Want to cover grey, enhance your natural colour or create a new look? Here’s how to pull off the perfect dye job at home.
Decide on your colour. If it’s the first time you’re dyeing your hair be conservative. Opt for a colour no more than two shades darker or lighter than your natural colour. Keep within the same basic shade.
STEP 1 Read the instructions carefully and perform a skin test by applying a little of the dye mixture on the inside of your arm. Give it a few hours to see if your skin reacts. If it does, don’t continue. If not, you’re good to go.
STEP 2 Get the mixture ready. This will also be explained to you step by step on the product instructions.
STEP 3 Comb your hair well before applying the dye. If you have knots the dye might not be distributed evenly.
STEP 4 Start applying the dye at your roots by dividing the hair into small sections. Make sure to rub the dye into the hair. If this is your first time carry on applying dye to the rest of your hair. If you’ve dyed your hair before apply product only to the roots. Your hair will become brittle if you recolour your whole head frequently. Apply dye to the rest of your hair 10 minutes before the processing time is up. Processing time will be stated in the hair-dye kit instructions.
STEP 5 Use wipes to remove any dye that might have seeped onto your skin. A good rub usually does the trick.
STEP 6 Wash the colour out with cool to lukewarm water until the water runs completely clear.
STEP 7 Condition your hair with the after-dye conditioner that comes with the kit.
STEP 8 Let your hair dry naturally. Heat-styling might damage it.
Don’t wash your hair on the day you plan to colour it. Dye your hair a day or two after you’ve washed it – the dye will be more effective.
Apply a deep-conditioning treatment a week before colouring hair. The nourishment will be good preparation for the chemicals in the hair dye which can have a drying effect.
Don’t recolour your hair for at least two weeks after dyeing it even if you’re not happy with the outcome. It will be damaging and leave your hair brittle.
Invest in a colour-saver shampoo and conditioner. They’re gentle on your hair, which is what you need to make colour last longer.