1. Know What You Want
Semipermanent vs. Permanent
– When picking a color, know whether you want semipermanent or permanent! Both will eventually fade, but semipermanent will wash out after about 28 washes.
Know How Much to Buy
– You may need two boxes! A lot of people will assume that one box could cover their whole head, but a lot of the time people need two. Whether your hair is thick or long, buy two boxes!
Can’t Find Your Color?
– Can’t find the color you want? Don’t mix dyes! If you find two boxes, but want a color in-between the, never buy both and mix! The chemicals are not made to mix and you won’t get the color you want.
Don’t Do Anything Too Dramatic
– Going dark to light is harder to do at home than light to dark. If you want to lighten your hair a lot all at once, it’ll put a toll on your hair. Instead, it’s easier to go darker or lighter by a handful of shades at a time. If you put dark brown dye on your blonde hair, it could turn green, while if you blonde on your brown, it could turn orange. If you want a super dramatic change, it might be best to consult a professional, or do some more research on toning and bleaching.
2. Preparation
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask For Help!
– Dying your hair by yourself can be difficult when you can’t see an angles of your hair. Don’t be afraid to ask a friend to help you out a little! If they’re nervous about “messing up”, reassure them that it’s just like painting a blank canvas with any color paint, you just have to make sure all of it has paint on it.
Dye Dirty
– It’s better to dye your hair when it’s dirty! Dyes don’t stick to clean hair as well, so it’s best to dye when you were going to wash your hair anyway. Just make sure you haven’t used dry shampoo!
Dye and then Cut
– If you’re planning on cutting you hair, do it after you dye it. Freshly cut ends will soak up more dye than other hair, so you might end up with an ombre that’s darker at the bottom.
3. The Process
Cover Up Your Workspace!
– Cover your room/bathroom/workspace with old towels, old t-shirts, or paper towels. Dye can get pretty messy, so it’s good to cover the floor, too. You’ll keep everything clean and have an easy clean-up!
Consider Vaseline
– I’ve dyed my hair more times than I can count and I’ve never done this, but people often put Vaseline around their hairline and their ears so they won’t dye their skin. This tip works best for fair skin tones.
Follow the Instructions
– This seems obvious, but follow the box instructions that are in the box! Especially wear the gloves. They can get sort of annoying, but nothing is worse than dyed fingers and nails. Plus, certain dyes (especially toners) can dry (or eventually burn) your skin.
Use Clips
– When sectioning your hair to get read to dye it, you can use hair ties, but once there’s dye on it, use clips! Hair ties can easily break your hair and will alter the saturation of the color. Plus, clips are easier to take out!
Use a Comb
– When making sure it’s evenly distributed, use a comb, don’t brush! This goes for after you shower, too. Combs are much gentler on your hair and will break it much less than brushes. Plus, it’s better for dye distribution.
Don’t Over-Dye
– Keep your hair saturated for about as long as the box says to! Keeping the dye on your hair for too long can start to damage it, so just wash it out when it’s roughly time to. Keeping it on an extra 10-20 minutes won’t hurt, but if you wait an hour or more, it starts getting sketchy.
4. Afterwards
Wash You Hair Upside-Down!
– Whenever I dye, I like to wash my hair upside-down to avoid the dye running down my skin. You can also just hold your hair away from you, but ultimately having dye run down your body can slightly taint it, especially with unnatural colors. Trust me, I was blue for a week once.
Wash Your Hair Out
– When washing your hair, really wash the dye out. You might be thinking that all the color will washout, but trust me, it won’t. Keep rinsing it until the water runs clear, you don’t want a bunch of chemicals lingering.
Color Treatments
– Use color treatment shampoo and conditioner! This doesn’t just go for the first wash, color treatment shampoos and conditioners are great for the long run, too. There’s extra good stuff in their to maintain your color longer and keep it looking healthy and moisturized.
5. Long Term Tricks/Other Protips
Don’t Double Dye
– If your hair didn’t turn out exactly how you wanted it, please don’t double dye in one day. Give your hair some time to recover, and then do color correction. Don’t forget that right after you wash it is when it’s at it’s darkest, too. Give your hair some time to get absolutely perfect!
Use Conditioning Masks
– Even if you’re not dying your hair, it’s smart to use a deep conditioning mask occasionally. Return some of that much-needed moisture to your ends and roots!
Wash Your Hair with Cold Water
– If you can handle it, washing you hair with cold water is better for your hair than hot. Heat can alter the color and dry it out, while cold will maintain the natural shine. Even if you don’t do it every time, it does help!
Don’t Bleach Blind!
– As someone who has died her hair a lot, if you’re using bleach, do your research! There are different concentrations, developer strengths, and toners for different hair colors and textures. Plus, bleaching can be super damaging so it’s best not to do it if you’re not sure what you’re doing. Check out YouTube videos or talk to a professional!
Don’t be afraid and have fun!!