Share some ‘nice ‘n easy’ tips for at-home hair care - win a £300 voucher! NOW CLOSED

[RebeccaEMumsnet]

Have a tried-and-tested trick up your sleeve for DIY hair dying? Well, nice ‘n easy want to hear them! They'd like to know the things you do to get a great colour at home, every time.

Here’s what nice ‘n easy have to say: “To help you achieve your most amazing hair colour, we’d love to share with you some nice tips and tricks. Tip #1 : Apply petroleum jelly to your hairline, it prevents colour from staining your skin (Bonus: Dab a little onto your cuticles to soften them!). Tip #2: When your natural hair colour seems to be a distant memory, use your brows as a guide and stick within two shades lighter or darker for the most natural looking hair colour. Tip #3: when the time is up, just set your TV on record even if that’s your favourite program. Over-processing hair is a common colour mistake that ends in colour not being what you expected! These were only a few of the tips we got up our sleeves. What are yours?”

So - what advice do you have for hair dying newbies? Do you have a top tip for prepping your hair before colouring at home, or choosing the perfect shade for you? How about the best ways to prevent staining your skin, or clothes (or bathroom!) - and things to do to pass the time while the colour is on?

Whatever your tips and tricks are, add your comment below and you'll be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 Love2Shop gift voucher.

We’re also on the lookout for 5 Mumsnetters who are willing to film their hair dye tip or trick in action. If you would be happy to do this, please sign up here. Those selected will each receive a £100 voucher. More details will be sent.

thanks
MNHQ

Standard insight T&Cs apply

The night before I use raw organic coconut oil, and black seed oil and massage into my hair then I spritz with water and part into sections. BThe next day when I apply and rinse dye off I'm left with a healthy glow

I always apply to my parting and temples first as this area is always harder to take so it gets extra time.
Section info hair so that you cover it all easily
Have a timer in the bathroom and don't be tempted to leave it on longer than recommended

Don't wash your hair before dying it.
Have everything set up and kids out if the way.
Keep a tablet or book in the bathroom so you aren't tempted to go and drip dye onto your sofa.
Put thick moisturiser or similar along hairline, but also on ears!

No need for vaseline, the stray streaks of dye near your ears etc come off brilliantly with baby wipes.

I have an old tatty dressing gown I use when doing mine, so I can just slip it off and get into shower when times up. No pulling up a top over your dyed head.

Use Colour Wow to increase time between having to dye hair.

Only dye your roots, ignore the instructions to comb the dye into the rest of your hair ten mins before taking off.

Get Superdrug own brand stuff - best I've used and only costs about £3.99 or they have regular two for £6 offers.

If you have long or thick hair buy multiple packs. Skimping on product results in a patchy result that doesn't last well.

If you use a dark colour and get stains on your scalp and around the hairline, avoid exfoliating your face for a week or so before during and then exfoliate straight after, maybe while the post dye conditioner is on being really thorough around and even within the hairline. If there are still marks use a little shampoo on an old toothbrush and comb your scalp gently with conditioner on. If you still have stains outside the hairline, you may have dyed your facial hair. If it worries you, facial hair bleach can solve the problem but urns best to do it the following day as the skin may already be sensitive from the hair due and stain removal efforts and could react to the bleach.

Ditto tatty old dressing gown and tatty old towel.

Dp does mine for me. I usually buy a food magazine, make a cup of tea and slob for a while, whilst he does all the hard work.

He does look a bit serial killer-ish in the black plastic gloves though!

I am a pro at dyeing my roots because I have inherited some dodgy gene that gives you grey hair at 15.

My beautiful 18 year old son, with a head full of Poldark-esque black curls already has a few grey hairs

Anyway - I dye only my roots, leave it on for longer than recommended and do not work it through to the ends as I think this creates a build-up and looks un-natural. My eyebrows are almost black, but I feel that is too dark for my hair now I am in my 40s.

I clean the bathroom while the dye is on, for something to do.

