The principal use of hair dying is to cover gray hair but nowadays many women and men color their hair to alter their natural hair color, to create decorative effect and create highlights. Coloring the hair is probably the quickiest way to change your look and enhance your hairstyle. Some women choose to change their color entirely (from blond to brown) while others take a two-tone approach. Nowadays many women and men prefer to color their hair at home and of course there is nothing wrong in doing so but before you dye your hair for the first time you should be well-prepared and educated in order to avoid damaging your hair.
Sometimes hair coloring can seriously damage your hair. Anytime chemicals are misused the chance of breakage and damage is almost 100 percent sure. The chemicals that the hair dye contains make changes in the texture and structure of the hair and if misused the hair coloring can make your hair drier, lifeless and brittle.

Bleaching the hair for instance can be very damaging for your hair, especially if the bleaching agent is very stronger (hydrogen peroxide, ammonia), since bleaching strips away the natural pigments and oils in your hair. Bleaching hair always reduces hair’s elasticity, leaving it prone to looking dry, lifeless and frazzled.

There are different types of hair dyes:

Permanent hair color - a permanent hair color must be always mixed with hydrogen peroxide, ammonia. There ingredients open the hair cuticles and this way the permanent color penetrates the hair shaft and lightens the natural color of the hair. Permanent hair color breaks down the hair cuticles and deposit pigment into the hair shaft. It may cause damage and dryness to the hair, since it penetrates deeply into the hair shaft. Permanent color will last until the next time you dye your hair.

Semi-permanent hair colors - semi-permanent colors contain low percentage of hydrogen peroxide. The color usually last up to 20/ 30 days. Semi permanent color covers only the surface of the hair shaft and doesn’t lighten the hair. It simply enriches the natural hue of the hair. The semi-permanent dye is great for those who want to experiment with different colors. It can only darken the hair.

Natural dyes:
Henna - henna adds color to the hair with a gentle and natural approach. Henna doesn’t alter the structure of the hair but it does condition and nourish the hair, as it doesn’t contain synthetic chemicals. It works great to color red or reddish brown hair.

Other alternatives:

Color enhancing shampoos - they contain certain colors, give highlights and impart color tones to the hair. These shampoos don’t contain peroxide, ammonia or bleaching agent that can damage the hair. Color enhancing shampoos should be used once or twice a week in order to deposit color into the hair. They are a great choice to keep hair color vibrant and to make your hair color last longer.

Hair color sprays - they can be used to temporarily highlight a few strands, do a ”chunking” effect, touch up re-growth, cover gray, spray the tips of spiked hair or radically become a complete blonde.

HOW TO COLOR YOUR HAIR AT HOME:

To color your hair you will need:

* A hair dying kit
* A bowl
* Brush
* Wide-toothed comb
* An old towel
* Latex gloves
* Vaseline, almond oil or petroleum jelly

Step One. Wash your hair

If you use a semi-permanent color, wash your hair before coloring. Shampoo as usual but this time you shouldn’t apply a conditioner. Use a mild shampoo appropriate for your hair type and rinse the shampoo thoroughly. Towel dry as usual and blow-dry your hair.
If you use a permanent color don’t wash your hair.

Step Two. Protect yourself from staining

Comb your hair with a wide-toothed comb and separate your hair into 6/ 8 sections. Secure each section with a clip. To prevent staining your skin, apply Vaseline, almond oil, petroleum jelly or any oily cream to your forehead, around the hair line and ears. Use the gloves included in the kit to protect your hands. Use an old towel and wrap it around your neck to protect your clothes and skin. Make sure you wear old clothes as you may easily stain them.

Step Three. Mix the ingredients

Mix the ingredient (usually the coloring liquid and the bleaching cream) according to the direction written on the box. Put them into a bowl and mix well with the help of a color brush. The brush should be flat and with rat-tail comb ending.

