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Honorary Poster
Dying your hair is often a messy task but it's well worth the results. All the different items in the beauty supply stores can make the process seem hard, but it's actually quite simple, even if it is a time-consuming and meticulous process.
Figure out which level your own color is. You can do this by comparing your hair color to a chart, with level 1 being the darkest black and level 10 being the whitest blonde. These charts are available at beauty supply stores and online. Also note which level the dye is. For example, your hair might be a level six naturally but you're lightening to a level eight. This would mean you're "lifting" two levels.
Determine which strength of developer you should buy. Developer opens up the hair shaft so the color can sink in but it can also lighten the hair at the same time. If you're only applying color and not lightening your hair, or if you're going darker, the most mild developer, called "10 volume," will work. If the new color is slightly lighter than your natural color by one or two shades, 20 volume is the better choice. Thirty volume can be used for lifting hair to two or three shades lighter. Professionals also use 40 and 50 volume developer, but amateurs should use these only at their own risk since these are the strongest and will damage the hair if you're not careful.
Pin up your hair using your hair clips.Divide it into sections that are easy to work with. Your hair should be dry.
Mix the hair color with the developer in your bowl. Follow the instructions on the color; they usually call for mixing one part color with one or two parts of developer.
Use your applicator brush to start painting on the color mixture. Start about an inch below your scalp and apply the color down your hair, stopping about two or three inches before you reach the ends. Work in the sections you pinned up, releasing them one at a time. Try to work quickly but make sure you're not leaving anything out.
Return to your scalp and use gloved fingers to work the color mixture into the hair close to your head. You always want to do this part last because the heat from your scalp makes the color process faster.
Comb your hair to ensure the dye is applied evenly. This will also help it spread to the tips of your hair. The ends of your hair are the most damaged and porous so you don't need to directly apply color to them.
Allow the hair color to sit for about 20 minutes. Shampoo your hair and rinse until the water runs clean. Apply a conditioner to immediately start mending any damage you caused to the hair shaft with the developer.
Figure out which level your own color is. You can do this by comparing your hair color to a chart, with level 1 being the darkest black and level 10 being the whitest blonde. These charts are available at beauty supply stores and online. Also note which level the dye is. For example, your hair might be a level six naturally but you're lightening to a level eight. This would mean you're "lifting" two levels.
Determine which strength of developer you should buy. Developer opens up the hair shaft so the color can sink in but it can also lighten the hair at the same time. If you're only applying color and not lightening your hair, or if you're going darker, the most mild developer, called "10 volume," will work. If the new color is slightly lighter than your natural color by one or two shades, 20 volume is the better choice. Thirty volume can be used for lifting hair to two or three shades lighter. Professionals also use 40 and 50 volume developer, but amateurs should use these only at their own risk since these are the strongest and will damage the hair if you're not careful.
Pin up your hair using your hair clips.Divide it into sections that are easy to work with. Your hair should be dry.
Mix the hair color with the developer in your bowl. Follow the instructions on the color; they usually call for mixing one part color with one or two parts of developer.
Use your applicator brush to start painting on the color mixture. Start about an inch below your scalp and apply the color down your hair, stopping about two or three inches before you reach the ends. Work in the sections you pinned up, releasing them one at a time. Try to work quickly but make sure you're not leaving anything out.
Return to your scalp and use gloved fingers to work the color mixture into the hair close to your head. You always want to do this part last because the heat from your scalp makes the color process faster.
Comb your hair to ensure the dye is applied evenly. This will also help it spread to the tips of your hair. The ends of your hair are the most damaged and porous so you don't need to directly apply color to them.
Allow the hair color to sit for about 20 minutes. Shampoo your hair and rinse until the water runs clean. Apply a conditioner to immediately start mending any damage you caused to the hair shaft with the developer.