I like the conditioner supplied but if you have long, curly hair, like me - it needs a bit more tlc than this. After I have coloured, I slather my hair in an intensive conditioner, I wrap it in a plastic bag and a towel that I regularly heat up in the microwave and I leave it like that overnight.

My hair is in really good condition.

My main tip would be to follow the instructions carefully and respect the timings they recommend.

I had a total disaster when i thought i knew best and left the colour on for a lot longer. I cried for days until I figured out what to do to correct it.

Definitely going for shade lighter. Thought my hair was 'dark brown' but ended up looking almost black. Luckily only semi so soon faded down. Vaseline around hairline works a treat plus I tuck tissues behind my ears. Oh yes and an old pillowcase for that night's sleep as some always seems to come off no matter how much I rinse!

Rubbing any drips with dye just before rinsing the dye out will remove any stains on your skin.
Cottonwool soaked in milk is great for removing any stains from your skin afterwards

Lots of old towels and a friend to help. Also good disposable gloves. Sometimes I find I only need half the amount in the box so use a set of scales to measure the right amount!

Use a wide tooth comb and put the lotion on the teeth then comb through to get a more sun kissed distribution rather than a block all over colour. When I have done this, people did not believe my hair was dyed.

My tips or at least the best methods i have tried are:

1./ Use vaseline or something similar around your hairline, ears and neck to avoid getting dye on your skin where it can irritate or even burn. Wipe this off after you've finished applying as it also avoids getting unwanted dye anywhere else.

2./ If you've ever used a root touch up dye it will often come with an applicator brush, once used wash this off and keep it for the next time you apply hair dye,- it helps with the roots immensely and gives you a more even coverage.

3./ I have no idea whether this is right or wrong but i have really sensitive skin and i often find hair dye/ shampoo/ creams etc irritating which causes me to scratch- something you don't want to do with a head full of hair dye , i buy shower caps in the pound shop and usually wear these on top of my hair dye- again i have no idea if this is an ok thing to do but it does help with the itching.

4./ Always have a an old towel to hand for drips or wiping off spillages.

5./ Keep a bag handy to put all your waste in when you're done- the last thing you want is to have to put up with the smell in the bathroom because you left the bottle out while you distracted yourself waiting for the dye to take!!

I have dark brown hair, but I always choose a box dye in a light brown shade to avoid 'the crow' look as they always come out darker.

Dp does mine too for the last 20 years now, I use Nice n'easy natural light ash blonde even though I'm naturally mousy brown.
My tip is to use a wide toothed comb, and only do the roots after the first time.
Still get compliments at the hairdressers asking who does my colour.

I do a deep condition a few days before dying as it makes my hair healthier and improves how it takes the dye.

I use a clock in the bathroom and just watch iplayer or other catch up programmes on my phone to pass the time, it means I stay in the bathroom and don't risk getting dye on the sofa.

Old towels covering everything and then smear Vaseline around your hairline and ears to stop staining.

Carrier bag on your head after dying, keeps the heat in and allows for a more even coverage, also means my son doesn't end up with patches in his beautiful blonde hair from cuddling! ( as you can guarantee the second my hair dye is on he thinks I'm a jungle gym)

Always buy two lots!

Never use a bobble with metal on to the it up

Nail varnish remover or lemon juice to remove stains

Protect your skin and clothes with your husbands favourite t shirt/jumper especially if he's pissed you off

Baby wipes get rid of dye on your face.

Use a brush (like a hairdresser would) to apply to roots.

With 5 minutes to go till rinse off, get some dye on your fingertip and do eyebrows. (Probably a bad tip but hey, it makes 'em match!)

I use baby wet-wipes to remove any dye off the skin, especially on my forehead and ears.

I always get a cut before I colour my hair. I know some people get a cut after but why waste all that colour?

In terms of prepping, I always make sure to use natural products.

I always get a cut before I colour my hair. I know some people get a cut after but why waste all that colour?

In terms of prepping, I always make sure to use natural products.

Tips:
buy two packs so you can do a strand/ patch test, allergic reactions are NO joke.
Set a timer.
Extra gloves/ towels/ etc
Do something else pampering like soak your feet to make good use of the time.