Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Dying Your Hair At Home

Having your hair coloured at the hairdressers can be very expensive, so it's no surprise that many women prefer to do it at home for the cost of just a few pounds.
Whether you're covering up those greys, bringing out the beauty of your natural shade or trying out a whole new look, a home hair dying session is all you need. Don't worry about it going wrong, it's actually very easy. Simply follow these simple instructions and you'll be fine!

Before you dye your hair

Check the instructions for your particular hair dye. Usually they are meant to be applied directly to dry, unwashed hair as the natural oils in your hair help the colour to set. So if you know you're planning on dying your hair, make sure you don't wash it for a day or two beforehand.
To avoid the colorant from staining your skin, apply a little Vaseline or moisturiser around your hairline, neck and ears.
Your instructions will explain how to carry out an allergy test. Don't be tempted to skip this as if you do have an allergic reaction it's definitely better to find out before you put the product all over your head!
Take a look at the box to see whether the shade you want is recommended for your hair colour and see what type of colour change you can expect. It's a good idea to start out with a semi-permanent colour to see if you like it. This is also better for your hair and also stops you getting visible roots.
Hair that's in good condition will take colour on better. If your tresses are in need of a bit of TLC it's worth doing a few conditioning treatments or going for a trim first to get it up to scratch.

Applying your hair dye

To avoid getting patchy coverage, part your hair into sections with clips so that you can focus your attention easily on every part. Drape an old towel around your shoulders in case the dye drips. It can be a good idea to put an old towel on the floor as well – especially if your bathroom has a carpet.
Once you've mixed your hair colorant according to the instructions, put on the gloves supplied and apply the colour to each section of your hair until it's all covered. If you're not sure, just ask a friend to help you. If you're just touching up your roots, focus your attention on this area and then run the dye through the rest of your hair closer to the end of the development time.
Remember, you can't save any of the hair dye to use another time, so you may as well use it up to make sure you get even coverage.
Leave the dye to develop as per your instructions. You can tie your hair up into a rough bun to get it out of the way and keep your towel around your shoulders during this time.
Then wash your dye our thoroughly in the sink or shower. Squeeze out as much excess water as you can, then apply your conditioning treatment, which usually comes with your hair dye. Leave this on for as long as possible for a super-shiny finish before rinsing out.

Keeping your hair looking good

If you've got any of your conditioning treatment left, continue to use this every time you wash your hair, leaving it on for a good few minutes to get the maximum effect. It's best if you use a shampoo for coloured hair as well to prolong the life of your colour, and the matching conditioner once your initial product runs out.
Using a semi-permanent hair colour regularly will keep your hair looking nice and shiny, but permanent colour, or dying your hair lighter can be drying, so make sure you use regular conditioning treatments (try a hair mask or a hot oil treatment). Try not to exacerbate any dryness by using heat protection sprays before drying or straightening your hair.

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