The Worst Home Hair Coloring Mistakes You Don’t Want To Make

As the cost of dyeing one’s hair in a salon increases, so does the amount of hair dye that is being purchased in drugstores and being used at home by women. Why pay well over $100 for a hair coloring treatment when you can do it yourself at home for $10?

If you are dyeing your hair at home, you can end up with gorgeous, salon-quality hair color, but there are some limitations – especially if this is your first time dyeing your own hair at home.

Here are some of the worst mistakes that women often make and that you want to avoid:

Don’t Make Drastic Changes

If you have black hair and are absolutely set on having platinum blonde hair, then an at-home dye kit is not for you. The same goes for anyone who has lighter hair color and then wants to switch to a deep chestnut brown or even black shade. The rule of thumb is that if you are coloring your hair at home, you should choose a hair color that is within 2 shades of your own hair color – whether that is lighter or darker. You may also want to try to use a semi-permanent hair color while you are still testing out shades and trying to find a color that suits you best, as semi-permanent hair color will completely wash out of your hair within 6 to 8 weeks.

Anyone can be Blonde

…but within limits. The rule is that if you were blonde as a child, you should have no problem dyeing your hair blonde now, especially if it is that same shade of blonde. Different skin tones look better with different shades of blonde, so when in doubt, try to either determine your skin tone to help make a decision, or visit a professional and seek their advice.

What’s this about Skin Tone?

Your skin tone has a whole lot to do with what at-home hair dye shades will look best on you. People with warm skin have a dark, olive, or golden complexion. have skin that generally tans easily, and most people with these skin tones have dark or brown eyes. Those with a warm skin tone should focus on shades of every color that are caramel, bronze, or golden, and they should choose shades of color that are darker than their skin tone. Going too light only means that your hair will turn an orange-shade, something which most women are certainly not striving to achieve when they try to dye their hair blonde.

If you have cool skin, you probably have fair skin with light colored eyes, such as green or blue eyes. The veins under your skin are easily visible, and you burn if you tan. The best at-home hair dye kits to choose are those that are more ash-toned rather than golden toned. Don’t choose auburn or copper shades; go for ash-blondes and browns.

TIP: It’s important to also not trust the picture of the hair color on the box. If swatches are available, those are your best indication of how your hair may appear after being dyed. Read the box as well and see what color they suggest your hair will turn out to be based on your natural hair color shade.