Hairstyles

The Best At-Home Hair Color Tips

At last -- beauty salon color experts divulge secrets of coloring hair at home

March 20, 2009 | by Emily Kate Warren | 28 COMMENTS

Tip No. 3: Having trouble finding the right shade? Most hair color companies offer online guides. Keep in mind, if the shade you like is entirely different than your natural color (remember tip no. 1?), head to the salon for your first application.

SEE NEXT PAGE: Tip No. 4:

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products mentioned

Garnier 100% Color

7.3

L'Oréal Paris Excellence Cremelights

8.7

Roux Clean Touch Haircolor Stain Remover

0.0

Clairol Nice 'n Easy Root Touch-Up

7.9

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i already color my hair at home all the time for about a year now! these are great tips! some of them i have learned the hard way.

by 92jess11 Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at 11:33PM Report as inappropriate

I want to try L'oreal healthy look creme gloss new and improved for my dark brown hair. I think they should make a hair color product for curly girls.

by lin44 Wednesday, March 27, 2013 at 03:13PM Report as inappropriate

Semi permanent will not lighten my hair enough for my liking.

by EricaF123 Saturday, February 16, 2013 at 02:47PM Report as inappropriate

I've been thinking about dying my hair for a while - very helpful, thanks!

by schien Sunday, September 30, 2012 at 11:18PM Report as inappropriate

I am SO happy that I've never had to resort to the dishwashing liquid trick! It also really helps to have that "hair color" towel, gloves, bowl and brush.

by alictasia Monday, July 16, 2012 at 10:58AM Report as inappropriate

Very informative, thanks!

by LittleBunny Tuesday, April 17, 2012 at 09:56AM Report as inappropriate

Awesome tips

by elph37 Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at 03:12PM Report as inappropriate

great tips

by Nicole2814 Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at 03:07PM Report as inappropriate

every time I colour my hair at home its a mess and never turns out right!

by Bon_Bon Monday, August 15, 2011 at 02:03AM Report as inappropriate

My hair does not do well with @ home hair color.

by MissPurple Tuesday, August 2, 2011 at 03:35PM Report as inappropriate

great for first timers

by aguifra14 Monday, July 25, 2011 at 03:00PM Report as inappropriate

Good to know when I do dye my hair.

by crazygirl21 Friday, July 22, 2011 at 09:10AM Report as inappropriate

nice!

by modinosaur Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 12:54AM Report as inappropriate

very helpful

by msSaroun Saturday, May 7, 2011 at 03:58PM Report as inappropriate

helpful! nice article.

by yckitsmary Friday, April 8, 2011 at 07:04PM Report as inappropriate

Very helpful!

by volta Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 11:18AM Report as inappropriate

good tips

by ChrisanneSkye Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at 11:37PM Report as inappropriate

I've been coloring my hair for 20 years now...I started in the salon and eventually began doing it myself because my hair grows really fast and I could not afford to go to the salon once a month, especially at their ridiculous prices! I have found that the at-home kits last longer than the salon color treatments. I don't know...maybe the salons do that on purpose. Overall, I could tell no difference in the end product, except for the fact that I've probably saved over $10,000 doing it myself! Wow, I just determined that number now and even I'm amazed! I don't know how anyone can mess up the at-home jobs. They're super easy and explained to the point that I believe a 5th grader could do it. I did not know there was an expiration date, though, until I read these comments. I will look for that - I've never seen one in all these years!

by gigiwalt Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at 07:21AM Report as inappropriate

make sure you look at the expiry date!

by judyangel101 Sunday, February 20, 2011 at 06:59PM Report as inappropriate

I alway seem to mess up the home hair color kits, even when I have help, I can't help but swear them off forever now :(.

by Bon_Bon Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 12:19AM Report as inappropriate

I've never had a pro color job

by LittleBunny Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 07:28PM Report as inappropriate

I love at home coloring! I've been doing it for years! I haven't tried at home highlights/chunking yet and I'd really like to try that!

by ladyboarder9669 Wednesday, January 26, 2011 at 08:06AM Report as inappropriate

i've been too scared to color my hair for years. i may try it now! but i hear loreal tests on animals :'(

by kenya Saturday, December 11, 2010 at 03:08PM Report as inappropriate

The comment about at-home hair color products being pre-mixed is incorrect. You CAN control the peroxide volume. I have been coloring my hair with L'Oreal's color for more than 20 years. The product is not pre-mixed and you can substitute the volume of peroxide with whatever volume you wish to use. My hair is mostly grey on top so I mix the L'Oreal with 10 volume peroxide for the top, but I use the 20 volume on the balance of my hair. In the back along the neck-line I occasionally use 30 volume to lighten my hair a little more so that the color is a closer match to the rest of my hair. I get many compliments on my hair. You can purchase L'Oreal hair color without the peroxide at Sally's. I keep a bottle of 10, 20, and 30 volume developer at all times. This is also available in name-brands at Sally's.

by JoanInGA Friday, January 8, 2010 at 06:14AM Report as inappropriate

yes i totaly agree. my stylist used to charge 40 dollars or more for cut and color. and walmart has color for six and seven dollars and it looks good.but you still have to pay alot for the nails

by teddyb Sunday, April 5, 2009 at 08:26AM Report as inappropriate

I only ever colour my hair at home. L'Oreal offer a great range of colours for the perfect at-home style! Speaking of which check out www.fashweekly.com's recent issue all about L'Oreal's Toronto Fashion Week! Inside you'll find exclusive photos from the runways as well as articles all about how everything went down. Happy reading!

by fashweekly Thursday, April 2, 2009 at 12:13PM Report as inappropriate

If you use henna, then go to a salon for color - please tell your stylist what you have been using! Henna and hair color do not mix! The henna must be removed before you can color.

by Starr_79 Thursday, March 26, 2009 at 09:05PM Report as inappropriate

If you want to have a healthy hair, with shine and natural tone, use henna, not color. Like Rainbow, can be found in Whole Foods or on the internet. Color will be different than on the boox if you hair is darker, or gray ( does not cover gray well). Make a mixture, add a spoon of vinegar, cover floor and sinc, wear old clothes when applying. It will take two moths if you use is every 15 days, about two hours a session,to get a full color, after that once every 4=5 weks is OK. It seems a lot of work, but you wull get a beautiful, healthy colored hair everybody will admire. Specilly helpful for thin and fine hair, gives some streingt and thickness. Reminder: no perm!

by hrasno60 Saturday, March 21, 2009 at 04:34AM Report as inappropriate

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