DIY Hair Color

One DIY beauty treatment that seems to be frightening is hair coloring. Since I've been coloring my hair both on my own and in the salon, I realize there are pros and cons, but I've never had any of the horrifying situations I've read about in magazines. While I'm sure they exist, they also scare people away from coloring their own hair when it's really not scary at all. Whether you're looking to lighten up for the summer or just want to experiment with your look, there are plenty of hair coloring tips you can look through to make the experience as pleasant as possible.

Choosing the Color

The color you pick out has everything to do with whether or not it will look good when you're done.

Light - If you have light skin, try to avoid dark browns or black shades since they will look too severe for your skin tone. Stick to colors that are warm or honey - you can find these tones in brown, red and blonde shades.

Medium -If you have a medium skin tone (olive), avoid colors like red because they will clash with your skin. Instead, look for deeper shades like dark brown or even black.

Dark - Try to stay within one or two shades of your natural hair color in order to keep the skin from appearing dull. If you want to brighten up, add highlights around the face in colors like cinnamon or caramel.

Preparation

Change into an old t-shirt before you begin coloring your hair. When applying the mixture to the hair, there sometimes tends to be dripping and the last thing you want is to ruin your favorite garment. Add a small amount of Vaseline around the hairline to keep the mixture from staining the skin as it begins to develop.

Application

Mix the developer and color together as directed, then add to the hair. Read the directions carefully to get the best results. If you are doing a root touch-up, you'll only want to concentrate the color on the roots. For full color, start at the roots and apply the mixture all the way through the hair to the tips.

If you already have light hair but your roots are grown in and darker, you'll need to apply the mixture to the roots and let it develop for about 10 minutes before applying it to the rest of the hair. This will blend the two for a seamless look.

Set a timer either on your phone or the stove to keep track of the time the developer is in the hair. Always read the directions, if for nothing else but to check the recommended time. Different brands have varying times to leave the cr¨me in the hair, so you need to be aware of it to avoid a disaster.

Finishing

After the appropriate time has passed, jump into the shower to remove it from the hair. First, add a little warm water to the hair and gently massage the scalp as though you were shampooing. Next, rinse out the hair completely - you'll know you're done when the water runs clear. After you rinse the color, apply about half of the provided conditioner to the hair and leave on for 2 to 3 minutes. Rinse the conditioner out and you're done!

Try not to shampoo the hair for at least 24 hours after coloring to prevent early fading. After a week, add the remaining bit of provided conditioner to the hair to protect it from fading and strengthen the hair. To keep your color looking as amazing as possible, use a shampoo and conditioner for color-treated hair.