you are not going overboard. Remember, hair is a fiber – the more you manipulate it, the more fragile it becomes. I love using as much AMMONIA FREE COLOR as possible. INOA and Dia Light from L’Oreal Professionnel have completely changed the way I think about hair color and how to avoid compromising the integrity of the hair. Q: What is the max amount of times per year someone can color their hair without it becoming overly damaged? Jason: That is a tough question to answer – it really depends on the individual, her hair texture and type, how frequently she shampoos and heat styles. There are too many variables to really say. Q: Does the damage occur more with dying your hair blonde and highlighting, than coloring your hair with darker colors? Jason: Generally, lightening the hair is more damaging than going darker. However, anytime you use hair color you are going to alter the hair shaft. The more it is altered them more damage is likely. Again – this is why I choose ammonia free colors and lighteners. They leave the hair softer to the touch, shinier and ultimately much stronger. Q: Are there products you can incorporate into your daily routine to help prevent your hair from falling out? Jason: Again, falling out may be more related to diet, stress and overall wellness more than a topical product. Breakage on the other hand has some products that you can use at home to help repair. The Fiberceutic by L'Oreal Professionnel has a shampoo and condition masque for at home maintenance. The Mythic Oil by L’Oreal Professionnel just had a line extension to address dryness and color treated hair – it's AMAZING stuff! Q: Any other tips for those of us who LOVE to color our hair? Jason: Always trust a professional. Stay away from box color. When your colorist says – if we do that today your hair will break – believe him! I hope this is helpful to everyone who colors their hair! If you are in New York and are in need for a color, definitely give Ted Gibson Salon a call to book an appointment with Jason! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! for more beauty reviews! Watch our reviews on YouTube. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!

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