Six things you should know before trying a box dye

Dyeing your hair at home is risky business. It can either go really well or really bad depending on your skill level. And let’s be honest here, most of us are not trained colorists. 

Most people who dye their hair at home, or at least attempt to, are normally beginners. And there is totally nothing wrong with that. 

There are different types of dyes like the temporary wax or liquid dyes, pastes and the dreaded box dyes.

Box dyes are more complicated and most people prefer to get a dye job done by a professional. But there’s a first time for everything so this is what you should know before trying out a box dye at home. 

Quality is everything 

You definitely don’t want to end up with a disaster when you’re sure you’ve done everything right. Some of the bad quality ones can cause an allergic reaction or even damage your hair by the time it fades out. Of course, you also have to do some treatments before dying your hair but the quality of the dye also plays a huge part in the health of your hair.

The color might not look like your expectations

Sadly, this often happens with box dyes. I’ve had the experience of being overly excited only to get my hopes shut down because I was seriously expecting it to look like the model on the box. You can expect to have a shade close to what’s on the box but it doesn’t always happen.

Following instructions is key

Maybe you’ve watched countless videos of people dyeing the hair at home and your confidence levels are through the roof. Remember that each company has its own specific set of instructions even though there are those general steps that come with every dye. Just to be on the safe side, do exactly as the instructions say.

Consult your stylist

Your stylist has been taking care of your hair long enough to know what would work and what wouldn’t work. They’re familiar with how your hair texture will react to certain dyes and they can give you some specific tips for you. It’s better to call them and consult before anything else.

You’ll need to have your tools ready

Dyeing hair isn’t just about buying the dye and pouring it on your hair. If you’ve always had it done at the salon, you might not notice all the in betweens that go with it. You’ll need to have gloves, a proper dye brush, some Vaseline to prevent the dye from staining your skin, sectioning clips and everything else that is necessary. By this time, you should also have specific shampoo and conditioners made for dyed hair.

Do a test-run first

You need to see how your hair and skin react to the dye by doing a patch and strand test. If you’re trying out a new product, you’ll be able to note early if your skin is getting irritated and whether or not you need to try something else. This is the best part about dyeing you own hair because you have the opportunity to see what works for you.