Colouring your hair at home is not always as easy as it seems. Stunning colour transformations often require skill, dexterity and more than a dash of science, which is why there’s a whole profession that exists to deliver them.
Weaving seamless ‘sun-kissed’ highlights or taking your hair from a shade that’s very dark to very light (and back again) are skills that often take years to master.
In the case of many colour changes, it also requires multiple visits to achieve the desired result with a ‘slowly does it’ approach, so hair doesn’t become so damaged it breaks off or becomes dry and discoloured.
But what if you simply want to refresh a hair colour that’s lost its life and lustre, or diminish the appearance of greys all over, or growing out at your roots? For simple hair colour solutions, home hair dye in a box can be a useful time and money saver.
We asked Bronwyn Fraser, L’Oréal Training and Education Manager, Consumer Products Division for some insight on how to get a great result when dying your hair at home:
What are your best tips for dying your hair at home?
The end result is determined by your natural hair colour. A good guide is to select a shade within two shades lighter or two shades darker than your natural shade.
Always read the instruction leaflet thoroughly and keep a couple of old towels on hand to use each time you colour as it can stain or bleach towels.
It’s a good idea to wear an old or pre-loved T-shirt or button-up shirt just in case.
Get your space set up and ensure you have all the components necessary such as gloves, instruction leaflet, comb, clips etc. on hand before you start applying.
Don’t forget to allow enough time to apply, development time, rinse and style, approximately 1 – 1.5 hours in total.
What are some things people overlook?
Being unprepared, not doing the sensitivity test or reading the Instruction Leaflet thoroughly. The instructions vary between brands, so be sure to read thoroughly to ensure you achieve the best results.
What is the difference between permanent and semi-permanent?
Permanent colours are the most versatile as they can cover grey, lighten and darken hair, and will grow out needing a retouch after approx. 6 weeks.
A true Semi-permanent colour blends first greys and adds colour but shampoos out of the hair in around 4-6 shampoos, they are unable to lighten hair.
A long-lasting semi-permeant, sometimes known as a demi-colour blends away first greys and can last up to 20 shampoos.
Should I tie hair up while the colour processes?
No. It’s better to loosely pile your hair up or leave it down, so air can circulate to help oxidise the pigments.
What should I know about the picture on the box?
The image on the box is the true result when using the colour on hair that’s naturally the same depth of colour. Each pack has a Shade Selector guide on the back or side that shows the expected results on different natural colours.
What can impact the colour I end up with?
If you already have colour in your hair, this too can determine the end result.
A golden rule for permanent colour is ‘colour won’t lighten colour’, so if you already have a colour in your hair, a new lighter shade won’t be able to lighten it. It’s better to match the new shade to what you already have or go slightly darker.
If your hair is very dry, damaged or porous, the colour may not hold as well in these areas.
How easy is it to just touch up your roots at home?
It is easy to touch up your roots at home, and each instruction leaflet shows 2 methods of application, for 1st time use and for retouching roots after 5-6 weeks.
Garnier’s new Good Permanent Hair Colour is applied with your hands, whilst more traditional home colours are applied using a bottle with a nozzle or brush.
(Ed note: Garnier’s new Good Permanent Hair Colour comes inside a paper tub you use to mix the formula together. You then slather the mix over hair, working through with your hands like you would a hair mask. Its thicker consistency means it doesn’t leak or drip while it’s on, it does a great job of covering greys and the lack of single-use plastic bottles is a real plus from a sustainability point of view.)
A retouch application involves applying to roots only for around 20 mins then refreshing the ends for the last 10 or so mins. This ensures the colour stays even and no colour build-up on ends occurs.
How can I cover greys?
Ensure you choose a product that’s designed for grey coverage.
If you have very grey or resistant areas, always start your application on those areas first so they achieve maximum development time.
Also, be generous with the product in those areas to ensure the hair is completely saturated.
Is it true I should wait before shampooing?
You can shampoo your hair within 1 to 2 days if needed. Be sure to use products that are formulated for coloured hair as these help maintain the colour and prevent fade.
When should I never dye my own hair?
If you have blonde hair and are wanting a much darker shade, as it will need to be pre-pigmented, or if you are wanting a shade that’s much lighter than your previously-applied shade, it will need to be cleansed and then coloured to achieve this.
In both instances we recommend a professional colourist.
