Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 4: How to choose and prepare paint
• Method 2 of 4: How to color your hair
• Method 3 of 4: Completing the stain
• Method 4 of 4: How to Maintain Your Color
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

Dyeing your hair a dark color is easy because you don't need to bleach it first. When dyeing, you can achieve a wide variety of shades, from natural to bluish black. Getting the color you want can be tricky, but if done right, the color will turn out exactly the way you want it.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: How to choose and prepare paint

1. 1 Choose a desaturated black for a natural looking color. Desaturated black looks more like dark chestnut than black, especially against a backdrop of black clothing. However, desaturated black is still black, and this shade looks as natural as possible.
   • It is best to start with this shade. If you want to darken your hair, you can always dye it a darker shade later.
2. 2 Try dyeing your hair a rich black for a gothic look. Since this color is very dark, it can look unnatural, especially if you have fair skin.Sometimes black paints have a light shade - bluish or burgundy. Hair dyed in this color looks black under different types of light, but in bright sun it can appear bluish or burgundy.
   • If you don't know how a color will look on you, go to a wig salon and try on a pair of wigs of a similar color.
3. 3 Choose a paint and 3% color activator (10 vol.) if you prefer not to use a ready-made staining kit. If you bought a kit, everything you need will already be there: paint, activator, conditioner, gloves, and more. If not, you will need a tube of paint and a bottle of 3% activator.
   • Buy gloves, a paint brush, and a non-metallic bowl.
4. 4 Prepare paint according to the instructions if you have a kit. Most paints are sold with instructions for use, but if your paint doesn't have instructions for use, don't worry - it's usually clear. Pour the paint into a large bottle of activator. Close the lid and shake it to mix the liquids thoroughly. Cut off the tip of the applicator on the bottle.
   • If your hair is longer than your shoulders, buy two boxes of paint. This will allow you to dye all your hair evenly.
5. 5 If you have a kit, stir the paint and activator in a non-metallic bowl. Pour into a bowl just enough activator to completely cover your hair. Add the same amount of paint and mix thoroughly with a non-metallic spoon or paint brush. Stir until you achieve an even consistency and color.
   • You will need about 60 grams of activator. If you have very long or thick hair, use twice the activator.
   • It is important to mix the substances in a non-metallic (glass or plastic) bowl. Metal can react with paint and change color.
6. 6 If you have bleached hair, add a protein filler to your dye. You will need a protein filler as bleaching causes the hair to lose pigment. If you try to dye your hair after bleaching, the color may not turn out as you want, or it may lie unevenly. Sometimes, when stained, a greenish tint appears.
   • If you have not dyed your hair before, do not add a protein filler.
   • Read the instructions on the bottle carefully to find out how much filler you need. As a rule, half of the package is sufficient.
   • Protein fillers are colorless and tinted. The toning filler will give your hair a light shade that will be visible in the sun.

Method 2 of 4: How to color your hair

1. 1 Protect skin, clothing and work surface from stains. Put on an old jersey that you're not sorry for, and dab some petroleum jelly on your skin along your hairline. Put on latex or nitrile gloves and cover your work surface and floor with newspaper.
   • It is better to wear a thing with long sleeves so as not to get your hands dirty.
   • If you don't want to get dirty, put a plastic cape over your shoulders. You can use an old towel.
2. 2 Divide your hair into 4 sections if your hair is long or thick. Part your hair horizontally at the level of your ears, as if you wanted to tuck the top into a ponytail. Divide the top section in half, twist each section and secure with elastic bands or clamps. Then, part the bottom in half and pull your hair down over your shoulders.
   • If you have medium length hair, you can simply split your hair in half. Secure the top with a hair clip or elastic band.
   • If you have short hair, you don't need to part your hair.
3. 3 Apply the dye to 2-5 centimeters wide strands, starting from the roots. Start with the bottom strands. Take a strand 2-5 centimeters wide, brush the paint and transfer it to the hair, starting from the roots. Spread the paint from the roots to the ends. Cover the entire strand thoroughly with paint.
   • If the paint came with an applicator bottle, squeeze the paint onto the roots and spread it through your hair with your fingers. Apply color to a strand and rub in gently. Wear gloves to avoid staining your hands.
4. 4 Apply the color to the rest of your hair in strands of 2-5 centimeters. When you're done with the first bottom part, move on to the second bottom. Then dissolve the upper sections and paint them in the same way, one after the other.
   • Carefully paint over the parting and roots along the hairline.
   • You can loosen the strands and start applying paint from the forehead to the back of the head.
5. 5 Put on a plastic cap and hold the dye on your hair for at least 20 minutes. The cap will prevent you from staining everything around. In addition, it will retain heat, which enhances the effect of the paint. The duration of staining depends on the paint manufacturer, so read the instructions carefully. Usually you need to wait 20 minutes, but sometimes the staining time can go up to 45 minutes.
   • If you have very long hair, make a low bun first and secure it with a hair clip.

