Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Avoid hair dye application mistakes
• Method 2 of 3: Avoid hair dye messes
• Method 3 of 3: Remove too-dark hair dye
• Warnings

It's easy, cheap, and even fun to dye your hair at home with a hair dye kit. However, because hair dye is very permanent, it can stain surfaces and create an unwanted effect on your hair. While you can't be sure what the color will look like until you dye your hair, you can avoid some of the common application mistakes to avoid unwanted color and mess. If you have to, you may also be able to correct some mistakes after they have already happened.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Avoid hair dye application mistakes

1. Dye your hair to achieve a darker color, not a lighter one. While you can subtly lighten your hair at home with one or two shades, a darker color will generally be better absorbed by your hair. Dyeing your hair lighter is also a more difficult and complicated process than dyeing your hair darker. Avoid trying to make a dramatic change by sticking to a color that is only one or two shades away from your natural hair color.
   • If you're trying to dramatically change your hair color, you may feel the urge to dye your eyebrows too to make them match. This is something you should never do as it is unsafe to use hair dye so close to your eyes.
   • Try mixing two hair colors that are one shade away from each other, or that are variations of the same shade, to make a more natural color change from your current hair color.
2. Visit a hair salon if you want to lighten your hair. If you are looking for a much lighter hair color, the best choice is to have it done by a professional. You can bleach your hair yourself, but it is much easier to get consistent results from a professional. You shouldn't try to go too dark either. A good rule of thumb for a darker shade is to choose a shade that is no darker than your eyebrows.
3. Use a toner or gloss to correct orangish highlights. If you try to get your own highlights, they may turn undesirably orange. Try adding an ash toner after the hair dye. You can also add a gloss to your hair to revive fading highlights.
4. Avoid washing your hair before dyeing. Don't shampoo your hair the same day you dye it. Leave some natural oils in your hair to protect your scalp and help the dye absorb into your hair better.
   • If you need to wash your hair between shampooing and dyeing, only use conditioner and rinse with water so you don't strip off protective oils. Your hair should be free of build-up or dirt so that the color doesn't get uneven.
5. First, do a hair test. Test what your hair will look like when dyed by applying the dye to just one section first. The hair test can also help you determine how long to leave the dye in your hair to achieve the desired results. Let it dry completely to check the color and adjust the shade if necessary.
   • Pick a section of hair in an inconspicuous area so that it will not be seen, or even cut a small section to dye it.
   • A hair test will also help you check if you have an allergic reaction to the ingredients in the hair dye. It is also best to do a skin test by applying a small amount of hair dye to the inside of your elbow and then waiting 48 hours to see if there is any redness, itchiness, or irritation.
6. Apply the hair dye from the center of your hair first. Try applying hair dye to the middle section of each section of hair before covering the roots and ends. Hair dye usually works faster at the roots due to the heat of your scalp, and can appear more intense at the ends if they are dry or damaged. This can make your roots and / or ends look brighter or have a different color from the rest of your hair.
   • If you have leftover color in your hair from a previous dye job, apply the dye first to your roots and up to where the remaining color in your hair begins.
   • Applying the paint to a certain part of each tuft first gives that part a little more time to process the paint before doing the rest, which can compensate for differences in color processing.
7. Avoid staining your scalp with hair dye. Apply the hair dye to your roots so close to your scalp without rubbing the dye into your scalp, which can stain the skin and expose it to the harsh chemicals in the hair dye.
   • Try to lift each tuft of hair as you apply the dye to it so that it is away from your head.
   • Protect your hairline by applying a little bit of baby oil, olive oil, or petroleum jelly to the edge of your face and neck so that the hair dye won't settle there.
8. Stick to the prescribed time. Follow the instructions that came with your hair dye to know how long to leave the dye in your hair before rinsing it out. You can end up with no difference in your hair if you don't leave it on long enough, or a color that's way too intense and even damaging if you leave it on for too long.
   • If you have done a hair test or several hair tests and determined that the color looks best when it lasts a little shorter or longer, then you can use that time for your full paint job. Only make sure to rinse the paint if you start to feel itchy or burning.
   • It may take extra time to cover gray hair.Consider purchasing a hair dye specifically designed to cover gray hair, and carefully follow the possible dyeing instructions for covering gray hair.
9. Rinse the paint according to the instructions. Follow your specific hair dye instructions on how to rinse the dye out of your hair after the specified time is up. In general, you should rinse with warm or cool water until the water runs clear.
   • Skip the step in many hair dye instructions that states to add a little bit of water and work into your hair until it doesn't lather. This can help distribute the color and make it easier to wash out the paint.
   • Make sure all the dye is gone from your hair and face after rinsing, and use an old towel in case it gets stained with hair dye residue.
   • Hydrate your hair with your own conditioner or the small bottle of conditioner that comes with some hair dye kits.

