Would you like to try out a new hair color or refresh your old one? If you want to dye your hair yourself instead of going to the hairdresser, you should know THIS!
Table of contents
- 1. Coloring trap: incorrectly assessing the initial hair color
- 2. Dye trap: Expectations too high
- 3. Dye Trap: Poor preparation
- 4. Dye Trap: Too little dye
- 5. Dye trap: vegetable dyes vs. chemical dyes
- 6. Coloring Trap: Coloring the entire hair
- 7. Dye Trap: Didn't read instructions
- Good question: should you wash your hair before dyeing it or not?
- Don't forget: colored hair needs to be cared for!
Blonde, brown, or– no matter what hair color Mother Nature gave us, at some point every woman wants a color change. And at the latest when the first gray hairs here and there begin to disrupt the overall picture, the desire for a beautiful, intense hair color arises. Going to the hairdresser is of course the easiest, but not necessarily the cheapest solution. It is cheaper to dye your hair yourself at home.
But even if the DIY products all promise “easy application”, a lot can go wrong. We'll show you the seven most common dyeing pitfalls and give you tips on how you can avoid them.
1. Coloring trap: incorrectly assessing the initial hair color
Light or medium brown? Or maybe dark blonde? Many women find it difficult to correctly determine their own hair color and think it is too dark. In order for the coloring result to be as desired, it is important that the initial hair color is correct. Only then does medium blonde really become hazelnut brown.
Reading tips:
This is how you avoid the trap:Compare hair color (whether dyed or natural) to the images of hair strands shown on most dye packaging. That's a good indication.
If the original hair color doesn't appear there at all, you should stay away from this product and look for an alternative. If you are unsure, you should ask your trusted hairdresser what your hair color is - you don't have to tell him straight away that you prefer to color it at home rather than at his place.
If you're not sure about it, you can go with a permanent one insteadalso just start with oneTry it because it comes out again after 6 to 8 washes.
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If you don't like the result, the color can be removed from your hair without much effort and at short notice. A good alternative between tinting and coloring is an intensive tint: it lasts 6 to 8 weeks (You can find a good intensive tint here on Amazon*).
2. Dye trap: Expectations too high
Being blonde has been your dream for a long time? But instead of Marilyn Monroe, your hair now looks more like Pipi Longstocking. It's orange and not even even, just patchy.
This is how you avoid the trap:Great results can be achieved with home coloring products. But not every color wish can be realized in your own bathroom. Extreme color changes require a precise analysis of the hair structure and in-depth knowledge of the chemical processes that occur during coloring. If you bleach your hair yourself, you run the risk of the product being left on for too long (which further damages the hair) or too short (the result: orange!).
So go to your trusted hairdresser if you want highlights, the “ombré” look or radical color changes. If you just want to change your natural tone by one or two shades or color over a gray base, you can do that at home.
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3. Dye Trap: Poor preparation
You've bought a hair dye to use at home and would like to get started straight away - after all, it doesn't take long. Quickly wrap an old towel around your shoulders and you're ready to go... Stop!
Didn't you forget important things like hair clips, a comb and an alarm clock? Annoying! Because once the hair color has been mixed, there is no more time for searching around, after all it has to be applied immediately...
Here's how to do it better:Before you dye your hair yourself, take the time to prepare well. Make sure the following resources are at hand:
- Coloring brush: makes application easier, especially if you only want to color the roots (available here on Amazon)*
- Hair clips (made of plastic!) and styling comb: enable individual strands to be separated and secured (A complete set with hair clips, coloring brushes, etc. is available here on Amazon)*
- old towel and old clothes: This means there are no nasty paint stains!
- Kitchen alarm clock or set cell phone alarm: helps to precisely adhere to the exposure time
- Vaseline: prevents discoloration of the skin (is available here on Amazon)*
4. Dye Trap: Too little dye
You prepared everything so well: laid out the old towel and the kitchen timer to stop the time, applied the petroleum jelly to the skin as protection... and now this: when you apply it, you notice that the dye isn't enough!
You used a generous amount at the roots, but now it's tight for the lengths. The result can be: The dyeing result will be irregular because not all areas came into contact with the dye to the same extent.
