Tips for coloring hair at home - Garnier Tips for coloring hair at home - Garnier

Hair Coloring at Home: Tips & Tricks

If this is your first time coloring your hair at home or you just want to step up your DIY color game, the key to success is getting the best advice. This comprehensive guide answers the most common questions about hair coloring at home, from choosing the best shade to making your color last. Once you’ve got these hair color tips and tricks under your belt, your dyeing sessions will be a breeze!

How do you find the right hair color shade?

Garnier has two great tools for finding your perfect shade of box hair color right from your smartphone or desktop. First, take the one-minute Shade Selector quiz to quickly narrow down your ideal shades. Then, click over to the Virtual Try-On Tool to see how those colors look on you by uploading a selfie or turning on your camera.
Hair Color Virtual Try-On

Hair Color Virtual Try-On

Virtually try on Garnier hair colors to discover your perfect shade.

TRY ON SHADES
Shade Selector Quiz

Shade Selector Quiz

Take our quiz to discover the perfect Garnier hair shades for you!

FIND MY SHADE

What's the difference between permanent and semi-permanent hair dye?

There are three main differences between permanent and semi-permanent hair dye:
Hair dye tips - Garnier

  • Permanent color is applied on unwashed dry hair while semi-permanent is used on washed damp hair. 
  • Semi-permanent color only coats your tresses and doesn’t penetrate into the hair shaft whereas permanent hair color becomes part of your hair.
  • Semi-permanent color washes out after 6 to 12 washings. Permanent dye may fade a little and need a root touchup or a quick refresh, but only every 6 to 8 weeks.

Toner vs. Hair Dye

Hair coloring at home mainly involves permanent box hair color. Toner is used to adjust or even out undesired hues like brassiness. For this reason, it’s formulated as a gentler product that doesn’t last very long.

What's the best way to color your hair at home?

Garnier box hair color contains all the dyeing supplies and detailed instructions. To learn the best techniques, read our article on how to dye hair at home and follow the pro hair dye tips below.

  • Wear a robe or buttoned/zipped top that’s easy to take off.
  • Lay out everything you will need before you start, e.g. gloves, plastic clips, comb, and a damp paper towel for quick cleanups.
  • Comb your hair before applying your hair color.
  • Start where you see the grays, if that is what bothers you the most.
  • Apply petroleum jelly or hair conditioner all along your hairline and ears to prevent drips and staining.
  • Divide hair into four sections to keep track of where you’re coloring so your don’t miss a spot.

How to use box hair color - Garnier

What is the best way to care for hair after coloring at home?

A lot of at-home colorists wonder how to take care of dyed hair. The trick is keeping your locks hydrated and healthy with deeply moisturizing treatments like hair masks and serums. You’ll also want to use sulfate-free products formulated for color-treated hair. Periodically refresh your color and touch up roots with products from Garnier Color Retouch.

How challenging is it for someone to color their hair or roots at home?

Before coloring your hair at home, it’s important to know your natural hair color. Are you a medium warm brown, a light cool blonde, etc.? Then you can check the side of the box hair color to confirm if you’re a good candidate for your selected color. If you have really thick and/or long hair, grab two boxes.

Is it better to dye clean or dirty hair?

While most hair color tips recommend dyeing your hair when it’s dirty, salon pros say there’s no real difference in the results.

How do you remove hair dye from skin?

One of the best tips for coloring hair at home is about cleaning up messes! Here are a few simple tricks for removing any stains on your skin or the work area.
Removing stains from hair dye tips - Garnier

  • Dampen a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and dab it on your hairline or hands.
  • Combine warm water with a few drops of dish liquid, then apply to the stain with a cotton ball. Rinse well.
  • Rub a rich body cream or hair conditioner into stained hands, then wash well with soap and warm water.
  • Dab olive oil on your skin with a cotton ball or washcloth and rinse.
  • Dispense a small amount of micellar water, such as SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water All-in-1, onto a cotton ball and rub the stain in circular motion. 

What are the most common mistakes made while coloring hair?

To err is human, even if you’ve been coloring hair at home for years. Knowing what to expect makes mistakes easier to avoid!

  • Watch the clock! The longer you leave the hair color on your roots, the better the gray coverage. But if you apply the box hair color all over and forget the time, the results will be darker and flatter or ashier than expected.
  • Don’t take the color off too soon because you may not achieve the color you want, and you can’t just immediately recolor it.
  • Don’t try to stretch one bottle for mounds of long curly hair. You’ll almost always miss a section and the results will be uneven. Save yourself the trouble and buy two boxes.
  • Mix and use immediately! Once the hair color and developer are blended in the bottle, the chemistry is activated and the countdown is on.
  • Discard any unused hair color mixture. Never store it for the next coloring session. It won’t work, and you’ll just create a mess.

Box hair color tips - Garnier

Do you shampoo after using box dye?

Another important hair dye color tip is for after the color is applied. The dye needs time to set in, so avoid shampooing for 24 to 72 hours. If you really feel like a wash, use some dry shampoo and style as usual until the waiting time is up.

How often should you shampoo color-treated hair?

Shampoo doesn’t do color-treated hair any favors, so wash strategically and sparingly – every other day at most – with a sulfate-free shampoo. Explore our Fructis Color Shield range for options that preserve and protect your color.

Does hair dye expire?

Most box hair color manufacturers say that hair dye does not expire. However, it may not have an unlimited shelf life because there are a lot of factors at play. Use caution if the storage conditions weren’t ideal or one of the products has been opened. If it is past due, you’ll notice an odd smell or separation when mixing the developer.

What's the difference between box dye and salon dye?

Besides the pampering you get a salon, there are some key differences between coloring your hair at home and having a pro do it for you. Professional colorists use ingredients that tend to be easier on the hair than box dye color, and the results can be closer to what you want (it’s harder to predict the outcome by yourself). Salons also offer treatments like foiling and advanced effects that can’t be easily done at home.

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