How To Colour Your Hair At Home

Image: Shutterstock

Don’t let the pandemic ruin your hair! If you can’t get to the salon, here’s how you can colour your hair at home.   
Bored of your hair and too scared to leave the house to go to the salon? Well, don’t worry, you can purchase a hair colour kit and colour your hair at home like a pro. You need only two items to do this with ease: a box of hair dye and a hair colour brush.

Here's how to colour your hair all over (also known as a ‘global’):

Step 1: Don't wash your hair for two days before you dye it. You will need your scalp’s natural oils to act as a barrier against potential irritation. Consult a specialist if you have super sensitive skin.

Step 2: Do a strand test first. For this, you need to apply the colour to a small section of your hair. This will help you work out the timing. A point to keep in mind is that your hair texture is a factor here. The finer your hair is, the faster it will lighten – which means that you might have to keep the dye on for about five to 10 minutes less than the box suggests.

Step 3: Read, reread, and follow the box instructions religiously.

Step 4: This tip will help you get even colour every time when you're dyeing your whole head. First, you need to apply dye half an inch away from your scalp and then start working towards the ends. The heat from your head will make the colour develop faster at the root. While you are applying the dye, use a colour brush to get more professional and precise results.

If you want highlights:
Step 1: Once you've done a strand test and read the instructions (this is a must!), blow dry, style, and part your hair as you normally would. This will help you recognise the places that you wish to highlight.

Step 2: Here, don’t pull out random strands of hair; start at the front and work your way towards your crown. Section out about 10 ¼-inch-wide pieces and ensure that they are one-fourth of an inch apart. However, don’t space them out evenly as the most natural-looking highlights are usually asymmetrical.

Step 3: If you are not using a fancy pro-level kit, use a toothbrush to paint on the solution from your roots to the ends. This, surprisingly, can also be more precise than some brushes. To prevent the colour from bleeding, prop the pieces up with cotton balls.

Step 4: Let the dye sit for the amount of time indicated (unless you have fine hair!). If you are getting worried, just rinse one piece of your hair to check the colour.

And, voila! You’re done!

Also see: How to make your hair colour last longer