Here's how to avoid this trap:Do you have short hair? You are guaranteed to be spared this dye trap. But at the latest from shoulder length you need two packs of dye so that you don't get into trouble when applying it. Mix the second pack straight away so that you can use it without wasting too much time.
Of course, if you want to dye your hair yourself, you often do so to save money. But don't be skimpy on the second pack, otherwise the first one won't produce the result you want.
Also read:Balayage on fleek: Over 30 trendy looks on how you can wear the hair color
5. Dye trap: vegetable dyes vs. chemical dyes
You were so sure that you were right with this color. But somehow the light brown you wanted turned out quite irregularly. Only the top ten centimeters are the right color, nothing has changed in the lengths.
This is how you avoid this problem:Natural hair dyes with henna or walnut shell extracts color the hair using a different principle of action than chemical hair dyes. Some natural hair colors also contain metal salts to intensify the coloring process. That wouldn't be a problem in itself, the simple fact is: hair that has been dyed with natural hair dyes must not be treated with chemical dyes again afterwards.
Be sure to wait until the hair that has been colored with natural colors has completely grown out or been cut off before using chemical color. Otherwise the result is unpredictable; bleaching can even result in a permanent green cast.
Are you still not sure which hair color suits you? Then take the test here!
6. Coloring Trap: Coloring the entire hair
At the latest when the first ones arriveshow, many women resort to dye, or at least a tint. If the majority of the hair is already gray, the fight against the roots begins. In principle it is of course not a problem.
However, many women make the mistake of not only coloring the unloved silver lining, but also coloring their entire hair right down to the tips. The color result is often irregular: the roots are no longer gray, but still have a different color than the rest of the hair. A clever camouflage of gray areas looks different.
Reading tips:
This is how you avoid this problem:This trick helps when coloring your roots: Massage some hair conditioner into the lengths and tips, or into all areas that still have your desired color. It wraps around the hair like a film and prevents direct contact with the coloring.
Then use a coloring brush to apply the color only at the roots. Only apply the dye to the lengths and ends in the last twelve minutes of the reaction time. This will refresh your color without looking too strong. After the exposure time has elapsed, rinse your hair and continue treating it as described in the instructions.
7. Dye Trap: Didn't read instructions
This isn't the first time I've dyed my hair– at least that’s what you thought beforehand and that’s why you didn’t read the instructions carefully. It's just strange that the result is different than last time. The hair somehow looks more damaged than usual.
Here's how to avoid this trap:Even if you already have a routine of coloring your hair yourself, you should read the instructions carefully!
On the one hand, this will help you avoid forgetting important steps in the dyeing process. On the other hand, it may be that the manufacturer has changed the composition of the dye - and this, for example, shortens the exposure time. If you expose your hair to color for too long, you won't get a particularly intense color, you'll just strain it unnecessarily. You should definitely avoid this if you care about your hair.
If you could use a few tips and inspiration when it comes to hair styling, you can click through our trend hairstyle album here:
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These are the trend hairstyles for 2021
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Hairstyles 2021: Casual undone look with bangs
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Frisuren 2021: French Cut
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Hairstyles 2021: Casual layered cut
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Hairstyles 2021: Layered cut with bangs
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Hairstyles 2021: layered cut
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Hairstyles 2021: Elegant Pixie Cut
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Hairstyles 2021: braids
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Hairstyles 2021: Casual undone look with a deep side parting
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Hairstyles 2021: Soft layered cut
Good question: should you wash your hair before dyeing it or not?
The instructions for use usually state that you should moisten your hair before dyeing it - but not wash it. And there is a good reason for this: It is important to wash your hair before coloring it to remove any remaining styling and care products such as hair spray, gel, hair treatments, etc. Because they form a film around the hair, which may not be able to accept the hair color so well. Result: The result of the coloring is not as expected.
Therefore:Do not wash your hair with shampoo etc. directly before dyeing, but only with water. The last shampoo should have been 1-2 days ago.
Don't forget: colored hair needs to be cared for!
After coloring, use a restorative hair treatment so that the new color lasts better. It is important to provide the hair structure with nutrients after coloring. Especially in summer, you should use a shampoo or special care products with a sun filter.
Don't forget to care for your hair after coloring it with a special shampoo for colored hair. By the way: Regardless of whether the hair is colored or not, shiny hair brings out a beautiful hair color. That's why there are the best shine products for your hair here.