Hair dye novice question for home dye-ers please

[DaffyDaffy]

Hi there,
I appear to have gone grey since e lockdown but only in one single streak on one side

I was considering doing a semi-permanent dye just on that section, to see if I can make it look natural enough before I go back to work, and my question is does she come ready mixed so I could just use a bit, or do you have to mix it before use so I wouldn't be able to save the rest of the bottle for later?

Can anyone recommend an easy, good dye for this, especially if you know one that is ready mixed and ready to go.

Sorry if this is a weird question, I have vague memories from my teenage years of having two bottles that need to be combined... thanks for any tips!

So many typing mistakes, so sorry!



Most box hair dyes you have to mix together so it'll come with the bottle of colour and then the peroxide but unfortunately once you mix them you can't save what's left. The only way you could do this is if you ordered some professional colour and a speedster bottle of peroxide where you could then use eg half the tube and it would be fine for use at a later date. Hope that helps

Ah, I see, thank you!

I mean I could just use a box every time, but I only need to do an inch or so.

I'll have a look for the separate components... maybe at a place that supplies the pros?

I wouldn't dye just one side of my head so weird

There is a dye that one of my patients used to use. You mix as much as you need. Its marketed for men though. No idea if there is something different about mens hair though. I think its called "just for men"

Yeah you could definitely just keep buying a box dye whenever you need it but I personally wouldn't dye just one section of you hair especially if it's been a while since you've died it and you can't guarantee it will be the exact same match as the rest of your natural hair colour. What colour are you looking to buy if you dont mind me askin? I can recommend some professional colours/ peroxide if you tell me what your natural shade is roughly

Or maybe look at the dyes that are meant to be for root touch up. I assume they are aimed to be used on smaller areas.

Sally's have a massive range of ready mixed dyes so you can use what you need and store the rest (we did ds1s hair 3 times with one bottle) but I've only ever looked at bright colours (ds was uv green last year) so dont know if they have natural shades.

If they come in the bottles with the screw lids you could just mix a small amount and save the rest for later. Obviously can't save it after it is mixed. I wouldn't just do part of my head though the colour would have to match perfectly. Find a colour similar to what you are and do all of it. Remember to do a patch test and you can always cut a small amount of hair off to check how it takes on your hair before doing it.

Thanks for the replies!

My hair is light brown, pretty nondescript. The grey streak seems to be about an inch on one side of my parting, just coming though, but I can't see any others! I figured a lightish mousy brown wouldn't show, whereas a grey slice clearly would! You're all putting me off with your horror, though...

Oh yeah, @Ilovecats14, screw lids would solve this dilemma, thanks!

If my hair was dark brown, I'd just own it.

Green!

Just for men? 😭

I bought a clairol root touch up powder off amazon. Would something like that be an option?

You'll be fine OP. Just have a look in Savers or somewhere for a touch up box or use a box and mix a bit up save the rest. Don't go toi dark. If you're light brown try a 7 base. Ot get a semi permanent.

The root touch up seems like a good starting plan, thanks to those who suggested.

Thanks @incognitomum, I figured a light brown wouldn't change my actual hair enough to notice but might cover the grey.

I guess I'm lucky we have a few weeks to experiment at home...

Thanks for the number advice too @incognitomum.

@DaffyDaffy yup! He's gone green (on purpose) for about 4 summers in a row. DS2 dyed his blue but only once. I've just ordered pink and purple dye for my own hair

@PorpentiaScamander if I went pink, no one would notice the grey... 🧐

Well that's true! Do it. Go pink

Do all dyes have peroxide? I'm thinking of putting blue on my brown hair - I know it won't show up much but just want a hint. I don't want any bleaching effect though!

Yes you could always put a fashion colour on. Purple or something? Make a statement! Great time to do it

@Binglebong a wash out fashion colour won't necessarily have peroxide. Won't last long though.

Peroxide lifts the hair cuticle (like scales) allowing colour to go into the hair.