8 tips you NEED to know to dye your hair at home

Having such long hair, people often assume that I have regular trips to the hair dresser but to be honest, I don’t. I rarely go to the hair dresser, my last appointment taking place over a year ago and the time before that it was nearly 3 years. I’m terrible with my hair and yet, because I don’t apply much by way of heat as I’m too much of a lazy arse to straighten or curl it, 90% of the time I can’t even be arsed to blow dry it, it’s in super condition.

I think one of the things that puts me off going to the hair dresser the most is how LONG it takes to have an appointment. To colour and cut my hair, because it’s soooo long and thick, takes around 4 hours. Ain’t nobody with 3 kids, a busy schedule and ALL THE SHIZZLE TO DO got time for that. So if I want to change my style I do it the only way I know how: I dye my hair at home.
Now I am not a hairdresser but I have been getting my dye on since I was 14 years old which means I have 15+ years experience in dyeing my hair and I think I’ve picked up a few tips on exactly how to make the most of dyeing your hair at home.

Tips for dyeing your hair at home:

1.) Get everything ready before you do ANYTHING.

Darlings I have stained towels, coated my taps and basin in dye, then subsequently my hands, suddenly realised I have no towel, I’m missing something or other… it’s ridiculous. So, get your towel, your gloves, your soaps/razor/shampoo, an old hair tie you may need if your hair is super long all ready beforehand. You’ll thank yourself later.

2.) Use Vaseline.

Yes! I went through a phase of dyeing my ears every damn time I dyed my hair. It was madness and even though it gave my mum and my friends a good giggle, it was t the brightest idea. So get a tub of Vaseline and smother it over your ears, your hairline and your neck where your hair touches and then if you do get any dye on it you won’t have to worry.

3.) Cling film your hair for maximum effect AND to keep it up and out of the way.

My mum taught me this and, as I’m not a hair dresser I have no idea if it’s for some purpose or what, but once the dye is all applied and you are good to go, wrap your head in cling film. I know, I know, it sounds loopy, but so it anyway. My mum always told me it helps the dye take hold but I’m not sure if that is true. What I do know is that it stops me staining anything if I knock my head against it or my hand brushes against my head.

4.) Follow the instructions and read them FIRST.

This sounds like common sense right? Until you are a dye at home queen and you try out a new brand, assuming that it is the same as every other brand and decide to use the same method only to discover when checking for something random that you had to have your hair damp when you’ve always applied it dry, it lasts for 20 mins vs the 30 you just left it on for and you shouldn’t use shampoo to wash it off when rinsing but you always do with the other brand. No matter how well you think you know the rules, read the packet info.

5.) Don’t wash your hair a few days before dyeing.

Yup, get down and dirty when you’re about to dye your hair. Hair dye takes better on greasy hair. Don’t ask me why, I’m not a hair dresser, it’s something to do with the oils in your hair protecting it and since I have naturally greasy hair maybe that’s why mine is always healthy, even after years of abuse.

6.) Get real.

I’ve made this mistake so I am happy to impart this data with your dye-queen selves. DONT DO THE MAJOR DYE JOB. Sweet loves, I have bleached my hair at home and it looked like shite, felt like shite and the £15 I spent on at home bleach was only amplified by the £15 I spent on a “nice blond” to make my hair look less “crazy teen who bleached her hair” and more “beach babe” … to
be amplified again by the £140 I spent at the hair dresser to fix it. If you have an idea of what you want and it’s extreme, in my experience, it’s better done at a hair dresser OR if you really must do it, ask around and ask people’s advice on what works for them. I find Facebook groups really useful as they are full of a real mix of people who will tell you straight, this is a good idea and I would recommend this because my hair was black and I’m not platinum blond.

7.) Buy more than one box unless your hair is short

I know my hair is long and thicker than Nicki Minaj. This means that one box of hair dye will do my roots and that’s it. Buy more than one box, I know you’re cutting corners but it’s better to have too much and take one unopened one back to the shop than get through one box and have to run to Superdrug with half dyed hair covered in cling film. Trust me.

8.) Prep for damage.

Dude, you dyed your hair. Prep for damage by getting some really good colour protecting conditioner and once a week leave it in your hair either overnight or for an hour if you don’t have time. It will really nourish your hair. You could also do an oil treatment if you don’t mind having oil in your hair, it is super good for restoring balance. Lastly, remember that your hair is probably feeling the after affects of dyeing so use heat protectors if you are styling your hair.

And that’s it!! Those are my top tips for dyeing your hair at home! It’s such a fab way to change your look but remember, doing it constantly will almost certainly ruin your hair so be nice and keep it sensible!

H :