Things You'll Need:
- Home hair-coloring kit
- Wide-tooth comb
- Scissors
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Step 1
Get prepared. You will need a pair of scissors and a wide-tooth comb handy. Do the strand test if you are uncertain of the color or if you fear you may be allergic to the color. Put your gloves on and read the directions. If you have particularly long or thick hair, one kit may not be enough. You should have a second kit on hand in case you run out of color. Cut off the tip off the applicator bottle with scissors and mix in the color solution. Shake the bottle with a gloved finger over the tip. Keep the scissors around -- you may need them to open the after-color conditioner.
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Step 2
Decide what type of coloring you are doing. If you have never used this particular color before, you will follow the directions marked "First time color" or "All-over color." If you used the same color last time you colored your hair, you should follow the directions labeled "Professional touch up" or something similar.
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Step 3
Apply color to the roots. Make sure your hair is completely dry. Brush your hair thoroughly to remove hair spray or other styling products. Part your hair as you would in everyday styling. Apply color to this part first. Then move to the right or left of that part and make additional parts with about one inch of space in between and apply color to the roots in each of these sections. When you are done with all your parts on both sides of your head apply the color generously to your temples and all around your hairline. If you frequently wear your hair up or in a ponytail, you should also now pick up the ends of your hair and apply color to the roots of your hair underneath. Refer to coloring kit directions to determine how long to leave the color on the roots only.
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Step 4
Apply color to the rest of your hair. Squirt the remainder of the color onto the middle of your head, just above your ears. Work the color through all of your hair with your gloved hands. At times it may be helpful to squirt substantial amounts of color from the coloring bottle directly into your gloved hand and work it through that way.
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Step 5
Comb through. This is a step that is overlooked by many home colorists but one that makes the difference and insures a more uniform, professional-looking result. The hair coloring kit directions will not include this step, but it is often used in salons. Once you have worked the color through to the ends of your hair with your hands, use a wide tooth comb to comb the color through thoroughly. After you have finished combing, you can re-saturate the hair with color if you have some extra left in the bottle. This will help cover any spots you missed.
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Step 6
Time and rinse out thoroughly. Be sure to follow the guidelines for how long to leave the color in your hair. Pay particular attention if you have a significant amount of gray in your hair or are coloring your hair one of the very light shades of blonde. In these situations, there may be special directions that involve leaving the hair color on for a longer period of time. Rinse your hair thoroughly under warm water and be sure to follow with the conditioner provided in the kit. Avoid washing your hair again for 24 hours if possible.
