As well as overhauling the diet, starting a million new hobbies, joining the gym and vowing to quit the demon drink, the arrival of January always prompts us to shake up our look a little bit. It can be very difficult to find a style that you love when it comes to hair and many of us can be of the 'if it ain't broke...' approach once we do find the cut and colour of our dreams. However, a new treatment recently piqued our interest when it promised a hint of no-commitment colour to our long-suffering locks. Instamatic by Color Touch is available in several shades, from Pink Dream (which looks amazing on blonde hair) to Jaded Mint, Smokey Amethyst, Muted Mauve and Ocean Storm, and allows people to add a touch of fashionable colour to their hair, without the risk of a permanent result. While we had been concerned that the temporary colours wouldn't be noticeable on darker hair, it's suitable for all types so our Marie popped down for an appointment with Katie at Foundation Hair on Stephens Street to give it a go.

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The Process: Having been a dedicated brunette for most of my adult life, I started to get very nervous by the time my appointment with Katie rolled around... picturing an overeager hairdresser ready to bleach the living daylights out my hair. Luckily, I needn't have worried as Katie took some time out as soon as I arrived at the salon to ask several questions about the results that that I were looking for and my preferences when it came to shades. While I had initially been eyeing up the mauve, Katie advised that Pink Dream might work better with the existing tones in my hair and she turned out to be completely on the money. When considering a colour change, it really is worth going to a hairdresser that you trust because they'll consider factors that might never occur to you! [caption id="attachment_213039" align="alignnone" width="726"] Before![/caption] Those with bright, fair hair will find the process a lot more straightforward but as I was quite dark, we had to pre-lighten the hair before adding the colour. This is a time consuming process so if you're taking the plunge, I'd recommend doing it on a day when you have plenty of time. As I had no other commitments, I was able to put my feet up with some magazines and coffee as Katie and the team did their magic, which was a lovely treat! My hair lightened up as planned and next, it was time to pick a base shade for my overall colour. Having looked through a colour chart, I picked a warmer tone than my original one, which was then applied and left to soak into the hair. After it was rinsed, it was time for the Instamatic to be applied and Katie added the pink tint through the front locks and the ends of the hair. The colour can be left from a period of five to 20 minutes depending on the intensity required and lasts for up to ten washes. Once the colour was washed out, Katie added a toner on top and I was ready for the big reveal! [caption id="attachment_213037" align="alignnone" width="561"] The finished result![/caption] The Verdict: While the result was quite subtle on my hair, I absolutely loved it. The hint of pink through the ends added a different dimension to my colour and definitely freshened up my look. For a more dramatic finish, you could lighten the hair again on your second visit but I really liked the filter effect. If, like me, you are a little hesitant about getting your hair pre-lightened, there's no need to be worried. While my hair felt a little dry afterwards, I took Katie's advice and used a hair oil and mask (we love the LuxeOil products!) over the next few weeks and my locks are now in great condition. Instamatic has been described as an "accessory" for your hair and I think this is pretty accurate - if you just fancy a bit of a change, this is definitely the colour for you! For more information on Wella's Instamatic by Colour Touch, talk to your hairdresser or call Foundation Hair on 18 Stephen Street Upper in Dublin on (01) 478 1222. You can also check them on Facebook here.