Please share your DIY hair colouring tips

[CharlieMouseWillDoIt]

I can't afford to get my hair coloured professionally at a salon, but can't cope with the grey any more!

I'm a very novice hair-colourer, so wouldn't put a permanent colour on. My hair is a chestnut brown, streaked with grey.

Please share your tips - which brand to go for / how to get it even / do I need two boxes (my hair is mid-shoulderblade length) / how do I avoid the bathroom looking like a blood bath??

Thank you!

I can recomment Nice and Easy - but would also recommend you get someone to do it for you, at least for the first time. Otherwise I guarantee you will miss bits!
I'd suggest you get two boxes for the first application, and then you'd only need one box for subsequent applications, just concentrating on doing the roots.

If you want to cover the greys properly you'll need the permanent stuff.

I do mine every 6-8 weeks. I use 2 boxes of Nice N Easy (long thick hair). Start at the roots so the dye has more time to work on the greys.

I pile it on top of my head and then wrap my head in a plastic bag (classy!) secured with a peg.

I leave it on far longer than the instructions say.

I rinse most of it off by kneeling over the bath and using the tap.

Then I shower the rest out and condition.

If you have more than one or two greys you'll need a permanent.

I use 1 box of the John Frieda foamy stuff every 6 weeks or so. Anything else seems to run staining clothes and bathroom though I am fairly cackhanded at this kind of stuff.

I tend to leave it a lot bit longer than suggested

Old towels are useful to protect clothes/floor. I'm still cleaning dye spillages off my bathroom floor. Also remember to put moisturiser around your hairline and on your ears as I once had a dye splodge mark on my neck for a day or so due to not doing this bit!

I think I use nice & easy too.

I bought the same permanent hair colourant /shade that my hairdressers was using (cost significantly less). Loreal majearel.
She was quite happy to tell me and where to buy on line..
I bought the bowl and brush to mix it with the peroxide..no mess.
I wear and old shirt..but tend to do the roots only every 6 weeks as I have lots of grey at the sides...
Can also give thumbs up to nice and Easy. I used this before I blatantly asked the hairdresser since I prefered her shade..
Yes always wipe round your hairline/ears/neck for excess dye...
Go for It..its not rocket science..

I use l'Oreal Excellence - permanent - shade 5 which is brown. My hair naturally is possibly just a touch darker than chestnut but with auburny tinges to it. No. 5 suits my hair really well and doesnt give blanket, dull colour but lets the tinges show through too. Very easy to use and I was a novice until 2 years ago:

test behind ear 48h before
brush hair so not too tangly
use single tooth comb (I actually use a placcy nit comb as its usually the only thing I can find!) and do parting in middle, put soluon on to roots and give a squidge in, use comb edge to move small section across and repeat solution. Do in sections - LHS head, RHS head, back and then side at back. For excellence its 10min on roots only and then you apply to the rest of the hair (just squidge it on sections and rub them together to get fully soaked) for 30min. Shove up in a hair clip and then wash out.

I have a crappy towel for the purpose. And make sure to wipe off smudges on face/body/walls/floor.

My Mum did it for me first off.....that was very handy. And she always does a better job than me, but my DIY attempts are perfectly serviceable. And £9 or usually less on a bogof deal every 6 weeks rather than £30 and the rest every 6 weeks makes me very

Oh, mine is similar length and thick, I use 1 box and its fine.

I have long thick hair and need two boxes. I use Nice and Easy 105G golden blonde. I really like the colour (reddish-gold on me) and usually leave it on a bit longer than the instructions. Make sure you have either old towels, or an old top that you can use when dying. It will get everywhere! And if you get it on paint work wipe it off immediately or it will dye that too!

watching with interest. How do you choose the colour??

I think if you're a hair-dye virgin choose something close to your own colour. Also, bear in mind that dyed hair fades and lightens over time.