Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 4: Choosing and preparing the paint
• Part 2 of 4: Applying the dye to your hair
• Part 3 of 4: Finishing the job
• Part 4 of 4: Keeping the color
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

Dyeing your hair black is easy, because you don't have to bleach first. Depending on the shade you choose, you can get a natural or a gothic look. Getting the perfect color can be tricky, but with the right technique, you can make your hair look the way you want it.

To step

Part 1 of 4: Choosing and preparing the paint

1. Choose a soft black hair color if you want a natural look. Soft black is more like dark brown than true black, especially if you keep a black piece of clothing next to it. As far as hair is concerned, "soft black" is still considered black, and it looks the most natural.
   • This is the safest color to start with. If you want to darken your hair, you can always dye it darker later.
2. If you prefer a gothic look, try a deep black. This shade of black can look unnatural because it is so dark, especially if you have fair skin. Some deep blacks even have shades of other colors, such as blue or purple. They usually look pitch black, but in the sunlight they can have a blue or purple glow.
   • If you are not sure how a color will suit you, go to a wig shop and try on a few wigs in that color.
3. Get a tube of hair dye and volume 10 developer if you're not using a paint kit. The paint you buy as a set contains everything you need: developer, paint, conditioner, gloves, etc. Otherwise you will need a tube of paint and a bottle of volume 10 developer.
   • You will also need to purchase gloves, a paintbrush, and a non-metallic bowl.
4. Prepare the paint according to the directions if you are using a paint kit. Most paint kits come with directions, but don't worry if you've lost yours, it all speaks for itself. Put the paint in the larger bottle with the developer. Close it and shake it to mix the paint. Break off or cut the cap at the tip of the bottle.
   • If you have hair longer than shoulder length, it is wise to have two boxes of hair dye ready. In this way you make sure that you have enough to do all your hair.
5. If you are not using a set, you will need to mix the paint and developer in a non-metallic bowl. Put enough volume 10 developer to saturate your hair in a non-metallic bowl. Add an equal amount of paint and stir the two ingredients together with a non-metal spoon or paintbrush. Keep stirring until the color is consistent and no streaks remain.
   • Use about 60 grams of developer. If you have very long or thick hair, it is better to use 120 grams of developer.
   • It is important to use a bowl that is not made of metal, such as glass or plastic; metal can react with the paint and change its color.
6. Add a protein filler to the dye if your hair is bleached. When you bleach the hair, the pigment is removed. You must therefore add a protein filler or else the color may look blotchy or off. In some cases, it can even turn greenish.
   • You don't need to use a protein filler if you've never dyed your hair.
   • Read the directions on the bottle to know how much protein filler to use. In most cases, that's half a bottle.
   • You can get a clear or tinted protein filler. A tinted protein filler gives you subtle undertones that can be seen in the light.

Part 2 of 4: Applying the dye to your hair

1. Protect your skin, clothing and workplace against stains. Put on an old shirt that you don't mind ruining and rub some petroleum jelly on the skin at your hairline. Put on latex or nitrile gloves and place newspaper on your work surface and on the floor.
   • An even better idea is to wear a long-sleeved shirt so you don't get your arms dirty.
   • If you don't want the shirt to get dirty, put a hair dye cap around your shoulders. You can also use an old towel for that.
2. Divide your hair into four sections if you have long or thick hair. Divide your hair horizontally at ear level, as if you were making a half ponytail. Divide the top section of your hair in half, twist each half into a bun and secure the buns with elastics or hairpins. Then divide the bottom half of your hair in half and slide each half over each shoulder.
   • If you have medium length hair, you can simply divide your hair in half to create a half ponytail. Secure the half ponytail with a hairpin or elastic.
   • If your hair is short, you don't have to divide it.
3. Apply the paint to 2.5 to 5 cm strands from the roots. Choose one of the bottom sections to start with and take a 2.5 to 5 cm strand of hair there. Dip the paintbrush into the paint and brush the paint onto your hair, starting at the roots. Work down to your ends. Make sure each strand of hair is completely saturated.
   • If the paint is in a bottle, squeeze the paint into the roots and run your fingers through your hair. Apply it to the rest of the hair shaft and then work it in. Wear gloves to avoid staining your skin!
4. Continue to apply the paint in 2.5 to 5 cm strands. When you are done with the first bottom section, move on to the second bottom section. Next, loosen one of the buns at the top of your hair and apply the dye to the hair in the same way. Finish with the last bun on the other side.
   • Apply the paint liberally to your part and hairline.
   • You can also loosen both buns and apply the dye from the front hairline to the back of your crown.
5. Put on a shower cap and wait at least 20 minutes. Wearing a shower cap helps to keep your surroundings clean, and it also traps your body heat, which helps the paint set in. How long you have to wait for the paint to set depends on the brand of paint you are using, so read the instructions carefully. In most cases you will have to wait about 20 minutes, but in some cases it can be as long as 45 minutes.
   • If you have very long hair, make it a low bun first and secure it with a hair clip.

