Breakdown of Ce dont j'ai besoin, c'est d'une coloration, d'un soin et d'un brushing.
je
I
un
a / an (masculine)
une
a / an (feminine)
et
and
de
of / from / any (in negative sentences) / about (concerning)
c'est
it is, that is
avoir besoin de
to need
ce dont
what / that which (of which)
la coloration
the coloring
le soin
the treatment (care)
le brushing
the blow-dry
Questions & Answers about Ce dont j'ai besoin, c'est d'une coloration, d'un soin et d'un brushing.
Why do we have to repeat d' before every single item in the list?
In French, the prepositions à, de, and en must be repeated before every noun in a series. Because the expression is avoir besoin de (to need), the preposition de (contracted to d' before a vowel sound) must appear before the coloring, the treatment, and the blow-dry. You cannot drop the preposition for the second and third items like we do in English.
Why is there a d' right after c'est in c'est d'une coloration? Couldn't we just say c'est une coloration?
Why does this sentence start with Ce dont instead of Ce que?
The relative pronoun dont replaces the object of the preposition de. Since the verb phrase is avoir besoin de, you must use dont to express "what I need" (literally "that of which I have need"). If the verb didn't require de, like vouloir (to want), you would use que: Ce que je veux.
Does un brushing just mean the act of brushing your hair?
No, un brushing is a false friend borrowed from English. In French, it specifically refers to a "blow-dry" or "blowout" done with a hair dryer and a round brush, usually at a salon. The everyday action of brushing your hair is simply se brosser les cheveux.
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