Many people dye their hair at home using box dye when they don’t need an elaborate colour job and just want to get an even hair colour. Not going to a hairdresser can save you money, but you should be aware of the most common DIY hair colour mistakes to avoid them. Here are six mistakes a lot of people make when dyeing their hair at home.
Dyeing your hair at home might seem like a very easy thing to do. All you need is buy a box of dye and apply it to your hair. However, you can easily make a mistake at the very first step (buying the dye). Therefore, the first thing you actually need to do if you’re going to dye your hair yourself is learn about the mistakes you should avoid.
Mistake #1. Choosing the wrong colour.
In most cases, the hair colour you see on the dye box isn’t even the real colour of a model’s hair; it is the result of computer manipulation. Box dyes that are on the cheap side often have the exact same photo with different hair colours. So there is absolutely no guarantee that your hair will look just the same after you dye it.
However, even if the model’s hair colour is real, there is no such guarantee either way. The result of dyeing your hair depends on a number of factors, such as the type, structure, condition and natural colour of your hair. For example, thin, porous and fair hair absorbs pigments better than coarse and dark hair, which results in a brighter and more saturated colour.
How to avoid this mistake? The best way to go is to dye a small section of your hair near the neck in order to see whether you like the result. However, we understand if you have no desire to buy a whole box of dye that you might end up not using. In this case, the least you can do is have a look at the table on the back of the box that shows the result of dyeing depending on the original hair colour.
Mistake #2. Not protecting your skin from the dye.
Hair dyes not only dye the hair, they also stain the skin, and the pigment can be very hard to get rid of. To protect your skin from staining, you should apply some petroleum jelly or greasy cream along your hairline, as well as put on a pair of disposable gloves when dyeing your hair. Most permanent hair dyes come with gloves, but semi-permanent hair dyes might not include them, so it’s a good idea to keep a pair at home just in case.
Mistake #3. Using hair conditioner before colouring your hair.
As a rule, permanent hair dyes should be applied to dry, unwashed hair, whereas henna and other plant-based dyes should be applied to clean, damp hair. In neither case should you apply hair conditioner before dyeing your hair because it will prevent the pigment from penetrating into the hair shafts, which can result in an uneven colour.
Mistake #4. Not applying the dye right away.
It is important that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions when dyeing your hair at home, otherwise the result may be unpredictable. Most permanent hair dyes are supposed to be applied right after mixing. Plant-based hair dyes, such as henna, are the only exception. You can leave them for an hour or two after mixing the dye with hot water to get a brighter, richer colour; just don’t forget to warm the mixture up a little before applying it to your hair.
Mistake #5. Letting the dye sit for too long.
One might think that the longer the exposure time, the brighter or darker the colour. This might be true for henna and other herbal hair dyes, but permanent hair dyes don’t work this way. The usual exposure time is 30–40 minutes, and leaving the dye for a longer period of time won’t do anything because the development process is over when it’s supposed to be over. Moreover, the longer you leave permanent dye on your hair, the higher the probability that its structure will get damaged.
Mistake #6. Colouring your strands unevenly.
Unless you have a very short haircut, it is very hard to dye your hair at home by yourself. If you have long hair, you’d better ask someone for help if you don’t want to end up with unevenly coloured strands or with roots or ends that are dyed too dark. Keep in mind that you should dye the strands in a certain order: start at the back of the head, then dye the strands at the temples, and finish with the strands at the crown of your head. Apply the dye to the roots first and then spread it along the entire length of your hair.
Knowing the basic rules and nuances of using permanent and natural hair dyes will help you to get an excellent result even when colouring your hair at home. Of course, it is important that you choose the right dye, which will give your hair the right colour, cover grey hair, and leave the structure of your hair undamaged.
In our online shop Organic Store, you will find a great selection of plant-based and ammonia-free permanent hair dyes in a variety of colours that can be used both at home and at beauty salons. They are effective, safe and affordable. At Organic Store, we offer reasonable prices, secure and convenient payment methods, and international delivery to ensure that your shopping experience is as pleasant as possible.
