Please can someone talk to me about DIY hair dye

[muriel76]

I'm 35 and have been getting grey hairs for about 10 years.

They are really noticeable now as they are all along my parting and at the front of my hair. I get my hair coloured every 6/8 weeks at a hairdressers but it is pretty expensive and the thought of shelling out like this or being grey has made me think I must colour my own hair......

The thing is I have never done it before and I feel really worried that my hair will go green/fall out or something. Can someone advise me about which is a good product to use and any other useful tips please?

My hair is mousey brown and I have it coloured a few shades darker usually. It has been bleached in the past but that has mostly grown out now.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

I really like the l'oreal casting creme gloss colours. They are easy to do and give nice results that look natural and don't ruin your hair. I have dark blonde hair and colour it light brown or auburn, but i have also gone darker at times and it still looks nice and not too "blocky". They fade evenly, if you are only covering a few greys with your natural colour you'd probably get weeks between top ups.

Start with one a bit lighter than you think you want, you can always choose a darker one next time if you think you need it.

ps i've used it over bleached ends and grown out highlights with no problems.

I'm a dye whore, I use whatever's on offer and I've never had a problem.

Usually choclate brown = very, very dark so try a mid brown.

I'm not keen on the mousse type, but some people love them.

Put vaseline around your hairline before doing it.

Just don't use Clairol Perfect 10 darkest brown. it's not its blue bloody black. i look like the oldest goth in the village

If your hair is too dark get Clairol brush in lights. you can either lighten it with streaks or whack it on all over and put a light brown on top. Ta-da! lighter bits.

Thanks for all the replies :-) Much appreciated.

I have bought the Loreal one and am going to do a patch test tomorrow in preparation for the real mccoy on Saturday (gulp)

Sorry but just one more question - it says on the box not to do any hair straightening for two weeks afterwards. Do they mean GHD type straightening or are they talking Brazilian Blow Dry type stuff?! Thanks.

I think it's the chemical type good luck

I use the Clairol Nice and Easy because it comes with a proper sized tube of conditioner.

If you get a small flat brush like the hairdressers use it really makes doing the bits at the temples and ears easier.

I dry my hair straight and use straighteners, the colour isn't affected.

I have mine dyed and the cost every 6 weeks was awful. Now I go when the students do it, but it is all supervised by the colourist who did my hair.

£50.00 for stylist £10.00 for student. No mess, nice coffee, mags, blow dry etc.

Dying my hair was a disaster, it kept getting darker and darker with grey roots until I looked like a witch. I had to go and get it sorted which cost £

I have to colour mine. It was too expensive, so I now go to student who is supervised my my colourist. There is now difference, except

Colourist £55.00
Student £10.00

No mess, coffee, mags, pampering and blow dry.

I made such a mess dying my own. It kept getting darker and darker with grey roots until I llooked like a witch.

It cost £75.0 to sort it, so now have it done properly....for a tenner! I do tip her well though she is lovely

If it's not too late for suggestions.

1. buy a pack of latex gloves in your size. It's much easier to apply dye with close fitting gloves then the cheapy ones you get in the pack.

2. put a little bit of vasaline on the tops of your ears before you start. This protects your skin from the dye so you don't get brown ears!

3. clean up the mess while your hair is absorbing the dye. Don 't wait til you have done the final rinse.

good luck

AmazingDisgrace at oldest goth in the village! I went for Nice n Easy LIGHT ASH brown and it came out almost black And no way does it wash out after 28 washes, more like 280.

Ooh cheers for the brush in lights tip. Might give it a go. I wonder if they do them in electric blue since I'm embracing my inner goff.

Jeez Salamanda, you'd think light ash brown wouldn't result in that dark a result. Wanna go get a Fields of the Nephilim tattoo with me? ;)

cocolepew where do you get those Clairol brush-in lights? I have looked on their web-site and can't find them.

I used to use L'Oreal Colour Expert which was colour and highlight combo but it's been discontinued so I need an alternative to do the highlighting bit.

That's because they are by Garnier I knew it didn't look right!

There are very good if you regularly dye your hair dark. If you think it is getting too build up and dark, I would use them then the dye. Or if it has came out to dark it can break the colour up.

Superdrug is your best bet, they are hard to get in Boots.

Sorry!

this is them, but I never pay that much! last time I got 2 for 38 in Superdrug.

oh poop. £8. I give up.

Thanks Coco, you are forgiven!

Salamanda that's my colour too. Except on my hair it comes out mouse brown. Actually, nearly all colours come out mouse brown.

(Except the colour the hairdresser did for my wedding, which came out GINGER, with a capital GINGER. It clashed with my red dress and there wasn't time to fix it.)