Coloring Hair At Home

The principal use of hair dying is to cover gray hair but nowadays many women and men color their hair to alter their natural hair color, to create decorative effect and create highlights. Coloring the hair is probably the quickest way to change your look and enhance your style. Some women choose to change their color entirely (from blond to brown) while others take a two-tone approach. Nowadays many women and men prefer to color their hair at home and of course there is nothing wrong in doing so but before you dye for the first time you should be well-prepared and educated in order to avoid damaging.

Sometimes hair coloring can seriously damage your hair. Anytime chemicals are misused the chance of breakage and damage is almost 100 percent sure. The chemicals that the hair dye contains make changes in the texture and structure of the hair and if misused the hair coloring can make it drier, lifeless and brittle.

Bleaching the hair for instance can be very damaging, especially if the bleaching agent is very stronger (hydrogen peroxide, ammonia), since bleaching strips away the natural pigments and oils. Bleaching hair always reduces hair’s elasticity, leaving it prone to looking dry, lifeless and frazzled.

There are different types of hair dyes:

Permanent hair color – must be always mixed with hydrogen peroxide, ammonia. There ingredients open the hair cuticles and this way penetrates the hair shaft and lightens the natural color of the hair. It breaks down the hair cuticles and deposit pigment into the hair shaft. It may cause damage and dryness to the hair, since it penetrates deeply into the hair shaft. Permanent one will last until the next time you dye.
Semi-permanent hair colors – contain low percentage of hydrogen peroxide. Usually last up to 20/30 days. Covers only the surface of the hair shaft and doesn’t lighten the hair. It simply enriches the natural hue of the hair. The semi-permanent dye is great for those who want to experiment with different colors. It can only darken the hair.
Natural dyes:
Henna – henna adds color to the hair with a gentle and natural approach. Henna doesn’t alter the structure of the hair but it does condition and nourish the hair, as it doesn’t contain synthetic chemicals. It works great to color red or reddish brown hair.

Other alternatives:

Color enhancing shampoos – they contain certain colors, give highlights and impart tones to the hair. These shampoos don’t contain peroxide, ammonia or bleaching agent that can damage the hair. They should be used once or twice a week in order to deposit color into the hair. They are a great choice to keep hair color vibrant and to make color last longer.

Hair color sprays – they can be used to temporarily highlight a few strands, do a “chunking ” effect, touch up re-growth, cover gray, spray the tips of spiked hair or radically become a complete blonde.

HOW TO COLOR AT HOME:

You will need:

A hair dying kit
A bowl
Brush
Wide-toothed comb
An old towel
Latex gloves
Vaseline, almond oil or petroleum jelly

Step One. Wash

If you use a semi-permanent color, wash before coloring. Shampoo as usual but this time you shouldn’t apply a conditioner. Use a mild shampoo appropriate for your type and rinse the shampoo thoroughly. Towel dry as usual and blow-dry.

If you use a permanent color don’t wash.

Step Two. Protect yourself from staining

Comb with a wide-toothed comb and separate into 6/ 8 sections. Secure each section with a clip. To prevent staining your skin, apply Vaseline, almond oil, petroleum jelly or any oily cream to your forehead, around the hair line and ears. Use the gloves included in the kit to protect your hands. Use an old towel and wrap it around your neck to protect your clothes and skin. Make sure you wear old clothes as you may easily stain them.

Step Three. Mix the ingredients

Mix the ingredient (usually the coloring liquid and the bleaching cream) according to the direction written on the box. Put them into a bowl and mix well with the help of a color brush. The brush should be flat and with rat-tail comb ending.

Step Four. Start coloring

Start from the roots out, making sure it is evenly saturated. Use a brush to paint on the solution and apply it evenly. Take a comb to spread the dye. Continue applying until you have applied the mixture to the entire hair. Don’t forget to apply to the ends especially if you are coloring in lighter shade. If you are going darker work from the back to the front of your head and vice versa if you are going lighter. If it is very long you may have to use two hair dyes kits.

Step Five. Rinse

Use a timer to keep track of the time. Wait for approximately 20-30 minutes and then gently rinse thoroughly. One big mistake that many women do is that they shampoo their hair straight after dyeing their hair. Don’t do it – just make sure you have removed all the dye / the water must run clear/. Don’t forget to use the conditioner included in the kit – it is specially designed to deep-condition and nourish the hair after coloring. Apply it evenly and leave it on for 5 minutes (as the instruction tells you), then rinse with cold water to “close” the cuticles. Don’t use hot water to wash because the cuticles will open and allow the color to escape and fade quickly.

Things to remember:

it’s much easier to go darker than it is to go lighter.
frequent hair coloring may lead to hair loss, burning of the scalp, dandruff, itchy scalp.
the further you stray from your natural color, the more damaged will be.
always apply mixture to dry hair, beginning at the roots.
bleaching can seriously damage since it strips away the natural pigments.
the most important factors when choosing a hair color are your natural hair color and your skin tone.
chemically treated hair tends to be drier and more fragile than non-chemically treated hair.
always try the color on a small, hidden section to see the real color.
the hair dyes contain harsh chemicals that can be abrasive to both hair shaft and scalp.

Useful Tips:

color should always complement your skin tine.
Always check the color on the box and follow the instructions written on the box.
Always wear gloves when coloring – they are usually included in the kit.
Always rinse thoroughly until the water runs clear.
Don’t shampoo before coloring if your will use a permanent dye.
Use a color-safe shampoo and conditioner with UV filters.
Wash if you will use a semi-permanent dye.
Never try to correct mistakes at home by using another color on top.
Always use hair care products designed for color-treated hair – these products are designed to work on the weakened fibres, leaving them smooth, supple and nourished.
You can seriously damage if you use the wrong level of hydrogen peroxide.
Do a deep-conditioning treatment a week before dying to maintain the color.
Use a quality color protective product to maintain dryness, keep the color true and prevent damage.
Consult a colorist or hairdresser on what colors would look best on you.
When coloring at home look for hair dyeing kits with the fewest number of chemicals.
Always do a patch test before coloring to check for any allergic contents.
Always wrap a towel around your neck to protect your skin and clothes from staining.
Never use hair dye on your lashes or eyebrows – it can seriously irritate the skin and the eyes, causing an infection, burning, itchiness and even scarring.
Don’t bleach yourself at home – go to a decant colorist to do it properly at least the first time.
Be aware of what color do and do not look good on you, blonde isn’t for everyone.
There are different types of hair dyes – some are semi-permanent, others are permanent, there are coloring shampoos, coloring sprays, progressive hair dyes, henna.
Never leave the dye on longer than the directions say you should, it can seriously damage.
If you don’t get the desired result don’t color at the same day, wait at least 2/ 3 weeks and then re-color it.
Never go more than two shades darker or lighter.
After coloring use a concentrated protein conditioner.
Make sure you use specifically formulated hair products to compensate for the damage that coloring can cause.
Limit shampooing to three/two times a week.
Always use the conditioner enclosed in the dye kit.
Red is the most difficult color to maintain as it tends to fade quickly.