Hacks for dyeing your hair at home

Feel like sprucing up your hair colour for summer but don’t have the time or the cash to go to the salon? Follow our guide and tint your crowning glory in the comfort of your own home

Stay within two shades of your natural colour, advises Kari Hill, a colourist for cosmetic company L’Oréal. Extreme colour changes can require multiple processes which are best left to a salon professional – so don’t be too ambitious when going the DIY route.

Trying a new shade? Test it on a hidden strand of hair first to make sure you don’t get a nasty surprise later. Apply the colour to the hair, wipe it off after the designated time has passed, then blot the hair dry. Check the dyed strand in natural light to get an accurate idea of the colour.

Some people have reactions to hair colour, so do a patch test two days before.

Apply a small amount of colourant cream behind your ear with a cotton bud and leave for 48 hours. Don’t proceed if you have reactions such as itching, redness or swelling.

Don’t wash your hair for 48 hours before colouring – the natural oils help the dye bind more easily.

Right, now you’re ready. But before you start, lay out all your tools, such as gloves, so you won’t have to stop and scramble mid-process. Be sure to read all the instructions on the packaging beforehand “to get your bearings”, Hill says.

Cover any surface around you with newspapers or black bags and wear an old shirt – preferably one you’re ready to throw away. Make sure it’s one that buttons or zips up so you don’t have to lift it over your head when you’re done.

Coat your hairline, ears and neck with petroleum jelly or conditioner before applying the hair dye so you don’t stain your skin. Hill says you can also glide your stick lip balm along your hairline as “its small size makes for concise application”.

For easy application use a comb to separate your hair into four sections (or six, depending on thickness). Apply the dye to your hair, breaking each section up into subsections as you work (this will make your dye job more even). Use your gloved fingers to work the dye into your hair. Since roots need the most colour – and processing time – apply the colour there first, then comb it through the rest of your hair to distribute it.

If you have a lot of grey hair, it’s best to leave the dye in for the maximum recommended time. Never leave dye in overnight – it will dry out your hair and could cause severe skin irritation.

Once the dye is on, cover your head with a disposable shower cap to keep it from dripping and staining your surroundings.

When the indicated time is up, rinse your hair out with warm water until the water runs clear. Don’t panic if you see the colour run – it’s totally normal.

Wait at least an hour before shampooing your hair.