Home hair coloring can be a great way to save some money on your beauty budget, but it’s not for everyone. I am not a professional, just a lover of long hair, who has been coloring her own for about seven years now. The following 9 tips for successful home hair coloring, are a combination of my personal online research and real life experiments on my own hair. If you decide to try and save some money by coloring your own hair, I encourage you to do your own research and proceed with care.
Tip #1
Want to go more than two shades lighter or darker? Leave it to the professionals.
And the same goes for hair that has already been chemically processed in other ways too (think permed or chemically straightened).
Tip #2
Choose the type of color you are going to use wisely.
I started off using a semi-permanent color. But then, I had to move up the scale to permanent color, as the color resistant gray hair began to sprout. Not sure what the difference is? This guide does a wonderful job of explaining your hair coloring options. And remember, permanent hair color really is permanent.
Tip #3
If you’re a home hair coloring newbie, I’d stick with the drugstore box kits for now.
Since everything is pre-measured, there is less chance for a mistake. There are many box kits that are quite good. I have used (affiliate link) Garnier Herbashine Haircolor, 565 Medium Auburn Brown for semi-permanent and (affiliate link) L’Oreal Paris Superior Preference, 6.5G Lightest Golden Brown for permanent color.
Tip #4
Don’t wash your hair for 24 hours or more before coloring it.
The natural oils on your scalp help to protect your scalp from chemical irritation.
Tip #5
Don’t color over top of hair loaded with product.
A little bit is OK, but if your hair is coated, shampoo it out and wait another 24 hours.
Tip #6
Closely follow the mixing and application directions included in your package. They are there for a reason.
Tip #7
Always have extra hair dye on hand, just in case.
The last thing you want to do is run out in the middle of the job. Spills happen. Don’t be caught unprepared.
Tip #8
If you decide to venture into the world of professional products and start mixing your own color(s), get some advice first!
I got super lucky when I dove into professional color. I laid my products up onto counter ready to check out. The clerk at the Beauty Supply Store (who happened to be a Licensed Cosmetologist) started asking questions. She figured out what I wanted and help me choose the right products to achieve the desired results. Basically, she saved me from looking like Elvira with a red tint!
Thanks to that sweet Cosmetologist/Clerk, I get lots of compliments on my hair color.
I have been using the following products faithfully for several years:
2 ounces of this (affiliate link) Clairol Professional Liquicolor Lightest Neutral Brown 5N/85N
Mixed with
1 ounce of this (affiliate link) Miss Clairol #56R Cinnamon 2oz
Mixed with
3 ounces of this (affiliate link) Salon Care 20 Volume Creme Developer 32 oz
Processed for 45 minutes under a plastic cap.
Tip #9
With the exception of a temporary hair dye, I highly recommend you heavily oil your hair with coconut oil before coloring.
It’s best to allow it to penetrate for an hour. Sometimes, I apply the coconut oil and go to bed. Then simply apply a little more before coloring, because it really soaks in overnight.
Not only does coconut oil make the hair easier to section off, I believe it helps reduce some of the damage hair coloring causes. I got the idea here. I firmly believe coconut oil is the only reason I have been able to color my hair and grow long hair too.
In case you’re wondering, no, the coconut oil doesn’t affect processing time or the final color.
An added bonus for me: I have psoriasis and the coconut oil has meant no more itchy, burning scalp or irritation before or after coloring. I used Natures Way Coconut Oil when I colored my hair on Tuesday.
But that was before I found the best Coconut Oil Ever!
Busy Mama Clean Up Tip
It’s not a home hair coloring tip per say, so I left this one off the list. This is more of a cleaning tip.
If you want clean the hair coloring out of a plastic applicator bottle (so you can use it again later) try this: 1 teaspoon of Borax and two drops of dishwashing liquid. It works like a charm!
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