With so many salons temporarily closed as a result of the COVID-19, maintaining your fresh hairdo may be proving to be more difficult than you originally anticipated. In today’s climate, dining out, concerts and trips to the salon seem like a distant memory. However, just because you’re stuck at home, doesn’t mean you can’t whip up a five-star meal, jam out in your living room, or touch up your roots (yes, we said roots). If you’re looking for salon-style results at home, be sure to follow these expert tips by our Malibu hair salon, Glamifornia. Here we will explain how to dye your hair at home — the right way.
1. Research, Research, Research.
If you’ve dyed your hair at home before, you’ve probably messed up at least once. And who can blame you? The instructions on the box aren’t exactly all-encompassing. For most of the process, you’ll have to feel out on your own, but before reaching for store-bought dye, be sure to do plenty of research. Remember that not all hair dyes are suitable for every hair type, and covering your gray roots is a lot easier than transitioning from brunette to strawberry blonde. Even if you’re planning to take matters into your own hands, we still recommend consulting your trusted stylist. He or she may be able to make recommendations based on your hair’s needs. At our Malibu beauty salon, our stylists will be able to provide you with expert advice regarding what type of dye would best suit your hair type.
2. Get Clean but Not Too Clean
It makes sense that you don’t want to dye dirty or oily hair — after all, you’re dyeing your hair, not the buildup. But at the same time, hair dye is formulated to better stick to hair that isn’t freshly washed. Additionally, your scalp’s natural oils will protect it from being burned by the dye or bleach you’re using. (And, yes, dye can burn too; it’s not just bleach. All hair coloring chemicals are damaging for your scalp, period, so don’t leave them in for too long.)
The general recommendation is to wash your hair anywhere from 12-48 hours before you dye it, depending on how oily or dry it is. (If you have a very sensitive scalp or only need to wash your hair every few days, choose the longer time.)
2. Tone It Up
If you have dark hair, you should know that going for a color like platinum or ash blonde is risky, especially at home! In fact, we highly advise against doing so because of the damage it would do to keep the bleach on your hair for long enough to get it right. Even if you follow every step on the box, you still won’t get the results you hoped for.
The simple fix? Toner. A toner lifts certain tones (brassy, reddish, or yellow, depending on the toner) from your hair. Which one you get depends on which tones you want to cancel out. Please don’t overdo it though — you don’t want purple hair when you’re trying for platinum. You can get them at drugstores, supermarkets, and the like, but even then, some professional input is recommended. When it comes to all things beauty wellness, Glamifornia can provide you with trusted recommendations and advice for your hair care needs.
3. Do a Strand Test
It’s tempting not to do a strand test for a new color or brand, especially after you’ve already paid for your hair dye, but is it worth the risk of possibly having to buy another dye kit (if not more) to amend an egregious crime of attempted self-expression? Regardless of gender, as long as you don’t keep it covered, your hair is your crown. While it’s harder to do if your hair is shorter, take a strand from where your hair is least visible — use sectioning clips on longer hair, so the dye only gets on that one strand — and apply color as intended. When the allotted time is up, wash it out, and — voila! You either have something you love or have another trip to the drug store.
4. Wait to Wash
72 hours! The wait time is 72 hours! And, yeah, that’s three whole days without washing your hair. Technically speaking, more than that, if you factor in the time you took before dyeing it and don’t count the rinse. The science behind this is that your hair needs at least 72 hours for the cuticle layer to close around the dye’s color molecules. If your bright colors often fade too quickly, it’s probably because your hair hasn’t had the opportunity to do exactly that. Try waiting and you’ll see what a difference it makes.
But then, what do you do with greasy hair that can’t go three days without a deep wash? Well, first of all, it’s likely you bleached your hair, but even if you didn’t, regular dye chemicals could dry out your scalp, so you may not be in as much trouble as you think. A silver lining to being quarantined is that you can successfully dye your hair every day of the week! When you do start shampooing and conditioning again, be sure to use shampoo and conditioner designed for color-treated hair. Always wash in cold or lukewarm water because hot water is the fastest way to fade your dye job.
Most importantly, have fun with your look! Maximize your color! Go crazy! If there’s any time to experiment with your look, it’s definitely when you’re stuck at home. Stay healthy, stay sane, and look fantastic.
Beauty Concierge Services in Malibu
Save yourself the hassle and leave the coloring to the pros! At the GSL, we’re rolling with the tides to keep you safely styled. Take in the fresh air as we cut and style you on our beautiful lawn or take advantage of our backyard beauty services. Our network of licensed and insured professionals can come directly to you. From hair to lashes to massages, we have talent for all your beauty needs. To book your appointment, call us at 310.456.8459 or visit https://glamifornia.com/inquire-online/.