Part 3 of 4: Finishing the job

1. Rinse the paint with cold water. Hold your head over a sink and rinse out the paint. You can also undress and take a shower. Rinse the dye from your hair with cool water until the rinsed water runs clear.
   • Do not use shampoo, not even a color-safe shampoo.
   • The water doesn't have to be ice cold; it just has to be as cold as you can bear it.
2. Apply conditioner and then rinse with cool water. Choose a color-treated hair conditioner or a sulfate-free conditioner. Apply it to your hair and then wait two to three minutes. Once the time is up, rinse the conditioner with cool water.
   • Most paint sets come with a conditioner. If not yours, use a color-treated hair conditioner.
   • The conditioner is a must, because it makes your hair nice and soft after the aggressive dyeing process.
3. Let your hair air dry. Dyeing is an aggressive process for your hair, so it is best to treat it as gently as possible. Letting it air dry is the gentlest way to do that. If you can't let your hair air dry, apply heat protectant and use a blow dryer on low.
4. Do not wash your hair for 72 hours after dyeing. This is very important as it gives your hair cuticles time to close and allow the paint to set. After the 72 hours are up, you can wash your hair with a color-safe shampoo and conditioner.

Part 4 of 4: Keeping the color

1. Only wash your hair two or three times a week. The more often you wash your hair, the faster the color will fade. Instead, wash your hair only two or three times a week.
   • If your hair feels greasy, wash it with dry shampoo. Choose a dry shampoo specially formulated for dyed black hair or it will show.
2. Wash your hair with cold water. Heat can fade the paint and since your hair was so light at first, the fading will be noticeable. This doesn't mean you should wash your hair with ice cold water - just do it with the coldest water you can tolerate. Anything between cold and lukewarm can be good.
3. Use shampoo and conditioner suitable for colored hair. If you can't find such products, use sulfate-free products. Most bottles will tell you whether or not they are sulfate-free, but it is still a good idea to check the back of the bottle as well.
   • Sulfates are harsh cleaners that not only dry out your hair, but can also fade the paint.
   • Do not use clarifying or volumizing shampoos. These shampoos open the hair cuticles, making the paint wash out faster.
   • Consider using a color conditioner. You can buy one from the hairdresser or make your own by adding a little paint to a bottle of white conditioner.
4. Don't style your hair too often with heat and use a heat protectant if you do. Styling your hair with heat includes things like blow drying, flat irons and curling irons. This is very harmful to your hair, especially if you do it on a daily basis. Instead, let your hair air dry as much as possible and accept your natural hair texture. If you're blow drying, straightening, or curling your hair, use a heat protectant first.
   • Let your hair dry completely before using a straightening or curling iron.
   • Consider other curling and straightening methods that don't require heat.
5. Protect your hair from the sun to prevent fading. The easiest way to do this is to wear a hat, scarf or hood on your head. If you'd rather not wear it, consider using a UV protective spray instead. That's like sunscreen, but for your hair. You can find it in drugstores and hair salons.
   • Do not expose your hair to pool or chlorinated water. Put on a bathing cap if necessary.
6. Revive your outgrowth every three to four weeks. When you dye dark hair a lighter color, the outgrowth doesn't look that bad or unnatural - in some cases it looks like an ombre. However, if you dye blonde hair black, the outgrowth will look unnatural.
   • If you notice the color fading, apply glazing to the rest of your hair. This freshens up the color without having to repaint it.
   • Alternatively, you can darken your outgrowth with black eyeshadow or an outgrowth spray.

Tips

• Be willing to customize your makeup palette. The colors that looked good on you when you had blonde hair will no longer look good on you now that you have black hair.
• If you get paint on your skin, you can remove it with an alcohol-based makeup remover. If the paint is on your work surface, use alcohol.
• Darken your eyebrows with makeup or have them done professionally. That way they suit your hair.
• If you have blonde lashes, you can darken them with mascara.
• Consider using a peroxide based hair dye. This will prevent the color from fading.
• Do you want something different, but not sure if you are ready for the jump from blonde to black? Consider dyeing your blonde hair brown first to see what a slightly darker color looks like. This can help you transition to black hair if you prefer it gradually.

Warnings

• It is almost impossible to remove black paint yourself. Be prepared to commit to your new color or prepare for a hefty barber bill to have it removed by a professional hairdresser.
• Do not use paint to darken your eyebrows yourself, otherwise you risk losing your eyesight.

Necessities

• Black hair dye (one set or paint and one volume 10 developer)
• Plastic paint gloves
• Old shirt
• Vaseline
• Paint brush (if you are not using a paint set)
• Non-metal bowl (if not using a paint set)
• Color-safe shampoo and conditioner
• Protein filler (if you dye bleached hair)