Experts agree: these are the 10 best tips for dyeing your hair at home

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Jump to category:

At-Home Tools You’ll Need–Quick shopping links

published 26 April 2021

We live in the age of convenience, yet at-home hair dyeing has never felt more difficult or confusing.

With a wide range of coloring products, shade ranges, and techniques available, it’s nearly impossible to determine right from wrong; and figure out how to replicate salon results from your own bathroom. But fear not, as beauty experts, we’ve compiled our golden, expert-approved rules for dyeing hair at home—along with our favorite tools from eBay to help you get the job done.

Tips and Tricks to Dyeing Your Hair at Home

Don't trust the model on the box

Compared to salon-grade products, at-home permanent dyes feature an incredibly potent developer. A strong developer lifts color and makes it lighter. At home, the color almost always ends up lighter than the model’s. A better indicator of results is shown on the panel on the packaging.

The type of dye you choose will impact whether you need to go darker or lighter

Due to its strong developer, permanent dye requires a shade darker than what you’d normally go for. But with semi-permanent formulas, you’ll want to go lighter as they generally don’t feature a developer. If in doubt, choose a lighter color to begin with so you can touch up on any mistakes more easily.

Never, ever mix shades for custom color

Avoid combining multiple color shades. With one shade, the results can vary and differ from what’s depicted on the box. Add more to the mix, and you’ll likely concoct an outcome that requires professional intervention to fix.

Don’t skip the patch test

Dye tests allow you to see how the color looks and how the formula reacts to your skin. The good news is that it’s easy to do this. Simply apply a small amount of product onto hidden hairs (behind your ear is usually a good place).

Wear easy-to-remove clothing

Opt for light and airy garments that you’re not afraid to get dirty, like old t-shirts or pajama dresses. You may also want to cover surfaces, such as your floor and sink, to prevent staining. We use sheets and towels, but if you can’t face the extra laundry, use garbage bag that can be tossed away after.

Always section your hair

For precise application, always section your hair. This will help prevent patchiness, missed spots, and limit touchups down the road. It’s highly recommended to start dyeing at the roots—the origin of regrowth and the least damaged part of the hair, which warrants the most color and processing time. If you want the process to be clean and meticulous, never squirt the bottle, and remember to have a pair of gloves nearby.

Add water as you rinse out your color

When it’s time to rinse out the color, you’ll want to add some water to your head, which will emulsify the dye (read: mix two liquids that don’t easily combine) and prevent streaks. However, apply sparingly: excess water is a major culprit for color fading. If you have dry ends, you’ll want to dilute the dye left in the bottle by adding shampoo. This mixture will provide a saturated color without dehydrating your strands.

Shampoos and conditioners specifically for color-treated hair are recommended for a reason

Many drugstore products are formulated with harsh ingredients, like sulfates, detergents, and salts, that strip color. If you want products that won’t strip color, look out for the common phrases on packaging like “color protect,” “color-preserving,” or “for color.” These bottles contain more nourishing ingredients that’ll preserve your color.

While we’re on the subject of haircare products, you’ll also want to reevaluate your hair dyeing tools, which brings us to our final point:

The right tools will help you achieve a pro finish

High-performance tools will help you achieve your coveted color with little-to-no patchiness. However, not all tools are created equally. To help you find the right equipment for your goal, we’ve rounded up our top picks from eBay that are as effective as salon-grade products—from makeup wipes to disposable gloves and Vaseline.

As a popular hub for useful finds across categories, eBay allows shoppers to customize and narrow down their search. With eBay, you can sift through products according to their type, model, size, material, manufacturer, features, and more. This is especially useful for when you’re about to venture into at-home hair dyeing, as eBay triumphs in offering exceptional salon-grade goodies at your disposal.