Method 3 of 4: Completing the stain

1. 1 Rinse off the paint with cool water. Lean over the sink and rinse off the paint. You can undress and wash off the paint in the shower. Rinse off the water with cool water until the water is clear.
   • Do not use shampoo, even if it is suitable for colored hair.
   • The water should not be icy. It can be as cold as you can handle.
2. 2 Apply conditioner and wash off with cool water. Use conditioner for colored hair or sulfate-free conditioner. Apply the product to hair, hold for 2-3 minutes and rinse with cool water.
   • Many hair color kits contain conditioner. If you don't have a conditioner in your kit, any conditioner for colored hair will work.
   • It is extremely important to use conditioner as it will soften the hair and leave it smooth after an aggressive dyeing process.
3. 3 Dry your hair naturally. Dyeing has an aggressive effect on the hair, therefore, after dyeing, you should handle your hair very carefully. Drying naturally does not harm the hair. If you need to blow-dry your hair, set it to the lowest temperature and pre-apply a heat protectant to your hair.
4. 4 Don't wash your hair for 72 hours. This is very important because it takes time for the hair cuticles to close and the dye to stick to the hair. When 72 hours have passed, wash your hair with colored hair shampoo and use an appropriate conditioner.

Method 4 of 4: How to Maintain Your Color

1. 1 Wash your hair no more than 2-3 times a week. The more often you wash your hair, the faster the color will be washed out. Try to do this no more than 2-3 times a week.
   • If your hair looks greasy, use dry shampoo. Choose a shampoo for colored dark hair, otherwise the product will be visible.
2. 2 Wash your hair with cool water. The hot water will wash out the color faster, and since the hair was light before dyeing, this will be very noticeable. But this does not mean that you should only wash your hair with ice water. Choose a temperature that is comfortable for you. The water can be cool to lukewarm.
3. 3 Use shampoo and conditioner for colored hair. If you are unable to use such products, any sulfate-free product will do. If the product does not contain sulfates, this is usually written on the front of the package, but it is worth reading the composition anyway.
   • Sulfates are aggressive cleaning agents that not only dry out the hair, but also speed up the washout of the dye.
   • Do not use deep cleansing or volumizing shampoos. These shampoos open the cuticles of the hair, which is why the paint is washed out faster.
   • Use conditioner to enhance the color. You can buy a special conditioner in the salon, or add some paint to a white conditioner.
4. 4 Try to do less hot styling and use heat protectors if you can't stop doing it. Hot styling is styling with a hair dryer, iron or curling iron. High temperatures injure hair, especially if styled this way every day. Try to dry your hair and style your hair naturally as often as possible. If you need to style your hair with a hairdryer, iron or curling iron, first apply a heat protectant to it.
   • You can use an iron or curling iron only on completely dry hair.
   • Try curling and straightening your hair in ways that don't require heat.
5. 5 Protect your hair from the sun to maintain color. The easiest way to cover your hair from the sun is with a hat, scarf or hood. If you don't like these accessories, apply UV protection to your hair. It works in the same way as a sunscreen for the skin. You can buy it in cosmetics stores and beauty salons.
   • Avoid hair contact with chlorinated water and pool water. Wear a swimming cap if necessary.
6. 6 Tint the roots every 3-4 weeks. If you dye dark hair light, the growing roots don't look bad or unnatural. In some cases, this effect is even similar to ombre. But if you dye your blonde hair dark, regrowth roots will be look unnatural.
   • If the color is starting to fade, use a shine polish. This will freshen up the color without having to re-stain.
   • You can also tint the roots with black eye shadow or a special root masker.

Tips

• Get ready to change the shades of your makeup. Colors that go with blonde hair may not go dark.
• If ink gets on your skin, wash it off with an alcohol-based makeup remover. If you have alcohol, use it.
• Tint your eyebrows with makeup or sign up for a salon. This will match the eyebrow color to the hair color.
• If you have light lashes, try dyeing them with mascara to make them appear darker.
• Try peroxide paint. This paint will be durable.

Warnings

• It is almost impossible to change a dark color to a light one at home. Expect to pay big bucks to get dark pigments in the salon.
• Don't dye your eyebrows hair dye at home, as it is hazardous to eye health.

What do you need

• Dark paint (in a set or paint and 3% activator (10 vol.))
• Plastic gloves for dyeing
• Old clothes
• Petrolatum
• Paint brush (if not included in the set)
• Non-metallic bowl (if not included in the set)
• Shampoo and conditioner for colored hair
• Protein filler (for bleached hair)