Guide to Safe Athome Hair Coloring Tips

Have you ever hesitated before the magical hands of salon stylists while wincing at exorbitant coloring prices? The temptation to DIY is strong, but the fear of ending up with uneven, brassy results holds many back. Fear not—this comprehensive guide will walk you through professional techniques for achieving salon-quality color at home.

Proper preparation is crucial for successful at-home coloring. Unlike salon professionals who have specialized equipment, home colorists need to assemble these basic tools:

• Mixing bowl and applicator brush: For even distribution of color or bleach
• Disposable gloves: To protect hands from staining
• Sectioning clips: For organized hair partitioning
• Protective cape or old towel: To shield clothing
• Petroleum jelly: Applied along hairline to prevent skin staining

Hair porosity—the hair's ability to absorb and retain moisture—directly impacts coloring results. There are three porosity levels:

1. Low porosity: Cuticles are tightly closed, resisting color absorption
2. Medium porosity: Ideal balance for color processing
3. High porosity: Overly absorbent but prone to rapid color fading

A simple water test determines your hair's porosity level: place clean strands in room-temperature water and observe whether they float (low porosity), sink slowly (medium), or sink immediately (high).

While convenient, mass-market color kits often contain excessive developers that damage hair. Professional color systems offer:

• Customizable formulations for individual hair needs
• Comparable or lower costs than retail options
• Precise control over color outcomes

Developer strength (measured in volumes) determines how much color lift occurs:

• 10 volume: Deposits color without lightening (1 level lift)
• 20 volume: Standard for most coloring (2-3 level lift)
• 30 volume: Significant lightening (3-4 level lift)
• 40 volume: Maximum lightening (4+ level lift)

For bleaching dark hair, multiple sessions with 20 volume developer are safer than single applications of stronger developers.

• Avoid washing hair for 1-2 days before bleaching
• Apply protective oils to minimize damage

1. Divide hair into four sections
2. Begin application at the nape (least visible area)
3. Work methodically through each section
4. Cover with plastic cap to prevent drying
5. Process for recommended time (test strands first)

After bleaching, unwanted warm tones can be neutralized with color-correcting products:

• Blue: Counteracts orange tones
• Purple: Neutralizes yellow tones
• Green: Balances red tones

Note that toners only work on sufficiently lightened hair—they cannot lift existing color.

• Color-safe, sulfate-free shampoos
• Deep conditioning treatments
• Heat protectants for styled hair
• Regular trims to remove damaged ends

With proper technique and realistic expectations, at-home coloring can produce beautiful, salon-worthy results while saving significant time and money. Always perform strand tests and allow adequate processing time between coloring sessions for optimal hair health.