Okay - sort of a strange question I imagine?

I am traveling for a little over 5 weeks with my dd in the fall. I color my own hair on average every 3 weeks because I NEED to. I will look like the witched witch of the west if I do not. I will be VERY gray if I elect NOT to color it during the time in Europe and while I am sure some would say "no biggie" that won't work out for me.

Now - I would bring my own boxed color - no issue but I am trying to do carry on and that will kill me on the liquids.

I believe I will be in Italy - Florence or Venice by the time I must color - or Salzburg.

So - can you just purchased boxed color in these areas?

Thanks for your time on a rather foolish sounding question.

If it is that important to you (which it sounds like it is), I would check a bag and put the colour in your suitcase. Other places will indeed have hair colour, but you might not be able to find your exact brand or colour.

Wouldn't you also need to bring an extra towel? I haven't coloured my hair since I was about 20, but I do remember that hair colour and white hotel towels probably won't mix very well!

Where are you travelling from?

What brand of hair coloring do you use? What color name or number?

The popular brand hair colors are available throughout Europe and are available in Salzburg at the DM stores and similar. I see L'Oreal, Clairol and Garnier hair coloring ranges all over Europe.

Unless you're using something unusual, you can probably find your own brand without much trouble while you're traveling.

Yes you can find boxed hair color in Europe. but whether it will be exactly your own brand/color, maybe not. Would you consider going to a professional salon and letting someone do it for you, just this once? Seems like that would be a lot easier.

I honestly do not care as much about the brand but just that it is an easy mix etc. I have switched brands and am happy to - I have dark hair and it has always worked out okay. Just brown

Thanks for the feedback. I know it seems very vain to some but I will be miserable with a ton of gray hair at 40.

Suze - I thought what fun that might be All depends on the cost really. As you know it is a long trip and I am watching the $$$.

I know

I'm just thinking of the mess and trying to DIY in a hotel bathroom. And possibly the box will have instructions not in English?

Other idea, is you give in and check one suitcase.

I hear you, Mom. This isn't something some of us can just blow off for a few weeks.

While I think there are plenty of grooming habits where European women, in general, are noticeably better than US women, in general, hair color isn't one of them.

Women in Europe seem to enjoy having wackier hair color than their US sisters: oranges, purples, reds not usually seen in nature.

I'm in a similar boat to yours this fall with an extended trip. But I'm checking luggage.

Go ahead and buy a similar brand in Europe; just make sure it isn't a permanent variety.

I'm with phyllis in observing that in the places in Europe I most often go to, hair color on middle aged women is startling. Rusty orange and bluish fuschia seem to be the most popular shades, but recently I've been seeing lots of streaks of hot pink and dirty white, some royal blue.

I don't color my hair, but I think the last thing I would do is go to a professional salon - unless I was willing to go native.

Sounds to me like (a) you are definitely going (b) your hair has a mind of its own (c) you can buy some kind of hair color and (d) --?

Hope it works out but hats are chic if it doesn't and DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

hummm... hats might work... and I may break down and have to check my bag. I wonder how funny it would be to mail a box in advance to my apartment!!!???

Don't check your bag.

Go ahead and mail a box to your apartment (or your landlord). What have you go to lose except a box of hair color?

PS: Send it regular mail, not FedEx or something. FedEx would mean somebody has to be there to sign for it. Just a nuisance. (I live in Italy. I find packages sent to me by regular post arrive more often on time and with less hassle.)

So Zeppole - you in Florence? LOL
Watch out for mail ;-)

I will send it to the B&B where we are staying in Venice - I am good at not making a mess - have been doing it myself long enough.


Love this board..not sure why I did not think of that in the first place

I've had my hair colored in Italy and France on different occasions. It was not expensive, they colored the way I wanted it and it was a nice experience relating to the ladies in the salon. I would go to a salon if your boxed color doesn't make it to your destination.

I have also taken boxes of color but I always check a bag.

I too have to dye my hair while on vacation. I am also a hairdresser so I hope that I can help..

Yes, as stated above, they sell box color. Look at the color you use at home and see if there is a # that coincides with the color name. They use the number system in Europe for professional colors, not sure about over the counter.
The first # will be the level, the second and third # will be the secondary colors. Levels are 1-10 one being the darkest and 10 the lightest, 5 is light brown, 6 is dark blond. The next # will tell you what color it actually is: 2 will be ash, 4,5,6, reds, examples: sometimes it will be(502) 02, very ash,(545) 45 will be an orange red...you just want to stay with a pretty natural color, a 503 or 54 should work for a warm brown, level 4 if you are darker.

There is also a color stick that helps me extend the time between colors, I wouldn't leave home without it:
http://www.amazon.com/Roux-Tween-Tim.../dp/B000AAAVS6

I forgot to say, bring a disposable pair of gloves and a few paper towels so you don't have to use their towel. You should have two bottles that you mix together, but if you don't, use the plastic cup in the bathroom, never use metal. Timing is almost always 30 mins. If in dought about the color matching perfect just do a partial which is your part and about an inch on each side of it, the very top back crown, the hairline continuing to the front of the ear...this usually what I do on vacation.

susanna - that helps a lot. I actually use to be a rep for TIGI (one of my 100 careers) and I reped a line called Logics at the time.

My hair is a level 4 and it pulls red.. I went a little darker for my son's wedding - but as I said -I am fine as long as the gray is colored.

Happy to read I am not the only one out there that HAS to do this..

Someday I will be a stunning older woman (I wish! LOL ) with gray hair - at 40? I just look like a hag.

Wacky! Startling! I got so used to seeing grown women with the colors in their hair (in Europe) that I talked my hair stylist into putting a bright blue streak in my white hair. Just a streak (like a wave) on one side. I love it but it has caused quite a stir. People either love it or hate it. I have had some wonderful conversations with young people and other strangers. Everyone has some variation of the question - why? It has been there since January and I've gotten very used to seeing it. It's fun! CJ

"Bring a disposable pair of gloves and a few paper towels so you don't have to use their towel."

They sell these in Italia.

MomDDTravel,

I'm in Liguria. Sorry! But I like CarolJean's idea of just doing as the Romans - or in your case -- the Tuscans do.

Why not buy a pair of magenta gloves in Firenze and get a streak to match?

"I don't color my hair, but I think the last thing I would do is go to a professional salon - unless I was willing to go native." - I've done this several times. I think (lol) my hair is a grey/brown mix, but ever since I had it hennaed in India in '01 I've kept it red/orange. At home I have it hennaed, but on long trips I have it dyed. I usually find an expensive hotel and ask if they have a salon - if they don't they'll recommend somewhere. Results have varied from excellent (Yalta) to way too bright (Beijing). I look on it as a cultural experience.