How to Dye Your Hair With Food Coloring in 45 Minutes

You can pull this look off on the weekends and transition back to normal with ease using food coloring.

Coloring your hair in new and exciting ways can be a fun way to experiment at costume parties and other events at which you want to express yourself. However, semi-permanent and permanent hair color products aren't good for short-term use, making it out-of-the-question if you're trying to lead a professional life as well. Food coloring serves as a temporary way to add pizazz and boldness to your hair without having to commit. You can dye your hair with food coloring in under 45 minutes and it comes right out with your next wash.

Things You'll Need

• 6 oz. food coloring
• Protective gloves and towels
• Petroleum jelly
• Shower cap
• Hairdryer
• Mixing dish
• Fine tooth comb
• Styling mousse

Instructions

For Bold Color

1. Remove your clothing and slather a liberal amount of petroleum jelly on your forehead near your hairline, down your neck and on your ears.

   Put a little on your shoulders as well. This protects from dripping food coloring by forming a greasy, protective barrier on your skin. Drape yourself in old towels and put on your protective gloves.

2. Brush your hair and separate it into four to six sections of even size.

3. Squeeze five drops of food coloring in a color of your choice in the palm of your gloved hand.

   Squeeze this hand around the end of one of the hair sections. Repeat this for all the hair sections.

4. Squeeze about 1 oz. of the hair color into a mixing bowl.

   Dip the teeth of your comb into the colorant and run it through your hair, starting at your roots. Do this repeatedly with each section of your hair until the sections are saturated.

5. Muss your hair with your fingertips to get rid of the sectioned look.

   Pour the remaining color from the bowl into your hands and work it through your hair, holding your head upside down. Pin your hair beneath a shower cap and apply a hairdryer for about five minutes. Remove the shower cap and style your hair as usual.

Quick bits of Color

1. Add 2 oz. food coloring to the mixing bowl.

2. Add 4 oz. hair mousse to the bowl of food coloring. Mix thoroughly with your comb.

   This creates a styling mousse that is tinted with your color choice.

3. Run the comb through your hair once or twice to add bold streaks of color.

Tips & Warnings

• Wash your hair 24 hours before coloring, without using any conditioner or styling product. Apply the food coloring to dry hair.