Regardless of your reasons for dyeing your hair, whether it's because you're taking the place of Jennifer Garner on the television series Alias , running away from the police with your slandered lover, or simply wanting to try a new color for your hair without spending a fortune, do your own hair coloring at home can help you save money and time. However, you need to know in advance how to choose the right coloring product, prepare your hair and face for the coloring process, do a strand test, dye your hair, rinse it, and recolor your roots once your hair starts growing back.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Getting Ready
Step 1. Wash your hair 24 to 48 hours before dyeing your hair
Washing your hair allows the natural oils to come out of your hair so that the dye that is used later can be more easily absorbed by the hair. The dye will blend more naturally into your hair, so the color will last longer.
- If possible, avoid using conditioner when you wash your hair the day before you dye it. Conditioner can strip your hair of natural oils that are needed so that the dye can be absorbed more easily.
- If your hair is very dry, apply conditioner to your hair with warm water every night for (at least) five minutes. Do this for a week before you color your hair. After that, do not do the treatment with conditioner one day before you color your hair. This treatment is done to keep your hair from drying out after you dye it.
Step 2. Choose a color that you really like
The number of color choices that you can choose from can make you confused. If you're dyeing your hair for the first time, it's a good idea to stick to a hair color that's no lighter or two shades darker than your natural hair color.
- If it's your first time coloring your hair, you can try coloring your hair with a temporary or semi-permanent hair dye. By using this type of hair dye, you don't have to worry if you make a mistake because the hair dye will not last long. Keep in mind that if you have damp hair, use a semi-permanent hair dye.
- The color produced by temporary hair dye usually begins to fade after 6 to 12 hair washes. Meanwhile, for semi-permanent hair dye, the color starts to fade after 20 to 26 washes. In general, the color produced by permanent hair dye can last up to 6 to 8 weeks, but sometimes the color can last even longer.
Step 3. Protect objects around you and yourself from paint stains
You do want to dye your hair, but of course you don't want to have paint splattered on your favorite rugs and t-shirts, do you? Cover any surfaces or items around you that may be stained with paint and cover your floor with newspaper. Have a paper towel nearby to clean up spilled paint. Wear old T-shirts that you don't like anymore, especially old ones that are ready to be thrown away. Keep in mind that when dyeing your hair, the dye will easily stain whatever t-shirt you're wearing.
Step 4. Place a towel over your shoulders or put on a salon hood
During the dyeing process, a salon towel or hood will protect you from spills or drops of hair dye. You can buy a salon hood at salon supply stores or beauty stores. If you're using a towel, use a dark colored towel so the paint stains won't be as obvious. Lock both ends of the towel in front of your neck using small pins or clips.
Step 5. Comb your hair well
Make sure there are no tangles of hair. With neat hair, the coloring process can be done more easily. In addition, this is also done to ensure that the painting is done evenly.
Step 6. Apply the cream to your hairline, ears and neck before coloring your hair
You can use a lotion such as vaseline, lip balm or conditioner that usually comes in the hair dye package (if available). This step is optional, but applying cream to these areas will make it easier to remove the hair dye stains that have stuck to your skin.
Step 7. Put on gloves
Usually, the hair dye package includes gloves, but if you don't have one, you can use regular rubber gloves, vinyl gloves or latex gloves. Keep in mind that it is important that you wear gloves when coloring your hair. Otherwise, your hands will get dirty from the hair dye used.
Step 8. Use the applicator bottle or bowl to mix the paint
Follow the instructions for use listed on the product box. Almost all hair dye products provide an applicator bottle to mix the paint in the packaging box. Follow the instructions for mixing the ingredients (paint and developer liquid) in the bottle provided, then shake the mixture until all the ingredients are well mixed. If the package doesn't have an applicator bottle, you can purchase or use a small bowl to mix the paint and developer liquid.
If the product package doesn't include a brush, you can buy your own at a beauty supply store or wear gloves to dye your hair directly with your fingers
Step 9. Mix the paint with the developer liquid
This mixing is only carried out for a few paint products which, on the packaging, have instructions on the use of developing liquid. Usually the developer liquid is already provided in the product packaging. If not, you can buy developer liquid yourself at drug or beauty supply stores.
