How to Match Hair Dye to Your Natural Color

Hairdressers are trained to match hair colors.

People that dye their hair may choose to revert back to their natural color but find that matching that color is tough when the hair dye is still on their locks. Thankfully, some companies that make hair dyes provide pictures and swatches that show how the color will look on different shades of hair. Comparing your natural color to these swatches can help you choose the color that will best match your hair.

Things You'll Need

• Scissors
• White paper
• Clear tape

Instructions

1. Refrain from dyeing your hair for one to two weeks, or until a reasonable amount of natural color has begun to grow at the roots.

2. Snip a small portion--about 10 to 15 strands of your hair--from an inconspicuous location. Cut the hair near the roots so your natural color is represented on the strands of hair.

3. Tape the hair strands together on a sheet of white paper. Take the paper with you to the store or hair salon to use in picking out a hair color.

4. Look at colors that are similar to your natural shade. Hold your hair swatch up to the box to compare colors. Pick a semi-permanent color or temporary dye in case you're not sure of the results.

5. Pick a color one shade lighter than the one that best matches your hair, as colors tend to look darker on the box or on the swatch.

Tips & Warnings

• If your roots are not yet showing, you can attempt to match your eyebrows to the color swatch, though your eyebrows generally are darker than your hair color. Additionally, you can go to a wig store and try on wigs that resemble your natural shade, then attempt to match the wig's shade to a temporary dye color.

• If you have difficulty matching your hair color, consider going to a professional to have the color matched in an old photo of you.

• Before dyeing your hair again, cut a swatch of your natural hair color for reference in case you wish to return to that color.

References

• The Beauty Biz: Hair Dyes