Colour Your Hair At Home: 7 Useful Tips

We know colouring your hair can sound daunting but not when you have a step-by-step guide on how you can colour your hair at home. This won't just save you a few bucks, but you won't even have to leave the comfort of your home! From figuring out how to colour your hair at home naturally to washing your hair after, here's how you can elevate your look successfully.

If you have wondered how often can you colour your hair at home without damaging it, we'd suggest opting for an ammonia-free dye. Ammonia, when dissolved in water, forms something that's called ammonium hydroxide which is extremely bad for the skin. When it comes in contact with your scalp, it can cause quite a bit of itchiness and irritation, as well as allergic reactions and burns.

If you are not sure what colour to go for, look for dark colours like brown, copper or red. Dyeing your hair in dark shades is as safe as it can get and will look more natural if you are not confident with your hair dyeing skills. Bleach can be harsh on your skin and burn your scalp if you are not careful and is needed for light colours to show on black hair.

If you've already made the decision to go blonde or a light colour, mentally prepare yourself for the four hours of bleaching to lift the hair colour and the additional hour of the actual dyeing process.

You must have heard of DIY natural dyes and chemical-free processes of changing your hair colour. So, how to colour your hair at home naturally? Dyeing hair is actually an ancient cosmetic trend that used natural dyes to change your hair colour. Henna aka mehendi can turn black hair brown. If your hair is slightly lighter than the usual Indian hair, it can also turn your hair red. As for lemon and vinegar, they have astringent properties. You know what this means, it's a natural bleach. It has been often used to lighten body hair and can also be used to lighten the colour of the hair on your head.

Apply oil or Vaseline Petroleum Jelly on the edges of your face making it easy to rub off any hair dye that may have gotten on your skin.

Before you colour your hair, it's important to test the hair dye. Apply a little bit to the inside of your elbow or wrist to check for any allergies before testing on a small section of your hair 48 hours before. This will help you know if the dye is right for you—whether there is any irritation or if you are allergic. If there is no reaction, you can go ahead with it. The strand test will also help you decipher whether the colour is right for you or not.

Since dye tends to dry the hair, nourish your locks for a few days before you dye your hair. Hair serums are a godsend as they tame flyaways and frizz, hydrate your hair and give a shiny finish. Turn to the Tresemme Pro Pure Moisture Hair Serum as it has aloe, is paraben-free and gives your hair a salon-like finish. It is also loaded with sunflower seed oil and coconut oil and gives all the benefits of natural oils minus the greasiness so you can easily colour your hair. Simply spray it from the mid-lengths to the end a day before you colour your hair and continue to hydrate your locks with it after colouring.

We are not saying don't wash your hair at all. Basically, shampoo and rinse it off well at least a day before you actually get to colouring it. This is because any remaining residue of shampoo may react with the hair colour if you wash it an hour before. It can also lead to your scalp burning.

First, divide your hair into four or six sections to make sure you dye every part of your hair evenly. Keep one mirror in front of you, and one at the back, so you can see your hair from all angles. Work section-wise and start dyeing your hair from the roots, and then work your way down.

Make sure to wash your hair a day or two before you sit to colour your hair. This way, your hair remains clean and gives them time to restore the natural hair oil. But if your hair is too greasy, the colour won't stay on effectively. The oil buildup in a day or two is just enough to make sure the dye doesn't irritate your scalp and the colour blends naturally with your hair.

Like we said before, keep everything ready in advance, this also means mixing the hair colour. Make sure your counter is covered with newspaper to minimise the mess, wear gloves and cover your shoulders. You will also need tissues to wipe off mistakes, mixing bowls, a wide-tooth comb, clips, a colour brush, silver foil, and of course, your box of colour. If you are bleaching, get the bleach ready otherwise mix your hair dye in a bowl.

This step is optional. You will only have to follow it if you are bleaching or dyeing your hair a light colour. Since we have black hair, light colours won't show. You can lighten your tresses with a blonde developer aka hair bleach. Mix the lightening products well in a bowl. Divide your hair into sections and apply the pre-lightening mix with the brush to the area of hair you wish to colour. After that, wrap the coloured sections in silver foil. Let it sit for 30-45 minutes. Then wash your hair and dry it well.

And yes, this step also applies to those who want to go blonde. Just bleaching your hair is not enough. To get that sleek finish, after lightening your hair, you need to dye it blonde for an even-toned look.

Once your hair has dried, it's time to put on the colour. Brush your hair nicely, leaving no tangles. Get the colour mix ready. Now, the fun starts.

Divide your hair into sections again and start colouring a couple of strands at a time from the root to the tip with the brush. Colouring by sections makes sure that you haven't missed any strands. Wrap each section of hair in the silver foil after you colour them and let the colour sit in your hair for 30 to 45 minutes.

Next, rinse your hair and then shampoo. Go for a colour-protecting shampoo and continue using it to keep the colour from fading. As we mentioned, dyeing can dry your hair, so get some added moisture in there with the Tresemme Pro Pure Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner.It has nourishing elements like aloe vera, sunflower seed oil and coconut oil that are perfect for coloured hair. It also cleanses hair of excess oil and grime while strengthening weak locks.

You will see the colour running down the drain when you wash it, but don't panic; it's totally normal. You would see this happen for the first few days after you colour your hair. Once you have washed your hair, let it dry naturally and see how the colour has turned out and that's it! You can retouch and dye your hair every six to eight weeks at home. This gives your hair enough time to recover its lost moisture and health.

Well, now that you know how often can you colour your hair at home and with minimal damage, what are you waiting for? It may sound a little tedious, but it's all fun and doable and will save you a trip to the salon for sure!