When I was two years into my natural hair journey, I started gaining an interest in coloring my hair. I was honestly afraid of the damage it would do to my hair, rendering all the hard work I'd put into it useless. But I wanted to color my hair so badly that I decided to take the plunge at the end of my second year after my big chop. I went all in with a permanent dye. Yeah, bold moves all the way. And I had no idea what I was doing. It went alright for the first time applying hair dye. I'll give you a rundown of my experience, how I use permanent box hair dye and how well it's worked so far.
The process: How I dye my hair with box permanent hair dye
Step 1: Picking what sort of dye you want to try. There are natural hair dyes, temporary hair dyes, and permanent hair dyes, which you can get at local stores or visit a salon and have a professional do it. The choice is entirely up to you. The best way to go about this is to know what look you want to have. I mean, if you want multiple shades and colors on your head, I recommend going to a professional, but if you feel you can manage it on your own, go for it.
Ask around and do thorough research on hair dye before you commit. You should know what to expect before and after you dye your hair. Here is a link to a previous article I wrote about the pros and cons of dyeing and some tips for aftercare that you can check out. https://lindelwandlamini.wixsite.com/we-are-wavy-angels/post/does-dyeing-your-hair-damage-it-let-s-look-at-the-pros-and-cons
Step 2: I apply dye to my hair on my wash day before the actual wash. I prefer using it on my hair when it's dirty as a protective layer. I know, it sounds odd. But I feel like that layer of oils built up in my hair will act as a barrier that helps preserve some of my hair's health. I know my hair will get a certain amount of damage, but this is one way I use to prevent total damage. So before I go through my washday routine, I apply the dye to my hair.
Step 3: I mix the contents of one box before every section in a container. I don't open all the boxes at once. Mix it well and wear protective gloves, which usually come with the box dye, but if there aren't, always prepare a pair of gloves. The chemicals can penetrate your hands which is detrimental to your health. Make sure your gloves don't have tears on them.
I once used torn gloves which I was unaware of at the time, but as I continued applying the dye, my finger turned red - the hair dye I was applying at the time was red- and I felt increasing pain on it, and it lasted for two days straight. So be careful when you handle dye. I also wear a face mask to avoid inhaling the fumes, which gives me a massive headache and a congested nose. Be aware of any health risks it might bring to you. Your health is your main priority.
Step 4: I part my hair into four sections and then work on a single one at a time. For every hair section, I use one box of hair dye. I bought three boxes of hair dye once, but that wasn't enough. I use six boxes of hair dye to ensure I get every section of my hair. The first four boxes for the four hair sections I have. The last two boxes I use on my entire head to fill any gap.
You need to check before you start because it's annoying when you end up with less hair dye than expected. Remember that as you grow more hair, you need to increase the number of boxes. Since I dye my hair twice a year, I'd have to add the number of box dyes. Work your hair through every section, applying hair dye from root to tip until the entire hair section is that desired color. Repeat for all hair sections.
Step 5: After all sections are complete, I wear a plastic cap and sit in the sun to allow the dye to penetrate and infuse with my hair. I let the hair dye sit for as long as recommended on the box instructions. It is usually about 30 to 45 minutes. Of course, if you feel any irritation to your scalp, it's best to rinse it off quickly.
From this point on, I proceed with my regular wash day routine. I cleanse my scalp, shampoo, deep condition, condition, air dry, moisturize my hair, and do a protective style for the week. It pretty much takes up my entire day.
Quick Tips I follow in my hair dyeing process.
Apply dye on wash day before you wash. Why? Because dirt and oils make a layer of protection for your hair. And after dyeing, you'll wash off the chemicals and reapply good nutrients to your hair through deep conditioning and moisture from your wash day routine.
Use gloves and wear a mask because your health comes first. Don't compromise that. Always check if they are torn or worn before use.
Buy an extra box to be on the safe side. If that is too expensive, be sure you know how much dye you need to color your entire head from root to tip or enough for whatever style you want before adding the number of boxes.
Open a single box of hair dye and mix for every single section. If your hair section needs two boxes, then open only two and not more. It ensures that you have enough dye for your entire head. You have to make sure all your sections are equal for this to work.
Wear a plastic cap while under the sun to help dye color infusion. Do not sit under the sun with dye for longer than recommended by instructions.
Always follow instructions from the box dye you have purchased to ensure that you get the best results from that particular hair dye. Sometimes, this isn't always true, and you may want to tweak some things according to your hair needs, but it's always best to stick to what is recommended by instructions.
Nourish your hair afterward. Do not neglect it. Apply hair treatments if you have to, but repair products for your hair and double the nutrition you give to your hair. You hurt your hair, so you must give it the proper care.
Allow your hair to recover. Be content with the knowledge that you will have two colors on your head as your hair grows, and allow it time to recover. Don't apply dye like it's the very air you breathe. No. Your hair's health is a priority. Twice a year of hair dyes is the best, and three is fine, but four is pushing your luck. Don't strain your hair unnecessarily. Your hair is your crown, don't rough it up and hope for the best. You need to take care of it.
In conclusion, that is the process I use to dye my hair, and some of the tips and tricks I use to get the best outcome from box permanent hair dyes while also maintaining the health of my hair. How do you dye your hair, and how often do you apply hair dye? Let me know in the comments. Thank you for joining us. Please like, share, and subscribe to our community.
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