diy your do

Bored of sitting in the salon and want to take marters into you own hands? Doing you own colour has never been casier..

FORGET THE HAMMERS, screws and that all-important drill, there’s a new DIY project in town: the at-home dye kit. More than eight million of us in the UK now colour our hair from the comfort of our bathrooms – whether it’s touching up roots or experimenting with a little pastel perk-up. And the maths adds up to a pretty convincing case for a DIY ’do: £6 for a box of dye versus shelling out 10 times that sum in a salon.

So, what’s stopping the rest of us? Consumer research by Clairol recently revealed that our greatest ‘hair fear’ is the damage imparted by poor process or ingredients in the colouring process: ‘ We rely on the stylist to make good colour choices on our behalf,’ says Jeff Miller, senior director of hair colour R&D at the brand. ‘ Though new, more foolproof formulas mean it’s increasingly difficult to go wrong.’

Alex Brownsell, founder of Bleach, a London-based salon that specialises in bold and experimental colour, agrees. ‘ Times have changed. You can now buy professional-standard products that really do work at home. By investing in the right products and doing your research, it’s easy to get experimental.’

Is the end nigh for in-salon colour? Hell, no! But it’s good to know our at-home options are more advanced than ever before. The downside? You have to buy your own prosecco… THE ROOT OF IT Does it feel like only yesterday that you had your roots done, and they’re already back with a vengeance? We’ve been there. ‘ Women don’t want to go through a two-tothree-week salon schedule for their roots – it’s expensive and time-consuming,’ says Jeff. ‘Instead, they want to be the expert.’

A decade in the making, new Nice’n Easy Permanent Colour [1], £6.49, makes dying your own hair more foolproof than ever before. It’s less drippy than most home dyes ( it comes as a thick cream, meaning it stays on when applied), and contains clever technology that greatly reduces the risk of allergic reaction. And that cloying smell of ammonia? It’s been replaced with a gentle floral scent.

But how to apply for a quick fix? ‘Focus on the hair’s T-zone,’ says Chris Appleton, the hair guru behind Kim K’s hair colour. ‘It’s the area around the parting, the hairline and side sections.’ Failing that, try the latest touch-up pens and root sprays – we love Kevin Murphy’s Retouch.me mist [8], £23, which contains super-microfine pigments to disguise roots.

DO OR DYE

All-over colour might seem easier, especially if you’re going darker – but there are certain rules to follow for a salon-style effect. ‘Never trust the colour on the box,’ warns Alex. ‘If it says dark brown, it will come out black, so always go a shade lighter.’ Most importantly, do a patch test first. Using a cotton wool bud, apply a small amount of colour behind your ear or on your wrist and wait 48 hours to see if any reaction happens; if it doesn’t, you’re good to go.

To coat every strand of hair, divide it into four or five sections using the accompanying brush, then massage the dye into your scalp. ‘ The main thing to worry about is dyeing your face,’ says Alex, who recommends applying Vaseline around your hairline to avoid stains. Those with an abundant head of hair should buy two boxes of colour to ensure there’s enough to saturate every strand.

PASTEL FANTASTIC

From Instagram’s obsession with silver to that rose quartz hue debuted backstage at Alexander Wang’s S/S ’18 show, pastels are everywhere and there’s no reason you can’t get in on the action from your bathroom. But there is one stipulation: ‘You have to prelighten or already be naturally blonde,’ says Alex. L’oréal’s Colorista 1-Day Colour spray, £6.99, is ideal for commitment-phobes as it washes out after a day, while Bleach London’s The Big Pink [2], £5.99, offers extra longevity, lasting around 15 washes. Top tip: ‘Help extend colour by adding some of the dye into your conditioner,’ advises Alex.

TONE IT D OWN

If you’re au fait with bleach, you’ll know that its tone is dependent on how well hair has been coloured in the first place, the products you use and the chemicals to avoid (chlorine = blonde’s nemesis). ‘ You can rectify most bleach problems with a toner,’ says Alex. Try Bleach London White Toner, £8, a semi-permanent dye that promises to neutralise the dreaded yellow tinge – the result of not leaving bleach on long enough.

Other, more gentle toners can be used day to day. Take Charles Worthington’s new Colourplex shampoos, £7.99, which use coloured pigments to reduce brassy tones, and can be used every time you wash. The Toning Blue shampoo is designed for brunettes and uses blue pigments to obscure orange and red undertones, while the Ultra Violet shampoo [7] does the same but with violet pigments, leaving shiny, clean blonde in its place.

THE SALON E F F ECT

Even if we do hit the salon for our colour (and that head massage), the aftercare is almost as important as the dye. ‘It’s all about at-home treatments and the shampoo and conditioner you use,’ points out Alex, who advises investing time in using a pre-treatment, like Living Proof ’s Timeless Pre-shampoo Treatment [3], £16, and a post-treatment (try Oribe’s Signature Moisture Mask, £57) to fortify and boost hair health.

Chris emphasises the importance of using a sulphate-free shampoo, like Color Wow’s Colour Security [6], £16.50, to avoid stripping colour and swears by Olaplex, the preshampoo bonding treatment he used to take Kim’s hair from brunette to platinum. It helps reconstruct strands, making it a godsend for those with weak hair. A regular treatment like Tresemmé Biotin + Repair 7 Instant Recovery Mask [4], £6.10, is also a must. Finally? Always use a protector spray (we love GHD Heat Protector [5], £13. ‘The heat from your hair appliances actually fades colour, so turn it down!’ says Chris. We have been told.