Color Your Own Hair: How to

How to Color Hair on Your Own

No husband and kids will want to live with a cranky wife and mother. Over-worked wives and routine-hassled mothers need to take some time off once in a while. Carrying the burden of everyday troubles at home is guaranteed to make a woman look like a hag. The fastest way to erase the “ugly and weary” look is to have a flattering haircut or a change of hair coloring.

Woops! Before the budget-conscious in you protests because beauty salon fees are quite expensive, there are lots of commercial hair colorant products that you can use at home. Yup, you can color your right from the box and while you’re at home.

Important Hair Tips:

1. Choose the right color that will look good with your skin tone. Most women are not like Linda Evangelista, who looks fabulous with almost all shades of hair color. Warm skin tone – warm shades like red, auburn or gold. Light skin tone – light shades like ash, blonde or anything light.
2. Choose the right type of hair dye. Permanent – lasts longer but more vulnerable to sun and salt water exposure. Semi-permanent – lasts for 20 washes or more.
3. Choose the brand known for quality and good reputation on safety.
   Test the dye product for reaction, 2 days before. Mix a very small amount and apply directly on your skin. When nothing happened after 48 hours, the hair colorant is compatible to your skin. Test it also on a few strands of hair to see the actual color shade when applied to your hair.
4. Do not wash, shampoo, or condition your hair a day before you dye it to avoid irritating the scalp. However, you must make sure that your hair is free of dirt and excess oil.
5. Choose a comfortable place but with sturdy flooring for easy cleaning of stain drops. The kitchen or the bathroom are two recommended venues.

Step-by-Step Guide to Coloring Your Hair at Home:

1. Prepare all materials needed – hair colorant, petroleum jelly or skin cream, plastic cap, old towel, hair coloring comb/brush, fine-toothed comb, long hair clips, hairdryer, plastic gloves, old newspapers, old plastic bowl, and plastic spoon.
2. Apply petroleum jelly to your scalp, the skin near the hair line, around your neck.
3. Cover your shoulder with an old towel and secure both ends with a large pin. Spread several old newspapers on the floor to protect it from dye stains.
4. Read instructions on the label carefully. Read it twice to make sure that you understood the procedure pretty clear.
5. Divide your hair into 4 sections and secure each one with a hair clip. This section will be divided into smaller parts during color application.
6. Wear plastic gloves before mixing the dye solution. Keep in mind that some mixture can only last for 30 minutes.
7. Use the bowl if a plastic bottle applicator is not included with the hair coloring kit. The bottle is great for applying color ‘highlights’ to strands or locks of hair.
8. Using the comb/brush, apply the dye mixture from the roots to tips of hair. Run the fine-toothed comb through to distribute color equally.
9. Repeat this step to all sections of your hair until done. You must move quickly to finish the process within the allotted time.
10. Cover your hair with plastic cap and use hairdryer all over your head. This is to help the chemicals react quicker and better.
11. Wash hair right after the recommended processing time. Do not over-dye. Use only cold or lukewarm water. Never wash dyed hair with hot water to avoid falling hair. Use only the shampoo and conditioner included with the coloring product.

How to Keep and Maintain Healthy Colored Hair

• Cover hair with a scarf, hat, or umbrella to avoid direct sun exposure.
  Avoid contact with chlorine, salt water, and strong chemicals.
• Use special shampoo and conditioner intended for dyed hair.
• Retouch hair roots after 2 to 4 weeks.
• Eat the right foods that will give your hair the extra shine. Be sure to include iron, protein, biotin, B6 and B12, Zinc, Antioxidants, and Vitamins C and A to your everyday diet.