Dyeing your hair or getting your roots touched up isn’t a hard thing to do. You can just always book an appointment with your favorite hairstylist at Carlton Hair or Famous Hair, show up on the day, and that’s it. But things have drastically changed due to the pandemic.
Nowadays, going to the salon can be quite tricky. Aside from the fact that lots of people can put off haircuts and treatments until further notice, the close proximity that it will need for clients and hairstylists or barbers to complete the task at hand can put both parties at a high risk of infection.
If you’re one of the many who cannot put off getting salon services, the only way is to do the task on your own. This applies for getting your hair colored because it can be done at home without needing to learn a major skill.
While many experts advise against coloring your hair at home, these times will require many of us to make do. But how do you do so? Here are the key tricks in coloring your hair at home without making a mess of it.
1. Assess the condition of your hair.
Experts recommend against DIY hair dyeing if your locks are damaged and have gone through so many processes. If it’s seriously damaged, your locks can break off when you color it, and no one wants that.
So before you pop open a box of hair dye, it’s best to take a long and hard look at your tresses first. Do not forge ahead if it’s too damaged as salvaging a home hair dyeing disaster can be difficult without a salon to go to.
2. Get the stuff you need.
To dye your hair at home, you’ll need the following:
- Box dye, get at least two boxes if your hair is long or thick.
- Brush and bowl for hair coloring.
- Latex-free disposable gloves.
- Old shirts or towels.
- Clear lip balm.
- Handheld mirror.
- Color-safe shampoo and conditioner, if you don’t have any yet.
An important thing to note about this step is that you should be careful to choose the right boxed hair color. These things don’t always give what they promise and it’s not always their fault.
For starters, the color you’ll get will not necessarily look like what is pictured on the box because there are lots of things that can affect the turn out of the dye’s color on your hair. Some might not even work on your tresses at all, so you should also be ready for that. Read reviews so you can somehow be pointed in the right direction.
Opting for to-go coloring kits can also be something worth trying. If your hair colorist offers some or if they can recommend any, get those. These are expertly formulated for a more targeted clientele so they have higher chances of working.
Also, do not try to mix colors to create a custom dye. It might not work in the way you want it to.
3. Prep properly.
To get ready for a DIY hair dyeing session, do the following:
- Do not wash your hair for at least 2 days before dyeing it. This will make sure that your hair has enough natural oils to protect your scalp from irritation.
- Select a spot in your home that you don’t mind staining or making a mess in. The bathroom would be a good spot but if it has poor lighting, don’t do it there. Just clear an area with good lighting and place some old newspaper to cover the floor instead. Make sure there are mirrors on hand, too.
- Wear old, easy to remove clothing so you won’t feel bad if they get stained and you can easily get out of them when it’s time to wash up.
- Protect the skin near your hairline from getting stained by applying some clear lip balm on the areas like your hairline and ears.
4. Do a strand test.
Before you jump right in, it’s best to do a strand test first on trimmed hair or hair that can be hidden away. This way, you can see if you’ll like how it will turn out before committing.
5. Read the instructions on the box and follow it carefully.
Those instructions are there for a reason. Read and follow them accordingly.
In addition to the steps listed on the box, here are a few tips you should remember:
- Do not wet your hair before coloring. The dye will adhere better to your strands while it’s dry. The water can also dilute the color and affect its appearance.
- Do not start from your roots. The heat from your head will cure it faster so it’s better to start at about an inch away from your roots then go back to your roots when you’re halfway through the processing time.
- Remove spills right away so they won’t stain.
- Don’t dye the tips of your hair. Instead, mix some shampoo into the remaining dye and then apply the mixture to the tips about 3-5 minutes before rinsing it off.
- Don’t wring your locks tightly and bundle it up your head while curing. Let it down so the color will turn out to be even.
- Before rinsing out the color, sprinkle a little water to your locks then smush it up nicely to remove streaks and lines.
- If you’re only doing your roots, only do your roots and nothing else.
6. Remember to condition your hair after washing it.
After you rinse your hair color, use a color-safe conditioner. This will help close up the hair cuticles and seal in the color in your strands.
Before you take the plunge and color your locks on your own, make sure to do plenty of research to get the best results. Otherwise, your hairstylist might have a hard time fixing a mess.