How to Prepare the Hair for Color

One of the worst mistakes that you can make is not preparing the hair before coloring it. If you don't take the time to make sure that the ideal conditions are met, then you'll be unhappy about the dye job. Whether coloring hair at home or in a salon, preparation should only take a few minutes.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Request that the hair be unwashed. Recommend that the client does not wash her hair before coming in for color. Most hair color brands don't suggest shampooing the hair beforehand.

2. Protect the clothes and skin from hair color stains. Drape capes over the client as well as towels to protect their clothing and skin from the hair dye.

3. Comb the hair. To prepare the hair for color, you should brush it and make sure that it's tangle free. Keep the hair dry while you run the comb through it.

4. Apply a wax to the hairline of the client. This prevents the hair dye from staining these areas. Apply the wax in a thin layer over the skin and try not to get any in the client's hair.

Tips & Warnings

• You may want to perform a strand and allergy test before coloring your hair at home. These tests are used to determine a skin allergy to the dye and to tell if you like the color of the dye.
• Make sure you also cover ears with the wax before coloring the hair. The ears are prone to staining during the hair coloring process.