How to Dye Your Hair at Home : Step-by-Step Hair Coloring Guide

It can be overwhelming when you’re standing in front of hundreds of hair dye boxes at the drugstore. After all, there are so many options, and it’s easy to choose the wrong product if you don’t go prepared.

This is why you should really think about what direction you want your hair color to go, if you’re going to cover up grays, or if you’re just coloring the roots. By going to the store prepared, you’ll cut half of the confusion out of the equation because you’ll be able to pinpoint the products you actually need. So if you’re in the market to color your hair, here is a step-by-step guide for you to follow.

*Note: Most of the items that you need will come in the home hair dye kit including gloves, instructions, a bottle of formula, and a bottle of activator. You will also need to gather an old towel, paper towels, Vaseline, a hair clip, scissors, a timer and a paint brush.

How to Dye Your Hair at Home : Step by Step Hair Coloring Guide

Step-by-Step At-Home Hair Dyeing Guide

  1. A Picture of Woman dyeing her hairChoose the color you want for your hair while keeping in mind your skin tone and natural hair color.
    For example: if you have really pale skin, you shouldn’t dye your hair black so as to avoid looking washed-out.
  2. Take the instructions, gloves, color mixes labeled 1 and 2, and conditioner out of the box. Then cut the number off of the box indicating what color it is, and keep this number somewhere safe so that you know what color to buy when your ready to re-color in a month or two; the number is usually at the top of the box in one of the corners.
    Note: If you don’t find all of the aforementioned items in the box, return the box to the store and exchange it for another.
  3. Begin by reading the instructions carefully. Set up your items so that they are easy to reach; have your old towel, paper towel, timer, and wear an old t-shirt before you get started.
  4. It’s best to test a very small patch of your hair a day or two before you color your whole head of hair. A lot of people don’t do this, and risk having a chemical or allergic reaction. Part your hair at the ears, pull a very small patch from the center of your head, and clip or tie back the rest of your hair.
  5. Put on the gloves that came in the box, and make sure any furniture you will be sitting on or near is protected with a towel. To avoid dyeing your ears, neck and forehead, apply a lip gloss or Vaseline. The areas that get the most unwanted dye are the back of the neck, slightly below the hairline, and on the top of the ears, so keep this in mind.
  6. Unscrew cap to the formula bottle labeled 1, then use scissors to cut the tip off of the activator bottle labeled 3.
  7. Next, remove the cap, and mix the two liquids together as the instructions say. This involves pouring the contents of the formula bottle labeled 1 into the activator bottle labeled 2. With the cap on the activator bottle ,and your finger covering the tip, shake the bottle until the mixture is blended together.
  8. Now it’s time to apply the color mixture to your hair. Note that there are different instructions for permanent and non-permanent hair dye, and some dyes require you to wet your hair, so it’s important to read the directions inside of the box. Begin at the roots and move towards the tips of your hair.For the most natural look, start applying hair dye where your natural part is. You can use a paint brush to make it easier to apply, but you’ll also need to put your mixed color into a bowl.A little rule of thumb: when you’re dying your hair darker, begin applying color on the front sections because your hair tends to be lighter in the front. It is just the opposite when you dye your hair lighter because you should begin in the back.
  9. As soon as you’ve finished applying the dye to your hair, throw the gloves away, and set the timer for the time mentioned in the directions. Wet a paper towel and wipe any excess dye off of your face, neck, arm or anything else that got messy. Most at-home hair dyes require 10-20 minutes depending on the length, color, and the amount of gray hair that you have. Try not to do anything to disturb your hair dye as it can easily drip and stain carpet, clothes, furniture, and in some cases, bathroom tile.
  10. When the timer goes off, use lukewarm-to-cool water to rinse the dye from your hair until the water runs clear.
    Tip: Open the conditioner that came with the dye kit before you begin rinsing so that you don’t have to struggle with it when your hands are wet.
  11. Once you’ve rinsed your hair, apply the already open conditioner, while running your fingers through your hair from root to tip. You can use a clip to keep your hair out of the water for 2-3 minutes.
  12. After the 2-3 minutes with conditioner on your hair, rinse and let air-dry for best results. Don’t shampoo until the next day or two to avoid drying your hair out.

As long as you follow the instructions, your hair should turn out great.

Also, read the labels of the hair dye kits before purchasing. Some dyes are meant only for gray hair, while others are semi-permanent and fade away over time.

It’s a lot easier than it sounds, and with practice, you’ll be able to give yourself highlights without going to a salon! Doing your own hair is fun, and can be more rewarding than paying $70 or more at a salon. Plus there is no guarantee that the stylist won’t make mistakes with your hair.

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at-Home Hair Dyeing : Step-by-Step

How to Dye Hair at Home

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