The past few months of social isolation have turned us into pseudo-professional chefs, artists, coffee makers, skin enthusiasts, makeup mavens and for a few, even hairstylists. Since we’ve had so much free time on our hands, many decided to change up their look with the help of at-home hair dyes and while some succeeded, we’re pretty sure that there were plenty of fails as well.
If you fall into the latter category, don’t worry, it’s common to screw up when you’re colouring your hair at home, especially if you’re doing it for the first time. As someone who always colours her hair at home, screwing up the first time is totally normal, even if you follow the instructions to the T. If you’re trying to figure out how to deal with the aftermath of what you’ve done, keep on scrolling! We’ve noted the 4 most common mistakes everyone makes while colouring their hair at home, and how to fix them.
Common DIY Hair Colouring Mistakes
It’s understandable if you aren’t too comfortable with going to the salon to colour your hair owing to the pandemic. If you decided to take matters into your own hands, here’s how you can correct your DIY hair colour mishaps.
Hair Colour Mistake #1: You Ended Up With Orange Roots
This mishap is actually quite common but let’s first get to the root of the issue *pun intended*. Orange roots or “hot roots” as commonly known by hairstylists, occur when the newly grown hair, closest to your scalp turns out too orange or reddish after applying a hair dye. These changes happen to your uncoloured natural hair when you choose a shade that is lighter or redder than your existing colour. Sometimes even the heat that is generated from your scalp can affect the hair colour and give it that orangy tint.
To correct this mistake, you need to apply a bit of the colour correcting technique you learnt back in school during art class. Using a purple, brass-busting shampoo or a cool violet Color Reviving Gloss can help neutralize the shade.
Hair Colour Mistake #2: You Left The Colour On Longer Than Required
Many people believe that the longer you keep the colour on, the better it will turn out. This is completely false. After the given time has passed, most colour developers stop working. There are two things that might go wrong if the hair dye is kept on for too long–you may develop an itchy, red scalp or those attempting to lighten their hair might just end up with a darker, unnatural colour.
The former problem can be fixed by massaging a bit of coconut oil on the scalp. The latter problem might need some professional help. If your colour turned out too dark, immediately wash the colour off with a clarifying shampoo to remove product or colour buildup on your strands. If you don’t notice any change, it’s time to book an appointment with the salon.
Hair Colour Mistake #3: You Got Hair Dye On Your Skin
Getting colour on your forehead, ears and neck are the most common mishaps when colouring hair at home. The good news is that it’s very easy to fix.
The colour will eventually fade off with time but if you need it gone immediately, you can add a bit of rubbing alcohol on a cotton pad and wipe the coloured skin area. Those with sensitive skin might need to be a little careful. To avoid getting colour on your skin, before colouring your hair, add Vaseline to the areas on your skin which are prone to accidental stains.
Hair Colour Mistake #4: Dull Colour & Flat Hair
Murphy’s Law states ‘Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong’ and this perfectly applies to newbies colouring their hair at home. Hair colour turning out dull and faded is common amongst those who are trying a DIY hair dye for the very first time. There are many reasons as to why this could happen–either you removed it too early or you didn’t add the required amount of developer. Your hair could also end up losing its shine and look less vibrant.
In such situations, you can use a toning gloss or colour-reviving deep treatment hair mask, to bring back the shine. When it comes to the colour, make sure you add the appropriate amount of developer and leave it on for the given amount of time. For the application process, begin from the roots and then gradually move on to the centre and then the ends. This ensures that the colour is evenly distributed.
If you are trying out a DIY hair colour sesh at home, be sure to read the instructions properly and remember to take the necessary precautions. It also never hurts to have your hairstylist on speed dial in such situations.
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