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Honey blond or platinum blond? Light ginger or rich auburn? Though picking a new hair color is a big task, dyeing your hair at home presents even more challenges. And if your dyeing session is a solo event, it’s even more important to take your time and do it right. You don’t want to wind up scrambling for tools at the last minute, or worse, you don’t want to deal with the stress of a completely botched color!
Pick the Perfect Color
Stick with a color that shares your skin’s undertones, which are either warm (golden, yellow) or cool (blue, red). Avoid picking a dye that’s more than two shades lighter or darker than your natural color. Read the chart on the dye box, too: It’ll show you what that particular dye will do to your current hair color. Also, pick the type of dye that does the least damage for your purposes. If you’re looking for a long-term change, opt for demi-permanent or permanent dye. But if you’re more of a chameleon, be kind to your tresses by using a much less harmful, semi-permanent or temporary dye.
Prepare!
Lay out all the tools you need before you start mixing your dye. You may need to buy extra things to make the process go smoothly: hair clips, dark towels or a timer, for example. Clear your dyeing area as much as possible, because dye saturates everything — and it’s hard to wash out. Protect your skin, too, by wearing a towel around your neck, gloves on your hands and dabbing petroleum jelly on your hairline and ears.
Test It Out
A strand test is essential — and not just because it’ll bring any unknown allergies to light. Performing a strand test before you dye helps you get accustomed to using the dye and helps you to see exactly how much time the dye requires to properly color your hair. Here’s how you do it: While wearing gloves, mix your dye according to the instructions. Isolate a strand of hair (use a clip or elastic band to hold the rest of your hair back) and coat the strand evenly with dye. Watch your hair over the course of the prescribed dyeing time. If it reaches your desired color before time's up, note how long it took and wash it out with lukewarm water. However, avoid leaving the dye in longer than the instructions suggest: this can cause serious damage.
Take Your Time
Taking your time may be the key to a gorgeous, balanced dye job. Come up with a plan of attack before you begin. Will you clip most of your hair up, dye the bottom perimeter, then let your hair down in layers? Or will you start at one side of your head and work your way around to the other side? Have a hand mirror nearby to make sure the back of your head is coated evenly. Paint your roots last, because the heat from your scalp will cause them to change colors faster. When time’s up, don’t just rinse and run: follow up with conditioner to revitalize your stressed strands.
