Dyeing Natural Hair Safely
If you want to understand how to dye your natural hair safely, I'm here to help. My name is Joanna. I'm a hair, beauty, and lifestyle blogger based in Ghana. Continue reading for more information, and don't forget to follow my Facebook page, where I share more hair, beauty, and lifestyle tips.
Dyeing means changing your hair color. People dye their hair for numerous reasons; fashion purposes, concealment purposes, restoration purposes, etc. The reason for it goes on and on. It is, however, unique to each individual who decides to dye their hair. Hair dyeing is also known as hair coloring. Perhaps you are a lively person, and the hair color of black and brown has gotten too boring for you, and you want to switch things up.
You would want to experiment with colors on your hair, so a little gold, blonde, fiery red, or even a purple color seems like your type. It can come at a great cost to your hair. There are different ways of coloring your hair; there is the chemical or natural method. Saloons offer the chemical method of dyeing the natural methods are usually at-home methods.
Dyes can be permanent, temporary, or semi-permanent. Dyes can also be permanent, temporary, or semi-permanent. It has been discovered to reduce hair strength, make hair less tolerable to heat styling, and make hair brittle. In short, dyeing your hair can destroy the structure of your hair. Despite this fact, there are ways you can dye your hair without damaging it entirely. Below are some ways to dye your natural hair safely without damaging it entirely.
1. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize.
You may have heard countless times how important it is to hydrate your curls. When prepping to dye your hair, do well deep condition your hair so that moisture will be retained. Apply hair oils such as jojoba oil, coconut oil, olive oil, rosemary oil, and avocado oil, and seal in moisture in the hair. You can do this by doing a hot oil treatment.
For hot oil treatment to be possible, get some recommended hair oils, heat them until it is safe to apply to your scalp, then apply them to the roots of your hair. After application, wrap your hair in a plastic covering for at least 20 minutes. Or, you could sit under a dryer or steamer for some minutes, then rinse to finish the treatment.
It would be best if you skipped applying shampoo to your hair a day before you plan to dye your hair. This is because since shampoo cleanses your hair against dirt, it also strips the hair of moisture and can leave it dry. If your hair is dry before your dyeing session, it can damage your strands. However, even if your hair is dirty before a dyeing session, the natural oils resting on your scalp can create a protective barrier between your hair and the chemicals in the dye.
That way, there are fewer chances of damaging your hair strands.
2. Research As Much As You Can
Before coloring your hair, you should know what it is you are getting into to avoid unnecessary surprises along the way. The internet is available to search; if you are not getting much information, consult a hair professional. Ask a lot of questions. Ask questions about maintenance, how strong your hair will remain after the session, how long it will take to get your desired hair color, the hair product involved, and any demerits.
It is your hair at stake here, so you need to know. And if any questions require answers, you should be honest. If your hairstylist is unfamiliar with hair coloring, you can explore other options. You can make inquiries on social media or recommendations from families and friends. Again, know the color you want to dye your hair and if it agrees with your skin tone or undertone.
You would not want a hair color on your head that makes you look like a clown. So, find out the hair colors which agree with your skin tone. Also, you want to learn as much as possible about taking care of your dyed hair. You should know how long the dyed hair will stay on, and if you change your mind, how do you get your hair back to its natural-looking color?
The research is the most important step because it is where you decide whether to proceed with coloring your hair.
3. Take Note Of Hair Texture And Skin Tone
Hair texture is a very important factor to consider when dyeing your hair. This is because we all have different textures; curly hair, coarse hair, and fine or medium hair. Curly hair has a different texture from coarse natural hair. There are also fine, medium, and even frizzy hair textures. Each of these types of hair reacts differently to hair dye.
Frizzy hair is known for sucking up color quickly and looks ashy or light blue colored undertones when you dye it. Fine hair textures are not as absorbent and take on a light, warmer tone. Thus, the hair will have reddish, light brownish undertones. That means if your hair is frizzy, you should use a color that has warm undertones but a lighter shade than your natural hair color.
Some instances involve light brown, golden, or dark brown colors. If you have a fine hair texture, you should opt for cooler colors like gold, red, or any color that is darker than your natural color. Concerning skin tones, if you are fair, choose colors that are with warmer tones. However, if your skin tone falls on the darker side, ensure that you opt for cooler or ashy tones. It is written on the dye package whether that product is for warm or cooler/ashy undertones. So, check to be sure.
4. Stay Away From Heat Styling Tools
Take a break from heat-styling tools if you want to dye your hair. Heat is not your friend during this time. Using heat styling tools like hair dryers, curling irons, and flat irons can cause further damage to your hair. If you must apply heat to your hair, by all means, you should apply heat protectant sprays or lotions on your hair before applying heat to your hair.
