How To Get Salon Worthy Colour At Home
If you’re someone who struggles to maintain their roots or doesn’t have the budget for regular salon visits then at-home dye kits can be a total lifesaver. They’re way more affordable, the formulas are getting better all the time and you can pick any colour imaginable.
With that being said, it's still a little tricky to get it right when you’re not a professional but if you’re taking the plunge we’ve got all the tips you need. Some of these might sound really obvious but if you stick to them you’ll get the best out of your at-home colour.
Pick The Right Colour
To avoid a disaster we wouldn’t recommend going any more than two shades lighter or darker than your current hair colour. This will minimise the risk of it going wrong and will help you to get the best results. If you’re going for a major change then we’d always recommend hitting the salon rather than dying your hair at home as it’s way too risky.
Pick The Right Dye
You need to know whether you’re going for permanent or semi-permanent dye. Semi-permanent hair dye is less of a commitment and doesn’t contain any chemicals like ammonia or peroxide, so it’s less risky. Unlike permanent dyes, the colour sits on top of your hair and only lasts around 3-6 weeks. On the other hand, you can go for a permanent dye which uses chemicals to open your hair cuticle and permanently deposit colour. It’s a lot more risky, not only because there’s no going back but because there’s a bigger risk of damage.
Make Sure You Buy Enough Product
If your hair is longer than shoulder length or super thick then you might want to pick up an extra box of dye just in case. Not having enough will run the risk of you running out and some seriously uneven colour. It’s always better to have too much than not enough!
Always Do A Patch Test
Whether you’re dying your hair at home or at the salon, the most important thing is that you do a patch test 48 hours before. This will help to prevent a reaction so it’s so worth it. You just need to pop a little bit of the colour behind your ear and leave it on your skin for as long as possible.
Always Read The Instructions
We know this is obvious but not all box dyes are the same so you want to make sure you’ve read the instructions fully before starting the process. We know this is basic but you want to do everything possible to avoid a disaster and not following the rules is the number one reason for most of them.
Wash Your Hair The Day Before
It’s a way better shout to dye second or third-day hair over freshly washed strands as it’ll allow the natural oils to build up on your hair. This will help to protect it during the process so that it’s less prone to damage.
Avoid Stains
To avoid the dye from staining your skin you want to apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly around your hairline before you apply the dye. We’ve also got a whole blog post dedicated to
removing hair dye stains here which is worth a read before you start the process.
Invest In Your Kit
Rather than applying the dye using your hands, it would be way better to invest in a mixing bowl and a brush. That way you’ll know the colour is fully mixed and the brush will help you to get a more even coverage so that you avoid any patches.
Start With Your Roots
The ends of your hair tend to take to dye a lot quicker than your roots as the hair tends to be drier and more porous. Instead of covering all of your hair, start by covering your roots completely before you pull the dye through the lengths. You can do this in sections, using the brush to coat your scalp and to cover your hair as evenly as possible.
Take Sections
When applying the colour to the rest of your hair you want to make sure you’re doing it in small sections so that the hair is as evenly coated as possible. It’s also easier to start at the nape of your neck before working your way up. This will stop you from missing any patches!
Leave Your Hair Down To Develop
As tempting as it is to scoop your hair up into a bun once you’ve applied the dye, you want to do the opposite and leave it down. This will prevent any uneven patches of colour where the elastic or clip is sitting and you can use an old towel or plastic bag to stop it from staining your skin.
Wait To Wash It Straight
Hair dye works by lifting the cuticle in order to deposit the colour onto your strands. However cuticles can take up to 3 days to fully close so if you wash your hair too soon, then you could be flushing your new colour down the drain. After 72 hours you’ll still want to wash your hair as little as possible to prevent it from fading. Every 2-3 days would be perfect and you can use dry shampoo in-between washes to freshen up your roots. You also want to go for something sulphate free that will be really gentle on your colour.
Not sure whether to take the plunge or seek a professional? Click here to learn the
difference between at-home and salon hair colour.
