I’m a Redhead and Want to Dye My Hair – The Do’s and Dont’s

If you want to change your look and style, dyeing your hair can be one of the coolest things to do. Dyeing your hair is one of the easiest DIY activities that you can do at home. However easy it sounds, there are some do’s and don’ts that you need to follow to ensure you don’t reduce hair thickness, increase the roughness of hair follicles, cause irritable skin, and other side effects.

You need to handle your dye and hair carefully to avoid the side effects. Here is everything you need to know about the do’s and don’ts of dying your hair, shampoos to prevent your dyed hair, types of hair dyes, and tips for failing your hair at home.

The Dos and Don’ts When Dyeing Your Hair

Whether you are dyeing your hair at home or going to a professional hairstylist, you need to observe these dos and don’ts. There are three critical stages when you are dying your hair; before, during, and after you dye your hair.

The processes before dyeing your hair include selecting a color and washing your hair.

Dos

There are several preparations that you should do before your hair dye appointment. To start with, wash your hair 1-2 days before the appointment. Sweaty, dirty, or oily hair does not grab hair dye well enough. But you still need to have a natural protective oil layer to act as a protective cover against the chemical components of the hair dye.

In addition to that, you should treat your hair with a conditioner, preferably a hair conditioning mask or a clarifying shampoo. The aim of treating your hair before dying is to get rid of minerals and products build-up from your hair.

Use your coloring to select the dye shade you want. Hairstylists advise individuals to choose hair dyes according to their skin tones; for instance, if your skin tone is white, you can go for cool or warm blond shades; if you have olive skin tone, you should go for gold shades to bring warmth to your face.

Consult with professional hairstylists and colorists to get the best shade to match your skin tone. Lastly, make sure to test the hair dye on a small patch of your head. This will help you to confirm if that is the color is exactly what you want. You do not want a fully dyed head with a color you did not wish to.

Don’ts

Do not trust the photos on the hair dye boxes. There are many reasons you should not trust the model’s hair color on the box; for instance, we do not know the initial flush of her hair. Consult the figures and letters on the box to learn more about the color level and tone.

Do not go way past your natural hair color shade. When dyeing your hair at home, you should not o more than two shades lighter or darker than your natural hair shade. For safe and effective results on your hair, ensure you don’t choose a dye that is more than two shades darker or lighter.

The Dos and Don’ts when Dyeing Your Hair (During)

This stage is all about your appointment with the hair colorist or the whole process of doing it at home.

Dos

To start with, you need to consider what you wear when you are dyeing your hair or getting it done in a salon. If you are going to a salon, avoid wearing your best outfit because it is possible that dye will splatter, and you do not want it to stain your outfit. If you are doing it at home, you can wear an old t-shirt to avoid the same. You should also have less makeup to help match the dye shade with your natural skin tone.

In addition to that, you need to be still when the colorist is dyeing your hair. When you keep moving/ shaking your head, the stylist might miss a spot or put too much on another spot. For uniformity, results try to stay still and keep your head straight. If you are doing it yourself at home, try to sit in a comfortable position where you will be still.

Lastly, be clear on your dye expectations and history. When you arrive for the appointment, explain what you want your hair to look like to your colorist. If you wish to put several dyes on your hair, explain clearly for better results. If you are doing it at home, make sure you follow the procedures.

Don’ts

Do not ignore or skip a step when dyeing your hair at home. A step indicated in a tutorial or on the box might seem insignificant, but you should follow all the steps.

The Dos and Don’ts after Dyeing Your Hair

After a successful dyeing process, you need to follow a few guidelines to maintain your dyed hair.

Dos

Start using dry Shampoo. You need to keep your hair clean without fading off your hair dye. Dry Shampoo is the answer to keeping your hair color as long as possible while maintaining hygiene at the same time. For example, you can use Batiste Rose Gold Dry Shampoo, available on Amazon. Remember to use warm water to prevent washing and fade off your hair dye when washing your hair. Lastly, Ensure you get regular touch-ups. Touch-ups help you maintain your vibrant look when hair grows, or fading occurs.

Don’ts

Do not wash your dyed hair with hot water. Hot water will wash and fade out your hair dye and, at the same time, damage follicles. Lastly, do not use shampoos with sulfates. Most shampoos contain sulfates which are harsh on hair dye. It will cause discoloration and fade off of your new look.