Method 2 of 3: Avoid hair dye messes

1. Cover your workplace. Place old towels or newspaper on the floor and surfaces you will be standing or sitting on, laying materials on, or rinsing.
   • The bathroom is a good place to avoid mess as you are close to a sink and shower for the rinsing process. However, you need to make sure you have good ventilation in your bathroom to avoid the chemical fumes.
   • Remember that you will have time to wait while the dye sets in your hair. Protect your hair and other surfaces that you come close to so that they don't come into contact with each other.
2. Wear gloves. Always wear the plastic gloves that come with your hair dye kit, or buy disposable gloves from a beauty supply store to protect your hands from the dye.
   • Wear gloves throughout the painting process, from mixing to application. You can even keep the gloves on to rinse your hair until the water runs clear.
   • Even though you have the gloves included with your hair dye, it's a good idea to have other disposable gloves nearby, just in case the first pair breaks or the pair included in the kit is too big and This makes the application process difficult, which is often the case.
3. Protect your skin and clothing. Wear clothes you don't mind ruining and cover your shoulders with an old towel for extra protection. Apply petroleum jelly or oil along your hairline, ears, and neck so that you can easily wipe the paint away from those areas later.
   • If you do get hair dye on your neck and ears, try using a clarifying shampoo and a wet towel to blot the stains after rinsing the dye from your hair.
   • You can also try baby oil, olive oil, or a mild dish soap to remove blemishes from your skin.
4. Spray paint stains with bleach. If your hair dye gets on the sink, counter, or other surface, spray the stain with bleach and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes before wiping it off.
   • If the paint got on clothes or other fabrics, you may be able to bleach it, but these stains are very difficult to remove.

Method 3 of 3: Remove too-dark hair dye

1. Use clarifying shampoo. If your hair color has turned too dark after dyeing, wash it immediately with a clarifying shampoo or anti-dandruff shampoo. Repeat these washes often to begin to see less color.
   • Make sure to use a good, rich conditioner with a clarifying or anti-dandruff shampoo after every wash, as these shampoos can be drying and remove the good oils from your hair and scalp.
   • You can also wash a second time with a high quality moisturizing shampoo after rinsing out the clarifying shampoo.
2. Use a color-reducing product. Buy a color reducer to help remove some of your hair color; many of the same brands that sell hair dye also sell color reducers.
   • Note that there may be a difference between a color remover and a color reducer. A color remover may contain bleach that is harder on your hair and can affect your natural hair color, not just the dyed color. Reducers are gentler and help to remove paint only, so these are best chosen.
   • Make sure to carefully follow the instructions that come with the product, just as you would with hair dye instructions.
3. Add some dish soap. Add a little bit of detergent or dish soap to your regular shampoo to help remove color.
   • Note that this method is very drying and you need to condition your hair well to help replace the oils you are losing.
4. Use vitamin C. Crush any effervescent or chewable vitamin C tablets and add this powder to your regular shampoo. Work this through all of your hair, cover your hair, and let it sit for 20-60 minutes to help lighten your hair color.
   • Note that vitamin C can be too harsh or irritating for some scalps, so you should rinse it out right away if it irritates you.
5. Mix baking soda and lemon juice. Try a natural treatment of fresh lemon juice and baking soda to remove some of the color. Mix equal parts of both ingredients together and let the mixture sit in your hair for a few minutes before rinsing.
   • Be careful not to leave this treatment on for too long as it can be very drying and potentially damaging if left on for too long.
   • Also use this treatment to remove paint stains from the skin.
6. Do a hot oil treatment. Apply hot oil to your hair and let it sit for an hour to help pull hair dye out.
   • Use this treatment if you don't want to dry out your hair, or if you've already dried it out with other removal methods and want to get some moisture back. This method will properly care for the hair during the process.
7. Go to a hair salon instead of treating your hair over and over again. If your color doesn't come out or doesn't look the way you want it to, try a different color in a few days or weeks. However, avoid re-treating your hair multiple times with home kits if it doesn't work out. Go to a professional to have it corrected properly.
   • The more you dye your hair, the more you damage it and the more difficult it becomes for a professional to restore it. Save the money you would spend on multiple hair dye kits and go to a hair salon instead.
   • It can be expensive to have your hair color professionally corrected after a paint job that went wrong. You may be able to save more money in the end by going to the salon from scratch instead of trying to dye your hair at home.
   • Ask a color specialist to apply a very mild bleach bath to your hair, using a small amount of bleach with water that is carefully monitored. This is much milder and less expensive than other comprehensive color removal processes.

Warnings

• Removing hair color with the above processes will not work on colors that are too light. To do this, you should ask a color specialist at a hair salon for advice, or wait several weeks to try out a darker color.
• Never paint your eyebrows at home with a hair dye kit. You can be seriously damaged or blinded by getting the chemicals in the paint into your eyes.
• Don't over-dye your hair as this will almost certainly damage your hair. You can affect the health of your hair and your ability to dye your hair in the future if you dye it too much and too often.