Can you colour your hair at home?
Absolutely! Sometimes, it can be tough to rush to the salon at the last minute, when there is a time or money crunch. This is where learning how to apply hair colour at home can become a vital skill to acquire. From root touch-ups to experimenting with different hair looks, this tutorial can help you achieve any look effortlessly from the comfort of your home.
Before you jump right into it, there are a few things you need to know about the process, and we have you covered. Follow this step-by-step guide to colouring your hair at home, and you'll be a pro in no time!
Step 1: Choose the right hair colour
Now that you are convinced about colouring your hair at home, here is a wide range of options that you can choose from - permanent hair colour, semi-permanent hair colour, and temporary hair colours. Once you shortlist the colour result you want, the next step is to choose a suitable shade. Just ask yourself these three basic questions:
- What’s your skin tone? Is it dark, medium, or light?
- What’s your skin undertone? Is it warm or cool?
- What’s the natural colour of your hair?
With these answers to guide you, you’ll already have a few shades narrowed down. Now you can try your ideas out on the Hair Colour Virtual Try-On tool and finalise the shade that suits you the best.
Our Recommendations:
- For Permanent Hair Colour: The L'Oreal Paris Excellence Crème is an ideal option as it’s ammonia-free and provides 100% grey coverage. The exclusive non-drip crème colour also gives your hair Triple Care: ceramide protects, pro-keratin strengthens & collagen replenishes the hair.
- For Semi-Permanent Hair Colour: Try the Casting Creme Gloss Range by L'Oreal Paris. It is ammonia-free and offers up to 13 colours. This hair colour provides a glossy, elegant finish and lasts for up to 28 hair washes.
- For Temporary Colours: Use the L'Oréal Paris Magic Retouch to simply spray on natural-looking colour on your roots for a last-minute quick fix.
Step 2: Gather your supplies
With your mission laid out, it’s time to bring out your supplies. In this case you'll need a hair dye kit (which includes gloves, colour, developer, and instructions), an old towel or a coverup, petroleum jelly, a comb or brush, and a hair colouring brush depending on the hair colour technique you’ve chosen. Don’t forget to keep plenty of clips handy while applying hair colour at home.
Step 3: Prepare your hair
Before we start with the tutorial on how to colour your hair at home, you need to prep it well. Make sure your hair is clean and dry. Wash your hair thoroughly a day before colouring and avoid using any styling products or conditioners.
Step 4: Protect your skin
If your skin comes in contact with hair colour, it might stain your forehead, hairline, or the back of your neck. And that stain might be tough to remove. This is why it’s important to apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly around your hairline, ears, and neck to avoid staining and get a clean colour.
Step 5: Mix the colour
Mix the colour and developer according to the directions given on your hair colour kit. Take your time to fully mix the colour so that it is even and consistent.
Step 6: Section your hair
Sectioning is important to ensure the hair colour is applied evenly, even at the back of your head. This is why clips are vital to divide your hair into manageable parts while trying hair colour at home. Start by sectioning hair at the back of your head and work your way forward.
Step 7: Decide the hair colouring technique and apply the colour
It’s tempting to brush the colour in already, but you need to take a moment and decide which hair colouring technique you want. You can try colouring your entire hair with a single shade, or only do the tips. Highlighting is another option, where only certain sections of your hair are touched, or you can freestyle a balayage.
With your colour technique finalised, it’s time to wear the gloves and get going. Apply the colour evenly to your hair from the roots to the ends and saturate all the areas uniformly to avoid patchy or uneven colour. Make sure you start from the back of your head and move to the front to prevent any overlaps or smears.
Step 8: Wait for the colour to develop
It’s crucial to follow the instructions given on your colouring kit while applying hair colour at home. It tells you how long you should leave the colour on your hair and depends on the brand and the colour you're using. We recommend not letting the colour stay on your hair for more than the suggested time period.
Step 9: Rinse and condition
Once the colour is completely set, thoroughly rinse your hair with lukewarm water until the water runs clear. To restore moisture to your hair, apply the conditioner given in the kit.
Our Recommendation:
Try the L'Oreal Paris Excellence Creme Hair Colour, the Casting Crème Gloss Ultra Visible, and the Casting Crème Gloss ranges that come with a post-colour care treatment that includes a conditioner.
Step 10: Style and enjoy!
Now that your hair is coloured, style it as you desire and enjoy your new look! Don't forget to take care of your hair by using a colour-protecting shampoo and conditioner and avoiding excessive heat styling.
Last Minute Tips on How to Colour Your Hair at Home
Now that you know how to use hair colour at home, you need to take care of certain things before and after the process.
- Always perform a patch test 48 hours before colouring your hair to rule out any negative reactions.
- To get the best results, don’t deviate from the directions written on your hair colouring kit.
- Brush your hair out properly and remove any knots or tangles to maintain even coverage.
- Wear robes, button-down shirts, or loose clothes that you can easily remove before the wash without disturbing your colour.
- Make sure you don’t use any styling products before colouring and allow the colour to penetrate properly.
Experimenting with hair colour at home is always fun and satisfying, but it's important to take the necessary precautions in order to get optimal results. By following the step-by-step guide on how to colour your hair at home and taking care of it, you'll be able to enjoy your new colour for weeks to come!
For more suggestions and shades, browse through the wide range of hair colour products by L'Oreal Paris and pick one that suits you the best.