I noticed recently that my hair is a mess. Since I’ve given up salon visits, I’ve just been getting my hair trimmed very cheaply. For some reason, I’ve ended up ignoring it as if it’s not as important now that I don’t actually go to the salon to get it fixed.
Coloring your hair at home is not nearly as difficult as it may seem. I’ve done it for the low low price of $4 before and it not only saved me a truckload of money, it took less than an hour. That was one of the things I hated the most about visits to the hair salon. It would literally end up being a large part of the day.
Here are some tips for trying it out yourself. Trust me, there are a lot of horror stories out there about at home hair coloring projects. Unless you do it intentionally, your hair is not likely to end up green.
1. Don’t choose a hair color more than 2 shades lighter or darker. If you’re naturally a dark brunette and you want to be platinum blonde, maybe save that for the professionals. This would be the only time I would think you risk ending up with an odd color. The reason for this is because you cannot control the peroxide in premixed hair color.
2. Use vaseline or cream around your hairline to protect yourself from stains. It makes it a lot easier to rub off the hair color without scraping your scalp at the same time.
3. Select the box of hair color that is a) in your price range and b) the shade you want. Honestly, I’ve tried the very cheapest brands as well as the more expensive and haven’t noticed any difference in quality. Sometimes the pricier ones smell a little better but that’s about it.
4. Go for the extra color saver conditioners. I’m not sure if it makes a difference but if you’re debating between a box that has one and a box that doesn’t, go with the one that does. The conditioners not only take away some of the home hair color odor and usually have a nice scent, but they also serve as a sealant sometimes for the hair color. I have also noticed that the conditioner really conditions quite well and leaves the hair pretty shiny, which you want when you’ve just colored your hair.
5. Do not jump in the shower to rinse your hair color out. I did this once because I thought it would be easier than trying to blindly rinse in the sink and it resulted in an auburn mess. Hair color is sometimes darker than what it shows on your head and no matter how careful I was in the shower, I had a dark red color all over the shower curtain, the walls, the tub and me. Use the kitchen sink if you can, they’re usually larger and that sprayer thing works really well.
6. Get everything ready first. Put down old towels as well as having some on hand. Wear an old tshirt and be prepared to wipe up any spills immediately to avoid stains.
7. Read and follow the directions on the box. If you’ve colored your hair before, it’s easy to think we just do what we always do, but always take a second to, at the very least, skim through the instructions and see if there is anything new. This is your hair remember, don’t mess it up because you didn’t read the directions.
8. Watch the time. Leaving hair color on too long can result in permanent damage. Alternatively, if you wash it out too soon, the color may not take and you’ve just wasted your time and money on a color that’ll wash out in 2 days. Not only that, the color won’t be as rich as you expected.
9. Keep it simple. You’re doing it at home because it’s supposed to be easier and cheaper. Save the highlights, lowlights, and chunks for the professionals and stick to a great all over color.
10. Wash your hair a couple days before coloring. If you can, use a deep conditioning treatment. This will allow the natural oils in your hair to rebuild which will help protect your scalp from the chemicals of coloring and help your color set better. Do not wash your hair right before coloring as it could end up drying it out quite a bit.
Most of all, have fun, try something new and relax. It may be easier if you pair up with a friend or family member. It not only makes it a little easier having extra hands, it can end up being a nice girl’s (or guy’s) night in.