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Hair Coloring; How to Coloring Your Hair at Home Naturally

Hair coloring is the practice of changing the hair color. The main reasons for this are cosmetic: to cover gray or white hair, to change to a color regarded as more fashionable or desirable, or to restore the original hair color after it has been discolored by hairdressing processes or sun bleaching. Hair coloring can be done professionally by a hairdresser or independently at home.

Natural Herbal Homemade Hair Coloring

To make a basic dye, simply brew herbal material into a strong tea and rinse it through your hair. But if you want the dye to last longer, follow these steps. And for anyone who has dark hair with gray coming through, you know how important that is!

Here’s the basic method:

Chop or mash your herbal material – You can use fresh or dried for most applications, though specifics are noted with certain herbs. The smaller the material is, the more surface area can be exposed to hair, and therefore, creates a stronger and darker dye.
Make a paste by mixing the herbs with some hot water – Add a small amount of water at a time until you get a thick paste the consistency of toothpaste. Hot water will open the pores of the herbs and allow more color to be released.
For colors that require making a tea, use a large amount of herbs – ½ cup of herbs to 2 cups water. Use hot water and steep as long as it takes to cool off. Strain herbs out and transfer tea to a squirt bottle to make application easier.
If using a tea, squirt onto scalp and hair, repeating until tea is gone – Twist hair, secure on top of head, and cover with a damp towel or shower cap.If using a paste, apply the paste to the roots and cover with a damp towel or shower cap.
For both types of preparation – leave on for a half hour or so and rinse out. I suggest doing it in the shower or over a bathtub because it can make quite a mess.
If possible, dry your hair in the sun – It will give it more natural highlights.
Most of these dyes are semi-permanent. They will last a few weeks. Hair usually grows out faster than color fades. To keep the color, reapply a few times per month or more.

How to Coloring Your Hair at Home Naturally

1st Step

1. Wash Your Hair Before Dyeing

It is essential to wash your hair 24 to 48 hours before dyeing. This allows the natural oils that are secreted during this time to act as a barrier against irritation and helps in binding the color to the hair strands efficiently. It is best not to condition your hair as it could obstruct the process of color binding.

2. Pick A Color

This is probably the most stressful step in this process. Picking the perfect shade from the vast spectrum of colors can be overwhelming. So, unless you are a regular experimenter, it is best to go for a color not more than two shades darker or lighter than your original hair color.

Your hair color should also complement your skin tone. For instance, if you are fair skinned, avoid dark raven colors and opt for honey blonde or auburn shades instead. Similarly, if you have a dark skin tone, avoid going for light hair colors all over your head and opt for deep honey or cinnamon highlights. It is best to go for a semi-permanent dye as it lasts for about 20-26 washes and does not damage your tresses as much as a permanent dye.

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3. Cover Yourself With A Color Cape

Dyeing your hair at home can get messy. So, purchase a dark-colored cape to catch those spills and protect your skin and clothes. You can wrap the cape around your shoulders before beginning the coloring process.

4. You Need To Brush Your Hair

Knots and tangles prevent the dye from spreading evenly, resulting in patchy hair color. To get rid of all knots and tangles, brush your hair thoroughly.

5. Coat Your Hairline, Ears, And Neck With Vaseline

Apply Vaseline (or any petroleum jelly) along your hairline to prevent staining your skin. This step is essential as the color can stay on your skin for weeks despite several washes.

6. Put On Some Rubber/Plastic Gloves

If the hair color kit does not include gloves, buy a pair from a local drug store. Make sure you wear gloves while coloring your hair as they protect your hands from getting stained and keep your sleeves clean.Done prepping your hair? Now it’s time to gather all your hair coloring equipment and jump right into it !

2nd Steps Things Needed And How To Apply Hair Color

1. Use A Bowl To Mix The Dye

Using a mixing bowl is a better choice than using the bottle that is usually included in hair coloring kits. With the help of a dyeing brush, you can mix the dye effectively and apply it to your hair much more easily.

2. Use A Hair Developer

If you are unaware of the purpose of hair developer, let me enlighten you. A developer is primarily made of hydrogen peroxide, which helps in opening up the hair shafts and binding the color to the hair cuticles. This makes the dyeing process more effective as the color seeps in and stays on for a longer period.

Developers come in different volumes. The most common type is 20 volume developer. If you are a first-timer, you can use this as it contains 6% hydrogen peroxide, which is safe to use on any hair type.

