Best Tips for Coloring Your Hair

Thousands of women color their hair at home every month. Not only is it cheaper and more convenient, but also boxed hair color has come a long way in its time. No longer is it the ‘one-color-fits-all’ approach of the past but instead a myriad of shades and tones that populate the market. Of course, with any salon service going home, there are a few tips and tricks to make your application smoother and more foolproof. Read on to our find 5 tips for coloring your hair.

Two Shades Only

When dyeing your hair, the worst mistake you can make is deciding that you will go from say, deep chestnut, to a platinum blonde. Extreme shades changes are very stressful on the hair and require several levels of lightening (sometimes over the course of several visits) and are best left to the professionals. To minimize damage and succeed in achieving the color you want, try to stay within two shades (lighter or darker) than what you are now.
Uncertain as how to gauge what are two shades? Hair color boxes are usually organized in order on the shelves, find approximately your color and choose any of the two boxes to the left or to the right.

Buy More Than You Need

The last thing you need when you’re dyeing your hair is to run out mid-application, so this is definitely a time when less is more. Even if the box’s calculations make it seem like one box will be enough for you, it’s always best to err on the side of more.
Ending up running out of color with only half your head done is a recipe for disaster, so don’t see this as losing money by buying more, but as saving money since you won’t have to run to the salon for an emergency color halfway through!

Don’t Skip The Strand Test

While the idea of a new color might be so exciting that you are tempted to jump right in, learn to resist the urge.
Consider the strand test just as important as the hair cap or the color mixing. A strand test allows you to see exactly how that box dye will react with your specific hair. While it may show a lovely burgundy on the box, your hair may have been dyed, dried out by the sun or otherwise damaged in a way that is not visible to you but will become terribly obvious when the chemicals interact.
Performing a strand test is as simple as applying the color to a few cuttings or some hidden strands of hair and seeing if the dye will produce the correct color.
It will take a little longer, but you’ll be thankful in the long run.

Get Naked

This may sound strange, but coloring your hair in the nude is often the simplest way to prevent mess, staining and mistakes.
When you’re at the salon you have the safety of robes, caps, and hair-washing stations and easy to clean surfaces all made to resist staining. Not so much when you’re home.
Dyeing your hair in the nude means you can avoid the risk of the dye dripping on your clothing or having to pull your shirt over your head when it comes time to rinse.
Don’t want to go au natural? Wear an old button down shirt specifically for dyeing your hair so that you can remove it without disturbing the dye.

Surgical Application

Like any good surgeon, it’s important to have all your tools prepped and ready before beginning a procedure.
When you’re dyeing your hair, be sure to lie out all the items you will need well before you crack the box. This will prevent you from having to scramble around the house looking for old towels, hair caps or Vaseline while dye oozes down your forehead.
Another tip from the pros? Always read the instructions on the box. Even if you think you’re an old hand at dyeing your hair, each manufacturer and shade can have slightly different suggestions and it’s best you learn them before applying the product.

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