Coloring the Hair

Coloring the Hair

If hair is short to mid-length, the actual coloring of the hair is a fairly simple DIY project. Longer hair is a little more challenging, and first timers may want some assistance from a friend the first color. Initially, a strand test should be done 24 hours prior to coloring.

Before coloring, hair should be in fairly good condition and not newly washed. Day old hair has natural oils on the hair shaft that helps protect the scalp and skin from irritation, and will enable the color to set more evenly. Be prepared for some spills. Covering the floor and wearing an old blouse or smock will ensure that dye drips don't ruin anything. A towel, washcloth, hair clips and some cotton balls should be handy as well.

The first time color treatment goes fairly quickly, because the dye is worked into hair starting at the roots continuing to the ends almost like shampooing. However, touch ups require a little more work. The purpose of a touch up is to color the roots that have grown out since the last color. If the dye were added over the entire hair area for the full processing time after that initial color, the hair shaft would become stressed and brittle.