Dee and I have dyed our own hair, and each other’s, for the past decade at least. We have had our hair every possible color under the sun, corrected every mistake and mastered the art through some serious practice! I’ve had my hair dyed a handful of times at the salon and I honestly find that home hair dyeing is less harsh and less drying on my hair. That’s just my opinion, but I’ve definitely noticed that my hair takes a lot longer to recover from a salon visit than from a home job. If you want to top up your color or go for a new look for the new year at home, here are my top tips!
1. Choose Your Color & Brand Wisely
From all of the brands and products I’ve tried I have definitely developed a favorite for my hair type – and that’s L’Oreal Garnier Nutrisse. I find that the colors are the truest to their claim and the conditioner and oils in it really make my hair feel lovely afterwards. It only takes 35 minutes to fully develop and covers grey hair perfectly.
From all of the brands and products I’ve tried I have definitely developed a favorite for my hair type – and that’s L’Oreal Garnier Nutrisse. I find that the colors are the truest to their claim and the conditioner and oils in it really make my hair feel lovely afterwards. It only takes 35 minutes to fully develop and covers grey hair perfectly.
When choosing your color, you must bear in mind what your own natural color is. This is the biggest mistake people seem to make when choosing their new color. If your hair is black and the box has a bright red on it, unless the product specifically claims to lighten and color (as some do) it will only add the red to your dark hair and thus give a deep dark red. The same goes for lightening your hair. Unless you apply a color stripper/hair lightener first, picking up a box of blond hair dye and applying it to your dark brown hair will do nothing to it. Start with small changes to your color i.e. a shade or two lighter/darker/redder etc, and learn your way from there. If you’re planning to really lighten it, or drastically change it, ALWAYS buy a box of your natural hair color at the same time. If everything goes wrong and you hate it, just apply your natural color over it all and you’re back to how you started. No panic needed!
2. Learn The Codes
Every brand has their own color codes on. As a general rule, the higher the first number, the lighter the color i.e. 3 is jet black and 9 is light blonde. The second number usually depicts the red-ness of the color i.e. 1 is ashy, 3 is warm/red, etc. So a code of 63 would be a light brown with a warm undertone.
Every brand has their own color codes on. As a general rule, the higher the first number, the lighter the color i.e. 3 is jet black and 9 is light blonde. The second number usually depicts the red-ness of the color i.e. 1 is ashy, 3 is warm/red, etc. So a code of 63 would be a light brown with a warm undertone.
3. Tools & Application
I would strongly recommend buying yourself a mixing bowl and dye brush to apply your dye (I got this cute pink set from Forever 21). This makes it much easier to mix and apply and also allows you to see how much of the product you have left (we’ve all done it – got half way through your hair using the squeezy bottle to apply it and then, *pffffff* no more dye left!). I also always buy two boxes so I don’t run out (if I’m doing just roots I only need one box – full hair color for my long hair requires two boxes). Mix the products and be ready to use them immediately. If it’s your first time, do a small skin sensitivity test on the back of your neck 24 hours prior to dyeing. The L’Oreal hair dye is applied to dry unwashed hair – read the instructions on yours carefully, some of them are for use on wet hair. Make sure you have an old top on or an old towel wrapped around you. You WILL get product on yourself.
I divide my hair in half down the middle, then each half I divide again from the center part down to each ear so I have 4 quadrants. I clip each one separately away and then undo one and start (usually from the back) applying a little product and working it through with a comb until all my hair is covered. I then take a plastic carrier bag and wrap it around my hair and put a hat on top! This keeps my head warm while I sit and wait for it to develop (a little heat helps this process) and also stops me from transferring it to my whole home by leaning my head on anything! I then immediately clean up my hairline with cotton and soap and water to get any residue off my skin (don’t forget your ears!). I also clean up the tools and my bathroom immediately so no product has time to develop and dye anything!
4. Finish
After the development time is up I wash it out, and I do use shampoo for this first wash even though I’ve read you’re not supposed to. I feel it takes any residue off my scalp and gives an immediate natural look. I never leave the color on for longer than the developing time as it really is pointless. It’s a chemical reaction that takes a certain amount of time to complete and then it develops/reacts no further. After washing I use the little conditioner pack it comes with and then rinse, towel dry, blow dry, et voila! Hair dye job done, for 28 aed in the comfort of my own home. Love it!
Toodles for now!
Dal xx
After the development time is up I wash it out, and I do use shampoo for this first wash even though I’ve read you’re not supposed to. I feel it takes any residue off my scalp and gives an immediate natural look. I never leave the color on for longer than the developing time as it really is pointless. It’s a chemical reaction that takes a certain amount of time to complete and then it develops/reacts no further. After washing I use the little conditioner pack it comes with and then rinse, towel dry, blow dry, et voila! Hair dye job done, for 28 aed in the comfort of my own home. Love it!
Toodles for now!
Dal xx
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