Hair dye is translucent so it will only add a new color to the existing color. This product also does not lift the natural color of the hair. This means that if you have blonde hair, you can dye your hair any color without having to bleach it first. Despite this, red dye doesn't always make your blonde hair dark enough, especially if you have platinum blonde hair and would like to have red hair. Sometimes, the coloring process actually produces a pink color! However, with the right technique, you can get the color you want without fear of failure.
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Part 1 of 4: Choosing the Right Pattern
Step 1. Choose a color that matches your skin tone
You can dye your hair any shade of red, but there are a few tricks you can use to make your hair color look more appropriate or beautiful. In general, the darker your skin tone, the darker the shades of red you should choose.
For example, if you have very fair skin, choose a strawberry blonde or pale ginger color. If you have darker skin, a darker shade of red like auburn will work better
Step 2. Match the red tones with the skin tone
Like skin, red hair dye also has a warm or cool/cool hue. If the coloring results look unsuitable or disappointing, there's a good chance that you chose the wrong shade of red. Instead, determine your skin tone first, then choose the appropriate shade of red. As an example:
- If your skin has a cool or cool undertone, choose a red with a touch of purple or tinge. The color burgundy (burgundy) can be the right choice.
- If your skin has a warm undertone, choose a red with a yellow touch or undertone. Copper red color can be the right choice.
Step 3. Test the color on the skin first
Red hair can look "sharp" or striking on fair or fair skin, especially if you choose a dark red. Look for an object that is the same red color as the color you want to use on your hair (eg a cloth at a fabric store or a wig from a toupee shop). Wrap the cloth around your head or put on a wig, and think about whether you're happy with how the color looks.
- If the color looks too sharp, try choosing a lighter color.
- There are many wig and costume shops that allow you to try on different wigs. However, you need to buy a wig hood first. Usually, wig hoods are sold at a price of around 15-30 thousand rupiah.
- Don't worry about the wig style you're trying on. Just focus on how the wig color looks against your skin tone.
- Alternatively, you can use an image editing program like Photoshop, or try a makeover program.
Part 2 of 4: Preparing the Paint
Step 1. Buy red hair dye
You can use instant hair dye products (home use), or you can buy the paint and developer solution separately from a salon or beauty product store. If you purchased the paint and developer solution separately, you may need to purchase a bottle of special conditioner for colored hair, plastic gloves, and a plastic bowl for mixing the paint, as well as an application brush.
You don't need a high concentration of developer solution. A solution with a concentration of 10% was able to give good results
Step 2. Purchase a brown hair dye if you want to dye your pale blonde hair red
This is very important to remember. If you have platinum blonde hair, regular dye won't produce a color dark enough to cover your natural hair color. You will get pink hair! Therefore, you need to dye your hair brown first.
- Choose a medium brown paint for best results. Avoid dark brown paint as it will not produce a red tint.
- You will need to do the whole painting process twice: once for brown and once for red.
Step 3. Mix the paint with the developer solution in a 1:1 ratio
Pour 10% developer solution into a non-metallic bowl to coat the hair. Add an equal amount of paint to a bowl, then stir the two ingredients together with a non-metallic spoon until there are no remaining ingredients.
- If you need to dye your hair brown first, prepare brown paint. Do not immediately prepare red paint.
- If you purchased instant hair dye (the dye comes with the developer solution), prepare the dye according to the instructions on the package.
Step 4. Add a protein filler if you previously bleached your hair blonde
Although not required, this product can even out the color further. Fillers can also lock or maintain the color in the hair. For best results, choose a red protein-based filler and use the amount recommended on the bottle. Usually, you need to use half a bottle of the product. You can buy this product from a salon or beauty product store.
- If your natural hair color is blonde, you may not need protein fillers.
- If you dye your hair brown first, then red, you'll only need to add protein filler to the brown paint.
Step 5. Bleach your hair first if you have dark hair and want to have light hair
Blonde hair comes in a variety of colors, from very light, platinum blonde, to dark/dull blonde. The brighter the original/initial hair color, the easier it will be for you to get the color shown on the paint package. If you have dark blond to light brown hair, you will need to bleach it first. After all, hair dye is translucent so it will only add color to the existing color.
- If you have dark blonde hair and want a deep red, you don't need to bleach your hair. Dark hair dyes can cover up blonde hair.
- If you have dark blonde hair and want a lighter/pale color like strawberry blond, you will need to bleach your hair first. Otherwise, the lighter color will not appear on the hair.
- Due to the sheer thickness of blonde hair, you may not need to use a bleach concentration above 10-20%. Follow the directions on the package and don't let the bleach sit longer than recommended.
Part 3 of 4: Dyeing Hair
Step 1. Protect skin, clothing and work area
Cover the countertop or sink with newspaper or a plastic bag. It's a good idea to cover the floor too. After that, put on a salon hood or cover your shoulders with a towel. Apply Vaseline to the skin around the hairline, the back of the neck, and the tips of the ears. Finally, put on a pair of disposable plastic gloves.
Step 2. Comb the hair, then part it horizontally starting from the ear
Use your thumb or the grip of the application brush to make a horizontal line that runs across the back of your head (about ear level). Curl all the hair on the top side and pin it so it doesn't interfere. Let the hair down at the bottom.
