Learning Hair Color Lessons In Salon To Do-It-Yourself
MAPLE GROVE, Minn. (WCCO) -- Sick of gray or just blah hair color? Usually people who want to dye their hair chose between paying a salon or trying to do it themselves at home.
But a new concept, unlike any other in the country, has popped up in Maple Grove. It's a store that picks your product and shows you how to do it at home.
It's not a secret that most people don't come by their hair color naturally. The only decisions -- go to a stylist or buy a tube and do it at home.
That is, until now -- dpHUE just opened in downtown Maple Grove.
Now you can get a combination -- a professional consult with a color expert and then you can do-it-yourself at home.
Donna Pohlad came up with the concept at a fundraiser.
"I was looking around at everybody's hair and I saw that everybody colors their hair and I had an 'Ah-ha' moment," she said.
Pohlad realized that if she didn't always have time to get an appointment, other women probably didn't either.
Then there was the fear factor of doing it yourself.
"I would want a place to go that offered a professional product, that offered professional advice, that gave me the tools to successfully color my own hair," said Pohlad.
But does it work?
Three women were recruited to test it out: a busy mom of two, a WCCO co-worker who had a bad salon experience and a career woman who would rather spend her money on other things then trips to the hairdresser.
Each went through the consultation process. If you want a drastic change or highlights, Pohlad admits this isn't for you.
"If a guest comes in here and we don't feel that we can provide them with the best experience and the best outcome, we say 'We really believe that you should be going to a salon,'" she said.
The three women all proceed.
"I'll show you step-by-step how you're going to do this," Pohlad said.
And then they headed to the back of the store to do it themselves.
The box has the instructions and the tools -- all things that the store tells you to buy in the form of a kit. Some difficulties pop up immediately, like trying to dye the back of your head.
The process falls in the middle of both price and comfort. But, as the ladies learned, there's strength in numbers.
The participants said it was nice to have other people around for moral support and to make sure they're doing it right.
Once the color is on, it takes about 45 minutes and then rinse.
The results? One no participant says "No."
"I think I still kind of like the salon experience; it's a little less stress," she said. "I would be really scared to do it at home to be honest."
And the other two participants said "Yes."
"Would I pick this over going to a salon? Definitely!" said one woman.
"I love it. I think it was way more intimidating but it turned out great," said the other.
While beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, how you get there is now in your hands.
"The first time you do it, it's harder, then the more you do it the easier it is," Pohlad said.
Each of the three ladies spent just more than $40 for the consultation and the dye kit.
A number of salons WCCO checked with are skeptical that the results would always be consistent.
However, Pohlad said she knows dpHUE isn't for everyone, but believes it's a good middle of the road option.
For more information on dpHUE, click on the link below.