3. Section Your Hair Using A Comb

Separating your hair into sections will help you cover every hair strand without leaving any patches. Ideally, you should divide your hair into four sections. It is best to begin dyeing the front sections first as they are the largest and need extra processing time. Using long hairdresser clips will be helpful in holding your hair.

4. Apply The Dye

Always start from the roots. Apply the dye from the roots to the tips and brush the length of your hair using a wide-toothed comb. While combing, make sure to drag it down till the end to remove excess dye. This helps in distributing the product evenly. Once you are done with this section, you can roll it up and fasten it to your head with a clip. Continue this process until the first section is fully saturated. Move on to the next section and repeat the process.

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5. Set A Timer

Setting a timer enables you to leave the color on for the instructed amount of time. Follow the instructions carefully and do not rinse off before the minimum time or go past the maximum time allotted.You can use some heat (i.e., use a blow dryer) to help the color penetrate your hair.

How To Highlight Your Hair

This might come as a surprise, but if you need subtle highlights, you can use a clean mascara brush. Highlighting your hair follows a similar process as dyeing. You need to blow dry your hair and brush it. Section your hair and start highlighting the bottom layers first. Try not to follow a particular pattern of application. The best highlights are always messy and asymmetrical. Leave the color in for the indicated amount of time before rinsing it off. Finish off by applying clear hair gloss to help boost the highlights.

How To Dye Your Hair Blonde

A word of advice! If you are planning to go blonde, it is recommended to get it done professionally. It is a risky game, and you might end up damaging your hair.

However, if your hair is naturally light, you can go for it. Start by applying the color from behind the crown and away from the roots. Massage until every hair strand is soaked in the solution. Wait for 30 minutes. Check how much your hair has lightened and start applying the solution to the roots. Once you are done with all the sections, you can let it sit for 30 minutes. Rinse the color off with warm water and shampoo and condition your hair.

How To Dye Your Hair Silver

The first step in dyeing your hair silver is bleaching it. Follow it up with the application of purple toner to remove any brassiness. The steps involved are similar to that of hair dyeing. You can apply the color in a structured manner, working through the sections. Let the color sit for the indicated time and rinse off with warm water. Use a sulfate-free shampoo. How you rinse off the hair dye is just as important as how you apply it. Here are a few simple steps you need to follow when washing off your hair color.

3rd Steps Time For Rinsing

1. Use A Towel To Wipe Off Dye From Your Skin

Wipe off the dye stains from your forehead, neck, and ears with a wet cloth. Cover your hair with a shower cap to retain the moisture and heat. This will help the color bind to your hair much more effectively.

2. Wait Until The Time Is Up

Rinse the color off your hair using warm water. Do not use shampoo. Massage the roots with your fingertips and keep rinsing until the water runs clear. Finish off with a sulfate-free conditioner.

3. Shampoo And Condition Your Hair

After rinsing off the hair dye, wait for at least an hour before shampooing your hair. This helps the hair color get absorbed into the hair shafts. You can then go ahead and shampoo and condition your hair.

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4. Dry Your Hair

You can either use a dryer or let your hair dry naturally. If you are using a blow dryer, make sure you use it on the lowest heat setting. After your hair has dried completely, you can go ahead and style your hair to your heart’s content.

Lastly, in case you are unhappy with your new hair color and want to get rid of it, use a color remover, wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo, or head on to a professional salon.

What To Do:

Be sure to color your hair at least 2-3 days before having your extensions put in.
Braid your extensions before sleeping or exercising to avoid tangling.
Brush your hair & hair extensions thoroughly before washing your hair.
Use professional hair products (recommended by your extensionist) that are NOT alcohol or protein based.
Use a deep moisturizing conditioner.
Use a leave-in moisturizer/treatment.
Ensure that your hairdryer is on a low heat setting when drying your hair extensions.
Brush your hair every morning and night. A loop brush is recommended to use on your hair extensions to avoid catching the attached area.
Do regular deep moisture treatments to ensure soft silky hair.

What Not To Do:

Do not go to sleep with wet or damp hair; there are some cases of this happening and causing mold. You do not want that!
Do not rub the hair harshly when shampooing or conditioning, this could weaken the hair.
Do not apply conditioner to the root area around the extensions; it can make the extensions challenging to install.
Do not bleach or color your extensions yourself.
Do not brush extension hair too hard as you might pull the hair strands out.
Do not wet your hair in a pool or sea water. The Chlorine/ Saltwater will strip the oils from the hair extensions making them dry.

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