How do I dye my hair at home without making a mess of the bathroom?

[LouLou198]

I've bought a brown box dye, never done this before so could use some Mumsnet wisdom. I only have a shower, no bath. Is it better for me to apply stood in the shower? If I wash it off whilst stood in the shower will the dye stain my skin/shower tray?
Thanks!

Anyone?

If it's your first time, then stand in the shower to apply it.
It won't stain your shower or tray when you rinse it off.
I rinse mine off in the shower and as it's rinsing off, it's diluting, just give it an extra blast with the temp set to cold once you step out.

Apply standing up in front of a mirror with good lighting. Put everything associated with it, brushes, combs, dye, etc. on Tin Foil wherever you plan to place them, that will stop dye from staining. Obv use gloves. Have an old towel for use only for "dyeing" days. The dye will not stain the shower, well it doesn't stain my bath as I use the shower head and kneel over the bath.

It won't stain your skin as you're rinsing it off, no.

Put a load of towels down and apply it in the bathroom. It doesn't splash that much when you apply it. Also it won't stain your skin or shower when you rinse it off because it's rinsed away.

I stand on an old bath mat to put it on by the mirror. Baths / sinks / tiles won't stain but carpets and paintwork will.
Couldn't be doing with spending a couple of hours at the hairdressers every 6 weeks though!

I apply mine over the sink in front of the mirror. I have an old towel I use specifically and put on old pyjamas that don't matter. The dye washes off the sink with no problems.

And a zip at the front sports bra (normal bra would scare children if I left my room and you don't want to wear T-shirts which you have to pull over your head)

I make sure I've got an old shower cap to go over it whilst it's developing during which time I check every surface of the bathroom to clear up any spots or splatters. I wear an old towel and have another old dark hair towel for afterwards. I leave mine in for 20-25 minutes or so, so I take a cup of tea up before I start and sit on the loo seat or edge of the bath and read whilst it's cooking.
Rinse it off and wash it twice, condition and 'set' with colder water

Vaseline around your neck ears and forehead.
Use old t shirt. Use hair clips. I stand in front of bathroom mirror so I can see. Maybe lay and old towel down too

Wear something old in case any dye does drip. I wrap an old towel around my shoulders one dye is on, and use another old one once rinsed dye off hair. Also have an old flannel that I use in case if getting any dye on ear lobe or other bits of skin - wipe off as soon as can. Also - if you wear glasses, do not wear them when dyeing as can stain the arms of the frames. Baseline can help if smear a little around your hairline.

I use an old hair clip too to make sure all stays on top of head - as per pp

I saw a woman doing this at the gym many years ago

I find leaving my glasses off helps. I take my time applying it and rinse the colour out over the bath. Thorough wipe down and the place is spotless. Put my glasses back on and it looks like someone has been murdered.

Anyone remember using Body Shops henna hair dye back in the 80s? My poor father used to have to paint the window sill after me.

It won't stain a clean shower, bath or tiles but may stain grubby areas and grout.
Also: if your shower hose is soft white plastic this will stain if you touch it and rub/ push dye in.
We have never had the same issue with a metal hose or a silver effect plastic one.
5 DC and many dying incidents over the years!

5 now adult DC and many dyeing incidents ffs!!

Book a night at an airBnB

I kneel in front of bath and take the shower off the hook. Lean over bath and wet hair then towel dry then lean over bath and apply dye. I sit on a little step for 25 mins. It only gets a bit runny and drips in the last 5 mins. Then I lean over the bath and shower it off. Then same for conditioner, since over the bath.

Buy some of those little clips hairdressers use to section off your hair and some latex gloves (the ones supplied in box dye are shit)

Much easier that way to keep the dyed hair separate from the non dyed so you can be thorough and even.

Apply in front of a mirror

Cover floor/loo seat with old towels. I have a set of old bath towels I only use for hair dye now

Vaseline round your hairline

Couple of damp face cloths to wipe any accidental transfer off your face/arms/shoulders

I rinse in the bath, never gets stained.

Everyone's given good tips for not making a mess, can I just check that you've done the skin patch test?

Box dyes have higher levels of PPDs and you are much more likely to get some on your skin, so if you haven't, please do the skin test.
I dyed my hair for years with no issues as a teenager, then got a black henna tattoo while on holiday. Since then I'm allergic to the dye, still use it, but take a lot more care to get as little on my scalp, neck and ears as possible, cover skin with Vaseline to try to create a barrier and take an anti-histamine before applying the dye to try to minimise the reaction.

@FatAgainItsLettuceTime yes thanks I have done a patch test and should be okay to go tomorrow. Some great tips, thank you so much everyone. I will get the old towels out!!

Don’t worry. I just get mould spray (think cilit bang) and spray it all over the shower. Any stains are gone.

I dye mine over the sink and wipe up any splashes as I go.

Have you thought about doing it in your kitchen ?

I dye my hair at home very regularly so I have floor protectors from wickes - plastic 4x2 sheets meant to protect the floor while decorating.
Otherwise you can slice a bin bag up the side and spread that on the floor to stand on and catch any drips.
As others have said, it's the grout/grim that will get stained rather than bath/shower/tiles.

Also, white conditioner is good for getting the dye off skin while rinsing it off.