Adapted from Spafinder.com
It’s coronavirus-quarantine-whatever-week-we’re-on, and our roots. are. no. joke. Our hairstylist will have her hands full once we’re able to return to our regular salon appointments. (Fingers crossed the roots fade to a beautiful ombré effect, but we’re not banking on that.) So we’ve decided to brave DIY hair colouring. Because COVID-19 may be making us self-isolate, but it’s not going to make us forget about self-care.
What You Need for At-Home Hair Touch Ups
- A protective cover you don’t mind getting stained. An old shirt, cape, maybe a towel to wrap around your shoulders (tuck into your shirt collar if you don’t have a clip).
- An old sheet or towel to protect your sink, tub or bathroom floor
- A mixing bowl and colour brush (preferably like the ones hairstylists use at salons).
- Many experts suggest disregarding the bottle applicator that comes with most boxes of hair dye. Opt for a colour brush for more natural-looking, precise results.
- 4 hair clips for sectioning
- The colour itself. And you have options!
- A prepackaged kit is perfect for beginners and typically comes stocked with essentials (instructions, pre-colour treatment, developer cream, protective gloves, after-care conditioning treatment and the like). We recommend Clairol Natural Instincts Semi-Permanent Hair Color and L’Oreal Paris Feria Hair Color.
- Or search online for colouring options. There are amazing sites like esalon.com that provide custom at-home hair colour delivered to your door.
- Reach out and see if your stylist suggests a product or formula. Or, if he/she is willing to whip up your usual formula (most likely they have it on file), so you can pick it up.
Helpful Tips for Touch Ups
- When buying boxed hair colour, purchase not one, but two—especially if a.) your locks are thick or b.) cascade past your shoulders.
- So many colours …which dye to choose? Here’s a fantastic hair tip from Allure: Those with frizzy or curly hair should pick warm hues like golden, copper or bronze—but one that’s a little bit lighter than your natural hair color. Those sporting fine or straight hair should select cooler hues (champagne, beige) that are a tad darker than your natural colour. (Definitely don’t try anything drastic like a complete colour change—leave the experimenting to the salon professional.
- Swipe a thin coat of Vaseline along your hairline to stop the dye from staining your skin. Fresh, brightened up tresses: Perfection. A stained forehead: Not cute.
- Your hairline should be clean…your hair not so much. Dye unwashed hair only. Why? Natural oils act as a protectant against irritation, plus, clean hair doesn’t hold colour as well.
- Brush hair to rid it of tangles. (And if you’re highlighting hair, run a comb through it to create its natural part.)
- Divide hair into four sections for accuracy (especially in the back where areas can be easily missed). This goes for both all-over-colour and highlights. This Madison Reed video provides a good tutorial:
Final Thoughts
- Ace the strand test. Before you go full-on hair dye happy, apply colour to a tiny section of your locks to a.) see how the colour reacts and b.) to determine the proper timing.
- Looking for natural, subtle highlights? A (clean) toothbrush or a paintbrush does the trick if you don’t have a salon-style colour brush.
- Deep condition hair immediately upon rinsing the dye to seal the colour. Good luck!