5. Know The Chemicals Used In Your Hair
Before you dye your hair, you should know the effect of the chemicals that are going to be used in your hair. Some examples are bleach, henna, and sp-phenylenediamine (PPD). Some light will be shed on each of these chemicals. First of all, bleach is one of the most common chemicals that is used to dye hair. Bleaching occurs when the hair dye applied to the hair contains hydrogen peroxide.
The hydrogen peroxide in the hair dye causes the change in hair color. Still, since hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizing agent, it has resultant consequences when used on the hair. The extent of hair damage depends on your hair's acidity level and the pH of your immediate surroundings. Thus, damage to your hair includes the reduction of the strength of your hair.
It can strip your hair strands of moisture and affect your hair's ability to tolerate heat. Another chemical that can be used to bleach hair is henna. Most people perceive henna as a safe dye, but it damages hair, making it brittle. The effects of henna are the same as bleach, especially when it is left on the hair for longer than an hour.
Henna is a natural dye but leaves a semi-permanent dye effect. P-phenylenediamine, on the other hand, can be likened to bleach. The common denominator about these two chemicals is that they both require an oxidizer like hydrogen peroxide, which causes hair change. Notably, it can be dangerous. Aside from damaging hair, there have been reports of allergic reactions due to PPD dyes.
6. Leave It To A Professional
If you want to dye your hair lighter or a shade deeper than your natural hair shade, it is possible to do it yourself at home, especially if you know what you are doing. You only need to buy the dye from a shop, read and follow the instructions, then viola! However, if you want a wild hair color change, the most prudent thing to do is to go to a salon or hair professional.
Otherwise, you may damage your hair. Or, you may even have to go back to the salon for a color correction session, which may not be kind to your pocket. Also, allow time between your hair dyeing sessions to limit hair damage. Understandably, if you did not get the preferred hair color or your dyed hair is returning to its original color, you would want to visit the salon immediately to correct this flaw. However, consider the health of your hair as you do this.
7. Check Hair Health
Before dyeing your hair, one of the things you need to check out is whether your hair is healthy. If your hair is healthy, you can proceed with dyeing your hair. However, if your hair is damaged, you may want to sit out the dyeing session. Another option is to allow your hair to heal from being damaged before you dye it if you still desperately want to dye it. Others, yet still make the big chop, then dye the remaining hair with stylish haircuts. Pick what you want. The bottom line is that you cannot dye damaged hair or may not like the aftermath.
8. Use Hydrating Shampoo And Conditioner.
It is advised that before dyeing your hair, you should not wash it. It does not mean you don't cleanse your hair after a successful dyeing session. Since dyeing reduces the moisture content in your hair, leaving it dry, hydrating shampoo and conditioner can add a bit of moisture to the hair. Also, another thing to help your dyed hair is to buy hair care products specifically created for colored hair. These products have been formulated with dyed hair in mind, so it nourishes and adequately protect your dyed hair.
FAQs
How can you dye your hair by yourself?
If you want to dye your hair by yourself at home, you should first find the shade which suits you and with which you would want to dye your hair. Then, get two boxes of the hair dye. It would help if you got double because you would not want your dye to finish while applying it to your hair. Before applying dye to your hair, check the health of your hair. Once your hair is healthy, get the necessary dyeing tools beside you and start dyeing away.
Should I wash my hair before I dye it?
No, you should not wash your hair before you dye it. Many hair dyes have been formulated to work effectively on hair if the hair is not washed before the dyeing process. Not washing your hair also protects your scalp from the harsh chemicals of the dye. This results from the accumulated hair oils resting on the scalp, which acts as a protective seal against harmful chemicals.
Why do hairdressers wash your hair after dyeing it?
Hair stylists wash hair after dyeing because washing the hair removes excess color that may still be sitting on your hair strands after the dyeing process. Cleansing the hair also distributes the color, giving it a natural and fresh finish.
How do I prepare my hair for coloring?
You can prepare your hair for coloring by using the hot oil treatment and by massaging the scalp to stimulate and condition the hair for a dye session.
Is it better to get your haircut before or after coloring?
Getting a haircut or fresh trim before dyeing your hair is better. Getting a fresh trim immediately after coloring your hair can affect the general outlook or style.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, dyeing your hair is great and colorful, but it comes at great risks to the health of your hair. The risks are even greater if you have no idea how to care for your hair before and after the coloring session. This article is an eye-opener so that you know what you are getting into when you decide to dye your hair. If you think you can manage it, well, go for it!
