Home hair colouring

[BooseysMom]

I've just dyed my hair for the first time in 20 years. I always get highlights and toner done by a student at a salon but can't even afford that any more so home colouring it is! I panicked that i hadn't put enough thru from roots to ends as there was loads of mixture left in the bottle and left it in less than the 30 mins. My hair is very thick shoulder length and the dye is medium ash blonde, not too different to what i usually have. It does seem to have worked but not sure how even a coverage it is. So i'm wondering how others do it. Mine is too thick to separate into half cm lengths as on the instructions and i'd prob be better off applying it over the bath as if i'm washing my hair. Is this an advisable method?!
Thanks in advance x

You should use all of the mix especially if you have longer or thicker hair. I used to apply it over the bathroom sink. If it was the first time then I'd just bung it all on without bothering with roots first. Use all the mix and massage it throughout the hair for even coverage

@dementedpixie.. thanks for the advice. I thought i hadn't used enough. Did you apply yours with your head over the sink or upright? It looks lighter but it hasn't covered all the underneath sections and roots

I start off upright to do the top and sides and then tip my head over the sink to do the underneath and the back

@dementedpixie.. thank you. My days of spending a fortune on salon colours are over and i'm mostly happy with the result esp as it only cost £3.50!

Long or thick hair you should buy two boxes and use every single last bit. I tend to stand in front of a mirror making sure the front top is perfect doing sections. Then free for all over the rest as if I was shampooing it going crazy

@OneForMeToo.. thanks for the advice. It's the sections i find hard to do as it's so bloody thick!!

Mines short now so easier - but when it was longer I would have some clips ready to clip bits out the way. You can also put some in a pony tail while you do the other bits.

I always start with the hair line, then the parting, then do the roots either side of the parting - do it in sections, use a big plastic clip to keep it out the way. Then do all the rest - with long hair use all the bottle. THen stick on a plastic shower cap (using pins or hair bobble to help hold hair up).

I get my 20 year old daughter to do mine with a brush. She does a great job: looks like a salon colour.

Do you have a friend or sister who would help you out?

@Mumdiva99.. thanks ever so much for the advice ..I'm just so used to someone doing it for me!

@TinklyLittleLaugh.. my friend from work offered to help. Do you know whether it's ok to use the rest of the colour mix i didn't use all of the first time? There's loads left and it seems such a waste to throw it away

Unfortunately you can't use it now as it'll have done all the reactions that change your hair colour.
What one was it? My hair is ash blonde so that sounds a bargain at £3,50.

My thrifty mother would keep old empty bottles then when opening a new one she would mix half up in the empty bottle and keep half unmixed for next time. (Although bi just use it all 😂)

@BooseysMom Which dye did you use please?

@Moonflower12; @09:24Mumdiva99... thanks for your advice. It was Avon Advanced Techniques medium ash blonde half price in the sale. It hasn't done too badly considering i only used half the bottle!

@MrsMaiselsMuff..see above

@Mumdiva99.. that's a great idea. Your mum sounds like my dear late mum who passed away 3 years ago. She was a legend in the home perming scene in the 80s and 90s! Funny that she never ventured into colouring tho. She would have been 80 this very day god rest her soul

I find the foam dyes the best for coverage and you get a huge amount of product. I use the John Freida one, always look for offers as you can usually get it half price somewhere.

I just did mine this morning - second time in a couple of months after years of not colouring. First effort was similar to yours, didn’t use it all as I thought it felt like all my thick shoulder length hair was covered. and washed it off 10 mins early. Was a learning curve! Put all the mix on and left it the longer time recommended - very happy with the results!

I shall raise a glass to your beloved mum this evening

Regards to hair , you've made me think about taking the plunge! I'm fed up with paying a fortune in a salon and I've been wondering if a DIY job would be nearly as good

@SunshineDays2019.. Ah thank you for saying that.. I will join you in that glass later on! Cheers x

@Sakura7.. i have never tried the foam colour. Thanks for the tip

@PerUnaBombers.. that's interesting to hear, thanks for the msg.. You did the same as me the first time. I panicked and washed it off early! Also didn't get even coverage as clueless at separating it myself! The good thing is that it didnt dye my existing highlights but acted as a toner for the rest. Glad yours turned out well.

@PerUnaBombers.. btw, did you try and separate the hair into half cm strips? I was useless and just ended up squeezing it randomnly over everyhing!!

@SunshineDays2019.. i'd say yes, go for it! I was terrified at first but was happy that the existing highlights remained and the colour hid most of the mousey grey. Next time i'll use all the mix and leave longer as @PerUnaBombers did

I just squirted it onto the roots - once I did the top and sides it was easier as it started to stick upwards. Then once all the roots were done, I squirted blobs into my palms and rubbed into the rest of the hair, using the whole bottle. Then I had a wide tooth comb and combed it through gently without taking it away from the roots. Massaged it again and set the timer for 30. I’m super happy with how even it is.

I've used home colours a lot and you need more than you think. I have shoulder length hair and always use the whole bottle, sometimes two when it's longer. I'm not that careful to be honest. I throw it in and mix it all around like a shampoo so every last bit is fully covered (and usually so is my bathroom and me!). Always leave for full time. Make sure you wipe off you and bathroom before it stains!

@PerUnaBombers.. thanks for your reply. It sounds like it's worked out really well for you.

@RhubarbAndMustard .. thanks for your msg. It's def a learning curve. Next time i won't be so nervous about using too much and leaving the amount of time it says on the box!

I put towels on the floor and wear an old tshirt rather than a towel round my shoulders. Baby wipes are good for wiping away the dye that gets on your skin around the edges (and on your arms if you're messy like me!).