DIY Beauty-Home Hair Coloring Process and Tips

I'm a big fan of at home hair coloring, when done correctly that is! There are many things to consider before embarking on the sometimes tragic task of coloring yourself. First ask yourself if you're truly comfortable coloring your own hair, if you're at all unsure, chances are you should probably go see the professionals ;)

Still interested? Okay, lets do this!

Choosing your at home color can be a daunting experience, you take a trip to the local Walmart, Shoppers Drug Mart or what have you (Canadian here :p) and you face the aisle of Loreal, Clairol, Garnier and Revlon's color bombardment. What color brand should you choose? Well that's not an easy answer, many things contribute to your experience with any given color. Hair texture, hue preference, virgin vs. previously colored hair, your natural undertones all come into play when deciding which to choose. I'm going to do my best to research and try different brands in upcoming blogs to really outline the pros and cons of each brand (stay tuned for that!), however until then I'll outline the process, provide tips and assume you already have a favorite brand.

What you need:

Tinting/Dye Bowl (unless you like the bottle in the box)
Gloves (provided with dye)
Tint/Dye Brush
Towel or Professional Styling Cape (can be purchased at local beauty supply stores)
Vaseline (apply around entire hairline to protect skin from dye)
Preferred Home Hair Color

Now decide if you can get away with a simple root touch up, as this is the least harmful to your hair.

Root Touch Up:
Color match the best you can, if you have a hard time picking out a color that best matches yourself, bring someone with you who can visually compare the box to your hair for you, or ask the stores cosmetician to give you a hand with that.
Mix up your dye following the directions provided, and get started.
Start with the most visible part in your hair and brush the dye over your roots (be generous and don't forget your front hairline)
Then separate your hair with the end of the brush, lifting upward to expose the roots underneath your hair in approx. 1/2 inch sections and apply dye to exposed roots.
Continue this process till all of the grown in roots are covered (save remaining dye)
Allow to process till 5 minutes before you need to wash the color out and take remaining dye and apply to remaining hair (this ensures a more even color and will refresh the old color)
Finish the processing time, rinse and allow the provided conditioner to soak into your hair for a few minutes before washing it out.
All done! Hope you love the color!!

If you're trying to lighten your hair color from your current color, only use a home coloring kit if you're going a shade or two lighter. Otherwise seek out a professional as home blonde colors are hard to perfect and color correction in a salon can be an expensive trip! Better to pay before, than after the damage has been done.

All Over Color:
So this is pretty straight forward, follow instructions on the kit, however I have some tips for achieving a better all over color.

Tips:
If your hair is shoulder length or longer, grab a second kit (better to be safe than sorry ;) )
Apply color to roots first, approx. an inch from the scalp or however much re-growth you have (your roots are going to dye slower, they need to be dyed first)
When finished, apply color to the ends
If using a brush, be sure to apply plenty of dye and work it in with your hands to ensure maximum even coverage.
Now this one is important:
We all like to pile our hair on the top of our head while we wait for the dye to process, don't we? DO NOT pile your hair on the top of your head, instead allow it to hang freely (make use of that towel or cape), this is important because the hair dye requires oxygen to process properly, so as you can imagine the pile of dyed hair on the top of your head will not get the required oxygen (at least some parts of it anyway) which will result in an uneven color.

So with all of that being said, I hope it all worked out well for you and you love your color!
Please also use the professional products that you can buy from a beauty supply store with caution, there are mixing measurements that MUST be followed closely. Again if you are unsure or uncomfortable, consult the professionals ;)

Happy Hair Dyeing Ladies ;) xo