“Help! My roots need a touch-up but I can’t go to the salon yet. What can I do about this?”
Nothing says time has passed more than outgrown roots and grey hairs. Jutting out woefully after a few weeks under quarantine, many are itching to refresh their hair color. If you are still a few weeks away from seeing your hairstylists, here’s some helpful do’s and don'ts on how to touch-up your roots safely and effectively at home.
DO’s
#1 DO Match Your Previous Hair Color
Save yourself the time and guesswork by taking note of your most recent hair color. Save it on your phone, email it to yourself, or write it down as a cryptic post to yourself on Facebook -this help will make matching roots to your lengths much easier. If you don’t remember, try to ask your hairstylist or search for the box color you used online. In this way, if you can be sure to match the results.
Need help with matching your hair color? Our team is here to help guide you through it. Message us here.
#2 DO Ask for Help
If you’re getting your roots touched-up, ask someone to help you apply the product on the area with regrowth. If you’ve previously colored your hair, remember that your roots take time to absorb the color. If you’d like to refresh the lengths and ends of your hair, you can eventually do a quick wash through the rest of the hair.
#3 DO Work Quickly To Set Hair Evenly
Contrary to what some may think, grey hairs are actually difficult to color. Because the stands are porous and brittle hair color needs a longer time to sit and take effect. Here’s a quick guide:
- For less than 50% white/grey hair, apply roots to ends. Development time: 30 to 40 minutes.
- For more than 50% white/grey hair, apply roots to ends. Development time: 45 to 50 minutes.
IMPORTANT: But do make sure to always check and follow the instructions of your chosen hair color!
#4 DO Follow The Prescribed Ratio Of Colorant To Developer
As tempting as it is to create your own hair color mix, understand that hair coloring isn’t like art class. It’s more like chemistry in that exact measurements yield more accurate results. Follow the instructions of your hair color as adding too much or too little can have terrible results.
#5 DO Use a Black Towel
Use a black towel or black shirt when you color your hair to avoid getting stains everywhere. This simple step will save your clothes.
#6 DO Line Your Hairline With Petroleum Jelly
Before applying hair color, generously apply petroleum jelly around your hairline, ears, and neck. In this way, you can get close to the roots and simply wipe away the stains.
DON'TS
#1 DON’T Use products with henna or metallic salts in its ingredients.
On their own henna and metallic salts aren’t inherently a bad option for coloring your hair. But if you think you can switch between chemical dyes and henna, you are dangerously mistaken. Henna reacts differently to chemical dyes (even ammonia-free) and can literally turn your hair into the color of sewage. On the other hand, if you’ve already used henna or metallic salts on your hair, stylists won’t even attempt to color over it, as the henna will block any pigment from coming through, causing the processing to ultimately fail. Did we also mention that henna and chemical dyes could set your hair on fire? Well, there is that too.
#2 DON’T Choose dark brown or black shades
Unless you really prefer dark-colored hair, choosing dark brown and black shades can limit the selection of colors you can use in the future. It’s an easy fix in the short term in terms of matching hair colors, but pigments in dark shades are tough to lift, even with bleach. So if you plan to eventually go a shade lighter, it is best to stick with medium to light hair colors.
#3 DON’T Select Color Based Solely on the Box
Know the level of your hair color. Level means the lightness or darkness of your hair. Chances are you’ll only be able to go a shade or two above or below your current hair color.
# 4 DON’T Skip the Skin Patch Test
It’s very tempting to just go ahead and apply color to your hair right away, but a patch test or allergy test is an important part of your safety. Apply a small amount of colorant behind your ear and leave it on there for a few minutes. Wait for 24 hours to see if any rash appears. Should you have an allergic reaction, refrain from using the hair color.
#5 DON’T Color your whole head when you only need a touch-up
Protect your hair from further damage when you only apply color only to the sections that need it. If you would like to refresh your lengths and ends, consider delaying application about 15-30 minutes after you’ve started with your roots, or whatever is advised by your home hair color kit.
#6 DON’T Use ammonia-based hair color for already damaged hair
Are your locks already brittle? Consider using an ammonia-free hair color instead. Not only do they not have that chemical smell, but these are also usually milder and less aggressive in depositing color to your hair. Check the label and find out what works best for you.
Ultimately, depending on what you aim to achieve, hair coloring at home is certainly not an impossibility. With a lot of care, precise measurements, and strict adherence to the instructions you are sure to get great results. Just remember, should you have any questions, go ahead and click the “message us” button on your screen and ask us. We’d be glad to help.
Looking for professional hair color that’s ammonia-free? Find out more about Revlon Professional Color Sublime Ammonia-Free Hair Color Set.