If you have to buy developer liquid yourself, buy developer product at 20% intensity
Part 2 of 3: Dyeing Hair
Step 1. Use a comb to divide your hair into four sections
To hold the sections together so that your hair doesn't fall apart, use large hair clips (salon clips) that you can buy at beauty supply stores. Splitting your hair into four sections can help you ensure that all sections of your hair are evenly colored.
Step 2. Start coloring each section of hair
Redivide sections of your hair into smaller sections (about 1/4 or 1/2 of the section) to make the coloring process easier. Use an applicator bottle or a comb brush to apply the dye to your hair. Put on gloves and run the dye through your hair with your fingers..
- If it's your first time coloring your hair, color your hair about 2.5 centimeters from the base of your hair.
- For repainting (recoloring), color your hair about 1.2 centimeters from the base.
- Spread the dye all over your hair so that you don't just color the top of your hair.
Step 3. Set a timer to determine how long you should leave the dye on your hair
Regarding the time it takes for the dye to soak into the hair, follow the instructions for use listed on the packaging box. Don't rinse the paint off before the minimum amount of time needed, and don't let the paint sit longer than it should. Make sure you follow the instructions for use carefully. If you have a lot of gray hair, it's a good idea to let the paint sit for the maximum amount of time stated in the instructions for use.
Don't let the paint dry overnight. If the paint is left to dry overnight, your hair will dry out. In addition, you can also experience severe skin irritation
Part 3 of 3: Rinsing Hair
Step 1. Wipe off the paint stains on your neck and forehead with a paper towel or damp cloth
Don't wash off the paint on your hair just yet. If you want, you can also put on a shower cap to prevent the paint from sticking to your hair from getting on your neck or other parts of your body.
After you put on the shower cap, you can wrap a towel around your head to keep the heat in the shower cap, so that the color absorption process is completed faster
Step 2. Wait for the coloring process to finish before you rinse your hair
Once the coloring process is complete, you can rinse your hair in the shower or under the tap. Use warm water to remove the paint that is stuck to your hair. Rinse thoroughly until the rinse water is no longer colored.
Don't be surprised if you notice any color smudging when you rinse your hair. This is natural and does not necessarily mean that the coloring process has failed. Keep in mind that the products you use are temporary, however, and the color that sticks to your hair will fade each time you wash your hair, until eventually all of your hair color is gone and your hair is back to its natural color
Step 3. Wash and condition your hair
Wait (at least) an hour before you wash your hair. By waiting, the dye can penetrate more thoroughly into each strand of hair. After you wash your hair, use the conditioner provided on the product packaging. Apply the conditioner evenly throughout your hair.
Most hair dye products include conditioner in the product packaging, but if the product you're using doesn't contain conditioner, you can use whatever conditioner you have in your home
Step 4. Dry your hair and style as usual
You can dry using a hairdryer or let it dry naturally. Once your hair is dry, you can style it as usual to show off your new hair color. If you are not satisfied with the results, you can see your hair stylist to determine a more appropriate color. If you want to recolor, it's a good idea to wait (at least) two weeks before recoloring.
Tips
- If you are using permanent hair dye to color your hair for a special event or holiday, and you want your hair to look natural and healthy, color it one week in advance. This is done so that your hair and scalp can go through the post-washing/conditioning stages. Hair that was just dyed yesterday will tend to look unnatural. Meanwhile, if your hair was colored a week earlier, your hair will not look like it was just dyed, giving the impression of a more natural hair color.
- Buy hair care products specifically for colored hair. These products contain less harsh detergents and can help maintain your hair color.
- When washing your hair, do not use warm water because your hair color will fade faster.
Warning
- Some hair dye products contain a chemical called paraphenylenediamine. This substance can cause allergic reactions in some people. If the hair dye you use contains this substance, it's a good idea to do an allergy test on a small area of your skin before you color it. Apply a small amount of paint to the skin in the test area (usually behind the ear or in the crease of the arm) and leave it on for 20 minutes. Then, clean the area and wait for 24 hours to see if any allergic reaction occurs.
- If you feel an itchy or stinging sensation when applying hair dye, make sure you clean your skin and hair from the dye immediately.
- Never try to color your eyebrows or eyelashes. This can cause serious eye injury or even blindness.
