Dyeing your hair can really be exciting. I personally love changing the color of my hair to revamp my appearance. However, I found out that these salon trips consume so much time and money so I started dyeing my own hair at home.

I know, the task of dyeing your own hair can be daunting. With so many horror stories of botched DIY dye job circulating, I was scared too. But, I was determined. So, armed with a box of hair dye and countless guides on how to dye hair at home, I began my journey and I never looked back. Fortunately, it worked like a charm! I thought everyone should know how to color hair at home properly too. That's why I put together this little guide to help you color your own hair at home.

How to Dye Your Hair at Home

Not all of us have the time and money to get our hair dyed in a salon. A DIY dye job might just be the solution! But before you start, read this guide on how to dye your hair to achieve that flawless look you've always wanted.

1. Prepare your hair

Half of your success depends on how you prepare your hair, so make sure you do it properly! Your last hair wash should be one or two days before the dyeing process. Never wash your hair right before you dye it. Washing your hair can strip away all the natural oils that will help the dye hold on to your hair and protect your scalp.

2. Do a strand test

I know you can't wait to color your hair, but experimental dyeing is important. In fact, I think strand tests should be included in every article on how to dye your hair. Strand tests can help you see the final color result before fully committing to it. Also, you can avoid a headful of allergic reaction by testing the dye on a small section of hair.

Take a small section of hair that is unnoticeable and apply a small amount of dye to it according to the instructions. Wait for 24 hours to determine the results. Ditch the box if you're not happy with the outcome.

3. Prepare your workspace and yourself

Getting messy is unavoidable when dyeing your hair, but you can keep it to a minimum. You'd want to cover nearby surfaces with lots of newspapers to avoid stains around your house. Have some tissues or towels ready as well to quickly wipe away any spills. Also, wear your rattiest T-shirt so you don't ruin any of your good shirts. Then, wrap a towel around your shoulder to soak up any dye that may drip during the process.

4. Prepare two boxes

Do yourself a favor and get two boxes of hair dye. Unless you have a really short and thin hair, you'll need more than one box. It's always better to have more dye at hand. Running out of dye midway through the process would be terrible.

5. Untangle your hair

Knots can make it difficult for you to apply dye onto your hair. This often results in an uneven dye job. So, brush your hair thoroughly to remove any knots and tangles.

6. Keep your hairline clean

You don't want to walk around the town with stained skin, do you? Those stains are tough to remove. You wouldn't want them, trust me. Protect your hairline from stains by applying some lip balm or petroleum jelly.

7. Follow the box instructions

After you've prepped yourself, now it's time to start the hair dyeing process. Read and follow the instructions on how to dye your hair from your box dye. Instructions on different boxes may vary slightly, but here's the general rundown.

• Mix the dye. Most boxes give you a bottle to mix your dye in, but I prefer using a bowl myself. Follow the directions and mix the dye with the developer nicely to get it working.

• Apply dye to your hair. Here comes the fun part! Wear your gloves and apply the dye liberally onto your hair, one small section at a time. Make sure you don't miss any part to produce a nice and even result.

• Wait. Check your box instruction on how long you should wait for the dye to seep perfectly into your hair.

• Rinse. After the waiting time is up, step into the shower and rinse your hair. Use warm water, and continue to rinse until the water runs clear. Then wash your hair as usual and dry it off. Congrats on your new hair color! Don't forget to show it off to your friends!

Extra Tips on Coloring Your Hair

Now that you know how to color hair at home, here are some tips and tricks to help you get an even better result.

• Never trust the model on the box

Just don't, you'll be disappointed if you do. The model on the box is likely to have light-colored or bleached hair, so their result will seem brighter. If you have dark hair, your result will be significantly darker than promised. Boxes usually have estimates chart on them though, so keep an eye out for those charts before buying.

• Take your hair texture into consideration

Identify your hair texture. Why is this important? You see, coarse and curly hair tend to soak up dye more easily and develop a bluish tone. In contrast, fine and thin hair doesn't absorb color really well and tend to develop a warmer tone. Keep that in mind while shopping for hair color and picking undertones.

• Stick with the waiting time

It's there for a reason, okay? If you're tempted to rinse early, don't. The dye won't have enough processing time. Don't wait too long to rinse either. Never wait more than 15 minutes after the processing time is up to rinse. At best, you'll just waste your time. At worst? You risk getting chemical burns on your hair and scalp.

• Maintain your hair

Use clarifying and toning shampoo to make your new hair color last longer. Also, a weird trick but I swear by it, condition your hair before shampooing it, and then wash as usual. It'll protect your hair color, plus it makes your hair softer.

• Love your hair

Expect some damage to your hair. You're putting a bunch of chemicals on it after all. That's why you need to give some extra love and care to your hair. Get some gentle, sulfate-free shampoo and nourishing conditioner. Additional hair masks and vitamins can help too. Whatever you do, take care of your hair, especially after dyeing it. Remember, healthy hair equals beautiful and glowing hair!

Summary

See? I told you that dyeing your own hair isn't scary. There's nothing to be afraid of if you know how to dye your hair properly. Just remember to stick to the guidelines while you have fun doing it. Now, go get yourself a gorgeous, new hair color. I've been wanting to dye my hair burgundy, how about you? Which color are you going to pick?