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Uneven hair dye has a lot of potential causes, ranging from the condition of your locks to the way you applied the dye. But after a color change snafu, you want good hair and not a lecture. Take a deep breath, grab some new dye and and re-dye your hair carefully. Chemicals in dye stress your mane, so you've got to baby it a bit to help your hair stay healthy while you get the color you crave.
Causes
If your color comes out uneven, splotchy application or splotchy color take's to blame. If you use heavy styling products, built-up residue could block the color from taking evenly in your mane. Develop healthy dye habits going forward: Use a clarifying shampoo before you dye to remove heavy buildup. Apply the dye to damp, not dry locks. Work it in fully before continuing with a wide-toothed comb, which can help dye coat the locks evenly. And if you've got long locks, pick up another bottle of dye so you don't have to skimp.
Getting Ready
After a dye job, your locks are stressed out. Before you repeat the process, take a few minutes to deep-condition your mane. A deep-conditioning treatment restores hair moisture, minimizing your risk of damage from the double dye job. It also fills in the hair shaft, reducing hair porosity and increasing the odds of more even color. Apply the deep-conditioning treatment to your mane and allow it to process for 20 to 30 minutes. Rinse out, then get ready to dye again.
Technique
Mix the hair color and developer in your dye kit, then pour into a bowl or a squeeze bottle. Coat your locks with the dye, using the squeeze bottle or applicator brush. Use the wide-toothed comb to pull dye through your hair. When you've saturated your mane, set a timer for the amount of time the dye needs to process.
Aftercare
Rinse out the dye fully, using lukewarm water. Hot water can leach the color from your mane. Suds up with a gentle shampoo meant for color-treated hair. Rinse the shampoo out of your mane and follow up with a moisturizing conditioner. Using a shampoo not meant for color-treated hair can strip color from your mane, so continue to baby your hair to maintain the new hue.
