How To Battle the Box and Be the Victor 

If you happen to have read any of my previous articles, it should be quite apparent to you that I go out of my way to save money.  And when it comes to hair color, why pay upwards of $100 when it just grows out or fades in a matter of weeks?  Your hair is so temporary, constantly growing and changing, that to spend ridiculous amounts of cashola just to change your shade seems to me a bit, well, ridiculous.  If you are trying for a certain extreme look such as all-over highlights, or if you simply feel like getting pampered, it might be worth your bucks to trek to a salon.  But for those of us who need something new but are strapped for cash, home hair coloring, when executed the correct way, can certainly turn out pleasing results.

1. Hold off on that shower.

While most of us enjoy our daily shower, skip on washing your hair the day you plan to color it.  The natural oils that your scalp produces are essential to setting the hair dye and ensuring its permanency.  If your hair is squeaky clean, the color won’t hold or remain as vibrant for as long as the box promises.  Plus, you’re going to be rinsing it out and conditioning it after the color has set, so don’t sweat about being a little grungy for a day.

2. Familiarize yourself with the directions…

If you are a home hair color connoisseur, the concept of concise directions in a box of color is not a foreign one.  But for all you first-timers out there, take comfort in the fact that each box of hair color, even the cheapest one, will come with directions and (usually) a pair of protective gloves.  These directions will give you tips on how to do all-over color, gray coverage, and root touch-ups, as well as how much time of setting is needed for each (usually about 20-25 minutes).  Their inclusion of directions and gloves not only ensures that you know exactly what you are doing and how much time it will take, but also provides you with protection against unsightly stains on your hands.

3. …then follow through with them.

Most directions recommend performing an allergy test as well as a strand test on your hair.  While I choose to risk living on the wild side and ignore these directions, it’s probably best to perform the allergy test 48 hours before coloring your hair by following the instructions on the directions sheet or the ones listed online (ex: consult the L’Oreal website if you are using Feria and you should find tips on how to execute these tests).  Most brands usually recommend to mix the active hair dye with the conditioning treatment (not to be confused with the post-rinse conditioner) and apply this mixture in a very small area to your skin.  Wait two days to see if you have an allergic reaction of any kind, since allergies can be developed quickly and for no reason.  It is also wise to perform a strand test by either snipping a small lock of hair from a less-visible part of your style or by using hair that is usually easily seen.  A strand test will ensure that you will achieve the hue you desire, and will also give you a sneak peek at your soon-to-be-new shade. 

4. Prep your work station.

Here are a few things you will need to keep in mind to guarantee that your home-brewed hue won’t turn into a horrorshow:

• Wear a dark colored shirt you couldn’t care less about.  Chances are drips will occur and stain whatever you have on, which leads me to mention…
• Lay down a towel that is equally as grubby as your shirt to catch potential drips and splatters that may fall from the bottle or your head. 
• Keep tissues at hand to wipe off any dye that gets on your arms, forehead, face or neck.  This stuff sets quickly and will stain easily.  If your flesh does get stained, don’t worry: it’ll wash off in the shower within a few days.
• Lay out newspaper or another towel on the counter in the bathroom where you are working.  Hopefully this is in front of a mirror, since the whole dying process is much easier when you can see yourself.
  


5. Little by little.

I’ve found that the best way to apply color is in sections.  For those of you who are doing an all-over color change, comb your hair back and away from your face.  Since it’s a little dirty, it should easily stay there.  Starting where your hairline meets your forehead, take the tip of the bottle and draw a straight line to the crown of your head.  Make several lines parallel to your first one and close together, moving downwards towards your ears.  Taking it one strip of color at a time will offer maximum coverage and apply the color evenly over your entire head.  Work your way around the perimeter of your hairline, moving from hairline to crown with the tip of the bottle until you have almost created a ponytail with the hair you have not yet colored.  Once you’ve done this, rub it in a bit on your scalp with the tips of your fingers to spread it out evenly. [Note: if you are using any color with a lightening agent or peroxide, try to avoid too much interaction and stimulation between your scalp and the hair color, as this might produce a quite unpleasant burning or itching sensation.]  

6. Go hog wild!

Now that you have the essential area of your head where your mistakes will most easily show up covered, move on to the rest of your hair that should as of yet have no dye on it (the section that has been formed into a ponytail).  Hold up this length of hair and use the rest of the hair color that remains in the bottle very liberally as to cover every strand evenly.  If you have extremely thick hair or even just a lot of hair, separating this chunk of hair into smaller sections will also ensure even coverage.  Use your hands to massage this color into your mane, reapplying more color as you see fit.  [Another note: those of you who have inordinately thick hair may need to purchase two boxes to make sure all of your hair is completely saturated with color.]  Just make sure that all of your hair has received an even amount of hue.  After you are finished, pile the hair on top of your head to avoid any potential drips. 

7. Set the clock.

Like I stated previously, most hair color will take about 25 minutes to set and achieve its maximum color capability.  I usually like to set a timer for this amount of time so that I can sit down and watch a TV show, finish cleaning up my work area, read a book or do a crossword puzzle.  I don’t like watching the clock; it certainly makes time go by slower.  Hopefully you have an egg timer, or simply use the alarm on your cell phone.  That way you can actually relax without having to even think about what sort of chemical reactions are currently changing your hair for the better.  Be careful when sitting on furniture however, making sure not to lean on or up against anything. 

8. Hit the showers.

Once your timer has alerted you that your waiting period has ended, it’s time to hop in your lukewarm shower with the tube or bottle of conditioner that has been provided for you in the box.  Getting only a bit of water in your hair, proceed to massage the color in as if you were shampooing with the hair dye.  This little trick really covers your hair and head with the maximum amount of color.  After “shampooing” your locks, rinse out your entire head of hair until the water runs clear.  Next, apply the conditioner liberally over the entire length of your hair, leaving on for however long the label recommends (usually 1-3 minutes).  After your hair has been conditioned and restored to a healthy state, rinse out the conditioner until the water is running clear off of your head. 

You should now be able to dry and style your hair to see if the color is really to your liking.  If you are disappointed with the color, don’t worry; suffering through two weeks of hats and headbands to hide your color is much more worth it than damaging your hair by immediately re-coloring it.

Hopefully you will find that tackling the at-home hair dye box is easier than you think.  Here’s to your success with your self!

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