Tips for Dyeing Your Hair At Home

You should follow the following pro tips when dyeing your hair at home.

• Buy two boxes of hair dye to avoid running out of dye halfway
• Do not mix shades for a custom colour
• Wear-free clothing
• Do not skip the strand test
• Have disposable gloves on set
• Dry your hair before you start dyeing
• Mix the dye in a bowl to avoid being messy and imprecise
• Ensure you start dyeing your hair at the roots
• Use two mirrors so that you see the back of your head
• Use a toothbrush when applying lowlights or highlights
• Use wipes to remove dye spills as they happen
• Put on a disposable shower cap as you wait for the dye to settle in your hair.

Ingredients to Avoid In Shampoo for Dyed Hair

Different shampoos have different ingredients. Dyed hair is sensitive to some of the ingredients used in shampoos. Here is a list of ingredients that you need to be on the lookout for to maintain your new dyed hair look.

• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate/ Sodium Laureth Sulfate
• Alcohol
• Sodium Chloride

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate/ Sodium Laureth Sulfate

They are commonly referred to as SLS/SLES. They constitute a significant component of shampoos because they give shampoos the bubbly lather property. They are super excellent in removing oil and dirt from your hair’s scalp, which is what makes them bad for your hair dye. Shampoos with SLS/SLES wash and fade off your hair dye. Their reaction with chemical components of dye causes dryness and frizziness in hair and an irritating sensation on your scalp. Avoid shampoos with SLS and SLES as an ingredient.

Alcohol

It is pretty surprising that alcohol is a common ingredient in shampoos. Alcohol is added to shampoos as a preservative or an emollient. However, some forms of alcohol added to the shampoos react with the chemical components of dye to cause dryness and frizziness in hair. Companies are a bit shady when listing alcohol as an ingredient in shampoos; you should look for names such as propanol, isopropyl alcohol, or ethanol. These are the most common types of alcohol added to conditioners and shampoos. For example, you can use Brocato Cloud 9 Restoring Shampoo, an excellent alcohol-free shampoo available on Amazon.

Sodium Chloride

You might be wondering why table salt would be added to shampoos and conditioners. Salt is added to shampoos to contribute to shampoo thickness. It appears alongside SLES/SLS. Which, as explained, should have you asking questions. Sodium chloride and hair do not react very well. Salt drains hair’s natural oils, causes itchiness and irritation on your scalp, and contributes to dryness and frizz. These effects of sodium chloride negatively impact the appearance and health of your dyed hair.

Types of Hair Dyes

There are five main categories of hair dyes. Below is a list and detailed section of types of hair dyes.

• Permanent hair dye
• Semi-permanent hair dye
• Temporary hair dye
• Bleaching
• Ammonia free hair dye

Ammonia Free Hair Dyes

These types of dyes contain monoethanolamine as the main component. It causes minor damage and side effects than other hair dyes, containing ammonia as a significant chemical component.

Bleaching

Bleaching as a hair dye type involves the removal of your hair colour by oxidation. It is effective for individuals who want to lighten their natural hair colour. The side effects of too much bleaching include yellowish hair appearance.

Semi-Permanent Hair Dyes

As the name suggests, these dyes last long but are not permanent. They wash and fade off with time. A typical semi-permanent dye lasts about six weeks. Semi-permanent hair dyes do not affect the natural color of your hair because they settle on the hair. However, they are damaging because they need to be continuously reapplied to maintain their color.

Permanent Hair Dyes

These hair dyes contain complex and robust chemical components. They have the highest peroxide concentration among the other types of hair dyes. They open the hair shaft and get the color deeper into the hair, thus causing severe hair damage and side effects. Typical permanent hair dyes last for approximately 9 to 10 weeks.

Temporary Hair Dyes

This type of dye washes out after one wash. It is the best option for temporary/multiple looks. Temporary hair dyes are the least damaging type of dyes compared to the others.

Conclusion

Dyeing your hair is quite an exciting experience to undertake. The article has given a comprehensive insight into the dos and don’ts of dyeing your hair through all three stages; before, during, and after. It has included tips for dyeing your hair at home like a pro and the types of dyes. It is essential to understand the different kinds of dyes to select the one suitable for your purposes. This article is your ultimate guide to dyeing your hair. Life is too short for boring hair.