How to colour your hair at home
If your budget's a bit tight, try colouring your hair yourself - here's how.
1 Choose your colour
Don’t go more than one or two shades up or down from your natural hair colour. Anything more than this is a job for your hairdresser. Follow the colour selection guide on the box. And don’t just go by the picture of the model on the front; go by the table on the side.
2 Go slow
Choose a slightly lighter shade than you want; (you can go back for more, but once it’s too dark you’ll struggle to get the colour out). Section your hair with clips, then rub a little Vaseline along your hairline and on your ears to prevent the colour from taking on your skin.
3 Don’t fly solo
It’s best to get a friend to apply the colour for you. Wear the gloves provided and set a timer so that you know when to rinse. if the result isn’t ‘bold’ enough, buy more of the same shade, dilute with equal parts shampoo, lather, then leave on for five minutes and rinse.
4 Tint tricks
When colouring for the second time, apply to roots first – they need a longer processing time. after about 20 minutes when covering grey, or 10 minutes (if not), take the colour to the ends. Going lighter? Start at the back and move forwards. if going darker, go from front to back.
5 Damage control
If you dislike the colour and want to get it out, wash your hair twice with a clarifying shampoo. Still don’t like it? Call the professional helpline (the number should be on the box) or go to your hairdresser bearing a bottle of wine and a sorry hangdog look!
Tip
Colour stains on your skin? No one has the definitive answer, but try rubbing with one of these: lemon, nail polish remover, hairspray, vodka, milk or – yuck – the ash in the ashtray, if you must (no jokes!).
Yourcomment
Comments - 3 comments
Vicky Jones
I'm a hair stylist and will obviously always tell people it better to colour at the salon,for the obvious reason that we are professionals and understand colour undertones etc. But when clients ask me for advice about colouring at home i always tell them: 1.as a rule of thumb, colour over colour goes darker,you cannot tint your hair lighter that has colour on it already,your colour would have to be bleach bathed out and a lighter shade applied. 2. If you have your desired shade and feel like your hair is taking strain from colouring them try tinting the roots and applying a golden light blonde semi permanent or colour wash on the end,it'll give you shine and a refreshed look without the damage or going darker.ancillap
I always colour my own hair, what helps with colour on your skin are the wetwipes works like magic!!!Chantelle
What about blonde hair? Are we destined to pay the enormous amounts the hairsalons ask us for highlights?