How to Get Salon-Worthy Hair Color At Home, According to a Colorist

If you’re like most of us, you’ve probably been counting down the days until you can visit your hairstylist again. Unfortunately, for many, that may not be anytime soon with COVID-19 cases still on the rise and uncertainty looming. It may be time to take matters into your own hands by learning how to color your hair at home.

Feeling a little nervous? Trust us, you aren’t alone. There are, however, a few things you can do to make the process less stressful and get a professional-looking DIY dye job at home.

“To get comfortable, practice taking sections with your brush or bottle before even mixing the color,” says Leianna Hillo, lead colorist at eSalon. “Going through those motions and getting used to the tool in your hand before you start your application will build confidence. You can also view tutorials and, if you really just need to preview the color, you can perform a strand test.”

We recently asked Hillo to spill her secrets for getting salon-worthy results at home. Here, she shares four of her favorite tips and tricks.

1. Find the Perfect Shade

“Here at eSalon, clients complete an online questionnaire, which collects details such as hair color history, eye color, hair length, texture, and gray percentage,” says Hillo. “Clients also have the option to upload a photo of their current color, along with their ideal hair color, to help colorists formulate the best custom color for them. If they have any questions they have access to a colorist via email or phone.

“It’s tough to give advice on purchasing hair dye from the drugstore, but we typically advise that you choose a color one shade lighter than the color you think you are, especially for brunettes. For example, many clients think they are in the darkest brunette family but are actually in the medium brown family.”

2. Gather Your Supplies

“We recommend color tools available on our website. If you do not have these tools, make sure to have hair clips to section your hair, a cape or towel to help avoid dye transfer nto your clothes, and a bowl and brush to mix and apply your hair color. For the countertops and floors, you can cut open garbage bags and lay them on the floor secured with painter’s tape so they don’t move around. Alternately, if you have a painter’s tarp lying around, now is the perfect time to put it to use. Simply drape it over the bathroom floor to avoid any splatter.

“For clothes, it’s a good idea to wear a protective cape, an old T-shirt, or a cotton-blended material that you don’t mind getting stained. You can even use a garbage bag as a makeshift cape. Cut three holes into it for your head and arms to wear while you color.”

3. Apply Your Color

“To get started, put on some gloves and apply a color barrier to protect your skin,” says Hillo. “Our color set actually comes with a stain guard packette to help prevent color from absorbing into your skin. If you don’t have a stain guard, you can also use petroleum jelly. Apply a thin layer around your hairline, ears, and neck. This protective barrier should keep your skin stain-free.

“If you’re covering grays, permanent color is the way to go. Unlike demi-permanent, which lasts about 24 washes, the pigment in permanent will penetrate grays. Go for the most color-resistant grays first, so that they’ll get the longest processing time. These could be at the temples, the crown, or anywhere your last color application faded more quickly than the rest. Fully saturate your roots, then go back and cross-check your hair in the opposite direction for any strays.”

4. Set the Mood

“Make it feel special,” says Hillo, “Find some privacy so you are safe from distractions while you color and make sure you’re in a well-ventilated room. Applying color is somewhat time-sensitive so you’ll want to make sure your full attention is on your hair once you mix your color.

“You could also turn it into a self-care night with a glass of wine while your color processes. Listen to your favorite playlist in the background. Styling and drying your hair afterward is really important so you can see the true color and tone. Plus it adds to the excitement and completes your new look.”

Have questions about coloring your hair at home? Ask in the comments–then shop hair accessories to dress up your tresses!