Step Four. Start coloring your hair

Start coloring from the roots out, making sure your hair is evenly saturated. Use a brush to paint on the solution and apply it evenly. Take a comb to spread the dye through your hair. Continue applying the color until you have applied the mixture to the entire hair. Don’t forget to apply color to the ends especially if you are coloring your hair in lighter shade. If you are going darker work from the back to the front of your head and vice versa if you are going lighter. If your hair is very long you may have to use two hair dyes kits.

Step Five. Rinse your hair

Use a timer to keep track of the time. Wait for approximately 20/ 30 minutes and then gently rinse your hair thoroughly. One big mistake that many women do is that they shampoo their hair straight after dyeing their hair. Don’t do it - just make sure you have removed all the dye / the water must run clear/. Don’t forget to use the conditioner included in the kit - it is specially designed to deep-condition and nourish the hair after coloring. Apply it evenly and leave it on for 5 minutes (as the instruction tells you), then rinse your hair with cold water to ”close” the cuticles. Don’t use hot water to wash your hair because the cuticles will open and allow the color to escape and fade quickly.

Things to remember:

* Remember: it’s much easier to go darker than it is to go lighter.
* Remember: frequent hair coloring may lead to hair loss, burning of the scalp, dandruff, itchy scalp.
* Remember: the further you stray from your natural color, the more damaged your hair will be.
* Remember: always apply the color mixture to dry hair, beginning at the roots.
* Remember: bleaching can seriously damage your hair since it strips away the natural pigments in your hair.
* Remember: the most important factors when choosing a hair color are your natural hair color and your skin tone.
* Remember: chemically treated hair tends to be drier and more fragile than non-chemically treated hair.
* Remember: it’s best to have your hair colored by a professional.
* Remember: always try the color on a small, hidden section of your hair to see the real color.
* Remember: the hair dyes contain harsh chemicals that can be abrasive to both hair shaft and scalp.

Useful Tips:

* Your hair color should always complement your skin tine.
* Always check the color on the box and follow the instructions written on the box.
* Always wear gloves when coloring your hair - they are usually included in the kit.
* Always rinse your hair thoroughly until the water runs clear.
* Don’t shampoo your hair before coloring if your will use a permanent dye.
* Use a color-safe shampoo and conditioner with UV filters.
* Wash your hair if you will use a semi-permanent dye.
* Never try to correct mistakes at home by using another color on top.
* Always use hair care products designed for color-treated hair - these products are designed to work on the weakened fibres, leaving them smooth, supple and nourished.
* You can seriously damage your hair if you use the wrong level of hydrogen peroxide.
* Do a deep-conditioning treatment a week before dying your hair to maintain the color and nourish your hair.
* Use a quality color protective product to maintain dryness, keep the color true and prevent damage.
* Consult a colorist or hairdresser on what colors would look best on you.
* When coloring your hair at home look for hair dyeing kits with the fewest number of chemicals.
* Always do a patch test before coloring your hair to check for any allergic contents.
* Always wrap a towel around your neck to protect your skin and clothes from staining.
* Never use hair dye on your lashes or eyebrows - it can seriously irritate the skin and the eyes, causing an infection, burning, itchiness and even scarring.
* Don’t bleach your hair yourself at home - go to a decant colorist to do it properly at least the first time.
* Be aware of what color do and do not look good on you, blonde isn’t for everyone.
* There are different types of hair dyes - some are semi-permanent, others are permanent, there are coloring shampoos, coloring sprays, progressive hair dyes, henna.
* Never leave the dye on longer than the directions say you should, it can seriously damage your hair.
* If you don’t get the desired result don’t color your hair at the same day, wait at least 2/ 3 weeks and then re-color it.
* Never go more than two shades darker or lighter.
* After coloring your hair use a concentrated protein conditioner.
* Make sure you use specifically formulated hair products to compensate for the damage that coloring can cause.
* Limit shampooing your hair to three/ two times a week.
* Always use the conditioner enclosed in the dye kit.
* Red is the most difficult color to maintain as it tends to fade quickly.