There’s nothing like an expert in-salon dye job for a shiny, natural-looking result.
But sometimes life – and finances – get in the way, and you find yourself reaching for that box dye in pursuit of a hair colour refresh.
Home hair colour has come a long way, and results can be fantastic. However it’s important to follow the steps set-out in the product’s instructions to ensure you don’t end up with something other than what you were expecting.
For one, be sure you understand the formula you’re selecting. Permanent hair dye is as the name suggests—permanent. It deposits colour that will last, and can be hard to remove if you change your mind. Compared to permanent color, semi-permanent colour is made to fade from hair over time, usually a number of washes. There are also hair colour rinses and toners and tints.
Before you start, make sure you’ve read through the instructions and you’re well set up to protect your bathroom and your clothes from staining, and be sure to follow these guidelines:
Top tips for home hair colour:
- For best results, choose a colour within two shade levels of your natural hair color.
- Always do a patch test 48 hours before dying your hair to check for allergic reactions.
- Apply a thick moisturiser or barrier bream around your hairline, ears and neck to avoid staining.
- If you have mid to long or thick hair, brush and then section your hair to avoid patchiness on areas you might miss. Create a middle part that runs to the back of your head and split the hair into four sections from front to back and work through them evenly with the colour.
- Start at the roots and work your way down to the ends, using a tinting brush to evenly distribute colour.
- Do not shampoo immediately before coloring unless hair is very oily. Wait at least 24 hours between shampooing and coloring.
- Apply hair dye to your dry hair.
- If your hair is longer than your shoulders or very thick, you may need two boxes to fully saturate your hair.
- Once you have finished applying your hair color, you should start timing the development period.
- After you rinse, don’t forget to use the included colour gloss rather than your own conditioner, it’s crucial to getting a great result and smooths the cuticle to maintain the health of your hair.