- If you have very short hair, try tying the top part of your hair into a ponytail.
- If you have very thick hair, part it at a lower height (eg below the ears). You will need to dye your hair in smaller sections.
Step 3. Apply the paint from the ends of the hair
Take a section of hair about 2.5-5 centimeters wide on one side of your head. Apply the paint to the ends of your hair and gradually, color your hair down to the roots. Add more paint as needed to the center of the hair. Do the coloring towards the back of your hair until you reach the other side of your head.
- If you are preparing the paint in a bowl, you can apply the dye to your hair using an application brush.
- If you are using a hair dye kit/equipment, apply the dye to your hair using the application bottle. After that, smooth the paint on the hair using your fingers or a brush.
Step 4. Untwist the other section of hair that is curled or pinned, then repeat the coloring process
The thickness of each section doesn't really matter as long as you can dye each strand easily. When you reach the top of your head, make sure you apply the dye to your hair at the hairline and parting.
You can twist and pin the colored sections of your hair or let it loose. In addition, you can also feel the difference between dyed (wet) hair and undyed (dry) hair
Step 5. Allow the paint to process for the duration recommended on the package
Take all the hair and twist it into a loose bun. Cover your hair with a shower cap and wait for the amount of time indicated in the instructions on the package or the hair dye box.
- The shower cap not only protects the surrounding area from paint, but also helps the paint to process faster.
- Processing time will be different for each product brand, but usually you will need to wait 20-25 minutes.
Step 6. Rinse hair with cold water, then apply conditioner
Do not wash your hair using shampoo so that the dye does not come off again. Use the conditioner included in the hair dye package. If you don't use an instant hair dye, use a conditioner formulated for dyed hair.
- It's a good idea to put your plastic gloves back on at this step in case any leftover hair dye gets on your hands.
- Air dry your hair if possible. If you do need to use a hairdryer, use a hair protection product first.
- Wait for at least three days before shampooing. This three-day rest period allows the hair cuticle to close so that the color in the hair is maintained.
Step 7. Repeat the process with red paint if you dyed your hair brown first
After rinsing your hair with cold water and conditioner to remove any excess brown paint, dry your hair thoroughly. Repeat the painting process, but with red paint. Let the dye process, then rinse your hair with cold water and conditioner. After that, dry your hair by aerating it.
You can immediately do the next painting after dyeing your hair brown. You don't have to wait up to three days
Part 4 of 4: Maintaining Hair Color
Step 1. Use cold water when shampooing and rinsing hair
You don't need to use icy cold water, but just use the coldest water you can stand. Warm or hot water will make the paint fade faster so all your hard work will eventually wash away in the rinse water.
Step 2. Use a shampoo and conditioner specifically for dyed hair
Look for products with labels like "for dyed hair" or "for color-treated hair". If you can't find any of these products, choose a shampoo and conditioner that doesn't contain sulfates. Most shampoos and conditioners will display a special label if they don't have sulfates, but it's a good idea to check the product's ingredient list as well.
- Sulfates are harsh cleaning agents added to many shampoos, but they can lift color from hair.
- After 2-3 washes, try using a color-depositing conditioner instead of your regular conditioner. This product helps to lighten or bring out the color in the hair.
Step 3. Don't wash your hair more than 2-3 times per week
Even if you use cold water, the color will still fade every time you wash your hair. Therefore, do not wash your hair more than 2-3 times per week. Also, try using only conditioner on days you don't wash your hair.
- If your hair tends to get oily easily, try using a dry shampoo.
- The technique of washing using conditioner alone is known as co-washing.
Step 4. Limit styling using heat sources and use protective hair products if you really need to
Tools like these include hair dryers, straighteners, and curlers. As much as possible, dry your hair by aerating it and find ways to straighten or curl your hair without heat sources. Even better, learn to love the natural texture of your hair! The heat not only damages the hair, but makes the color fade faster.
If you need to use a blow dryer, straightener, or curler, apply a good quality protective product to your hair first
Step 5. Protect hair and exposure to sunlight and chlorine
Sunlight can fade hair color, especially red hair. Always wear a hat, scarf, or scarf every time you go out and do activities in the sun. More importantly, don't expose your hair to chlorine. If you want to swim, wear a swim cap to protect your hair.
- If you don't want to wear headgear, use a UV-protective spray. This product works like a sunscreen, still formulated for hair.
- Dyed hair is so easily damaged that chlorinated water can trigger further damage. In addition, chlorine can also change the color of your hair.
Tips
- Repaint every 4-8 weeks. If the hair color has started to fade before that time, it's a good idea to do glossing.
- Glossing is a great method for sharpening or re-brightening hair, but be wary of over-the-counter products. Products like this usually leave residue. Therefore, it is better if the glossing procedure is carried out by an expert.
- Try rinsing your hair with apple cider vinegar. Use 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of apple cider vinegar with 4 liters of water. The apple cider vinegar rinse water helps remove dirt and residue from hair care products, and makes hair shinier.
- Try adding blonde highlights after dyeing your hair red. This product accentuates the natural hue of the hair and makes the dyed look more natural.
- If the dye gets on your skin, you can remove it using an alcohol-based makeup remover.
