At-Home COLORING 101

Before I lay down the law on coloring your hair at home, let me first state that this is not an easy task if you have never done this before. If you are unsure about the results or chemical effects of color on your hair, then go to a professional! Now let's begin...

I love dyeing my hair (and weaves!) different colors, because it makes me feel like a new person and my dark brown hair can be really boring sometimes. So it is only right that I share the tips I've learned for at-home coloring.

You'll need (After you buy the Dye):

1. A Glass or Plastic bowl for mixing the color 

2. A Small coloring brush or a color kit that has a brush and other items from this list

3. Plastic Gloves to protect your hands (I like to use colored ones so I can see if a hole appears, which I would immediately change.)

4. A rat-tail comb to part and separate hair while coloring (Clips to hold hair in sections is optional)

5. An alarm clock (or use your good ol' cellphone) to watch how long the color dye is on your hair

6. Old (but clean) towels to use after you wash the dye out your hair. Dye may stain the towel.

7. An old T-shirt or old button-down shirt that can easily be pulled  over your head or taken off if you need to hop in the shower. Also to keep dye from messing up good clothes.

If you are dying your weave:

1-7 Above

8. Trash bag to lay out on area that you will dye the hair. Be sure it is big enough to surround the hair because the last thing you want is to accidentally dye your floor, kitchen table, or patio.

9. Foil (This is optional but some people use foil to help the dye process faster.)

10. Surgical mask is an optional tool to avoid inhaling the ammonia, also be sure to dye hair in well ventilated areas with a window open.

Note: All the non-clothing items can be found at Sally's or beauty supply stores. 

Here are 2 EXAMPLE videos of coloring your hair by yourself:

(Start at 1:30 to begin dye process)

(Weaves)

Laws of Coloring (by Beyond Your Beauty)

1. Choose the color that is right for your budget, and skin tone. Not everyone can rock blonde, red, or blue. Maybe you're a brown, auburn, or purple. The best way to know how close your hair will come to the color displayed on the box/jar is by seeing the picture chart on the back that shows the "natural" state of the hair, and the after state once color is applied. If you are still lost, please get a hair stylist involved. Dyeing hair is serious business and the wrong color, or bleach, can mess your hair up, or even worse, leave you bald.
Tip: Cream dyes are better than liquid dyes and the PH acid level isn't as high as liquid.

2.  Base your hairline circumference with vaseline to prevent the color from staining your forehead, ears, and neck. If you do happen to get color on any area besides your hair, remove it with an alcohol-based toner/astringent such as Clean Touch Color Remover.

3. Test the hair dye on an inch wide section of you hair in the back (or where it can't be seen in case it's disastrous). Follow all directions on the color box/jar (or in the above videos) to make sure the color processes correctly. True color is seen when the hair is dry so don't be discouraged if the color doesn't look as light or colorful after you rinse it out. Although not advised, you can re-dye your hair, but I would wait 24-48 hours to see if the color grows on you before you try another attempt.

4. Now that you have tested your hair, it's time to color. Be sure your hair is DRY and not freshly washed. The dirt and oil from your hair will protect the scalp by clogging your pores so the dye doesn't sink into your bloodstream. This is not necessary for weaves that are being dyed uninstalled.  Put on your old shirt (as stated above) and place an old towel around your neck to catch any dye that accidentally falls. If you are dying your WEAVE then disregard the towel part, but you want to put on an old shirt so the dye doesn't accidentally stain your clothes while you apply the color. Mix the formula by following the specified directions, and apply it to your hair in sections starting from the top, sides, then back. The last thing you want is for your dye to run out and the top or sides are not done O_O!! Avoid the scalp!

5. Use a timer to track how long you have had the dye in your hair. When color is achieved rinse the hair dye out thoroughly with lukewarm water, ---> (NO! KEEPING DYE IN YOUR HAIR DOESN'T MAKE THE COLOR LAST LONGER OR KEEP THE COLOR FROM FADING.)<--- and proceed with a conditioner to bring moisture back to your hair. Rinse again with very cool water. Spray hair with a leave-in conditioner and let air dry, then style as normal. If you use a blow dryer, be sure to spray hair with a heat protectant.

Tips: If you believe your color did not turn out well then it may be due to the minerals in your household water. Use a detoxifying shampoo a couple days prior to dyeing your hair to achieve better color results. Never dye your eyebrows or eyelashes, because if it gets into your eyes it can damage eyesight. Avoid Chlorine, excessive sunlight, and over-shampooing your hair because this fades the color must faster. Never dye hair with contact lenses on, because the ammonia can irritate your eyes.

Thats all folks! Happy Coloring!