A lot of people are scared about dyeing their own hair at home, which is understandable because you can’t really afford to make mistakes. But hair dye kits are great and the results will look amazing as long as you get it right. However, there are a lot of products to choose from and it’s important that you know the proper technique before you get started, so it can be quite daunting. The thing is, you can save a lot of time and money by coloring your own hair at home, so you should definitely give it a go.
If you have always wanted to color your own hair but you are still a bit apprehensive about it, this beginners guide will tell you everything that you need to know.
Choosing The Right Color
The first step is to choose the color, which can be tough because there are so many products available these days. If this is your first time dyeing your hair, it’s best to go for a shade that is similar to your own instead of making a big change. For example, if you are a natural blonde, why not look for some dark blonde hair inspiration online? If you have light brown hair, you could consider a darker shade or maybe add some blonde highlights. It’s important that you don’t get too ambitious because there is a lot more potential for mistakes when making a drastic change. You are also more likely to damage your hair if you bleach it and then apply a new color on top, so start out with a small change first and then you can get more ambitious as you get more comfortable with the process.
When you look at dyes on the shelf, they are usually organized in color order. Hold up the box to your hair and try to find the shade that most closely matches your natural hair color. Then, you can start looking at dyes in that section so you don’t stray too far from your color. Ideally, you want to choose from the next two shades either side of your natural color.
Even if you have relatively short hair, it’s worth picking up two boxes of dye. You don’t want to run out halfway through and if you don’t use the second box, you have one ready for next time. If you decide that you don’t like the color, you can just return it and get a different shade.
Don’t Mix Colors
If you can’t quite find what you’re looking for, you might decide that it’s a good idea to mix two different shades together to create the perfect color. But it isn’t a good idea, ever. Dyes are not designed to be mixed and the end result will not turn out how you think it will. Even when you are using a single color, the result may look slightly different from the box, depending on your natural color. Mixing two dyes from different brands is even riskier because they will contain different ingredients that may react badly when mixed together. If you want a custom shade, you will have to go to a professional stylist.
Don’t Skip The Patch and Strand Tests
Any hair dye that you buy will instruct you to conduct a patch test and a strand test. You might be excited to get started and decide that you don’t need to bother, but this is never a good idea. The patch test is designed to make sure that you are not allergic to any of the ingredients in the dye. Simply take a small amount of the dye and put it on a patch of skin behind your ear. Leave it overnight and see whether anything happens. If you don’t do this and you apply the dye all over your hair, only to realize that you are allergic to it, you will find yourself in a lot of pain and it can seriously damage your hair.
The strand test is there to make sure that your hair doesn’t react badly to the dye and you actually like the color. Remember, it won’t always come out exactly the same as it looks on the box, so you should always do a strand test on a piece of short hair. If you skip this test, you could end up with a completely different shade that you hate, and there isn’t much that you can do about it apart from dyeing your hair again, which can cause damage.
Protect Your Skin
No matter how careful you are when applying hair dye, you are always going to get some on your skin. Usually, people end up with spots around their hairline on the back of their neck and they’re very tough to get off, especially if you are using a dark color. The good news is, you can easily protect yourself with a simple lip balm or some vaseline rubbed around the hairline before you get started. You should also apply it around your forehead and around the ears because these areas are likely to get covered in dye as well.
Read The Instructions In Full
Dyeing your hair might not seem that complicated but there’s more to it than simply slapping the dye all over your hair and working it in. You need to know how long to leave it in for to get the perfect color and how to wash it out properly. Every dye is slightly different, which is why you should always read the instructions in full before you get started. In the instructions, you will find a list of all of the tools that you need, like a bowl, brush and gloves. Get all of these items together before you start applying any dye so you don’t end up trying to find things halfway through. Closely follow instructions about washing the dye out because leaving it in for too long can cause damage to your hair and scalp.
Dye On Dry Hair
Now that you have read the instructions in full and gathered all of your tools, it’s time to get started. For the best results, you should always apply dye to dry hair. Although it is possible to dye wet hair, it may not take to your hair properly and it can become diluted, which means that the color won’t come out right.
When you apply dye, take it slow and steady. Squeezing the bottle directly onto your hair and spreading it out is not the way to go if you want even coloring throughout. Instead, you need a bowl and a brush so you can apply it precisely and ensure that you get enough dye throughout. You should always start with the roots because this is where hair growth begins, so they need more dye. Then, start working through the hair in sections, using clips to separate hair to make it easier to get full coverage.
Get The Aftercare Right
Once you have applied the dye, waited the correct amount of time, and washed it out, you can enjoy your new color. But if you want it to last and you want your hair to be healthy, it’s vital that you get the aftercare right.
When your hair gets wet, it starts to strip the dye out. There is no way to prevent this completely, but you can make the dye last a lot longer if you use a color safe shampoo. They are specifically designed to be kind to colored hair and stop the color from stripping out as quickly when you wash your hair.
You can also use a color boosting gloss that deposits a small amount of pigment in your hair and boosts the color, helping it to last a lot longer. They come in various shades, so find the one that most closely matches your color and use it around once a week.
Moisturizing your hair properly is very important as well because hair dye can cause it to dry out and become brittle. You can use a good quality conditioner for this but there are some great natural remedies, like honey, which work wonders on your hair as well. Your hair is more prone to damage when you color it, so make sure that you have a good haircare routine in place to protect it.
Sun damage is a big problem for people with colored hair as well. Exposure to the sun works in much the same ways as bleach does and it will lighten your hair over time. Your hair won’t look great if it starts to fade due to sun damage so you need to protect it. The easiest way to do that is to simply wear a hat when you are out in the sun for long periods.
Coloring your own hair at home is much cheaper and more convenient than visiting a salon, but there is a lot that can go wrong. However, if you follow all of the steps in this guide, you should be able to achieve the perfect color.
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