Whether you're refreshing your Colour between salon appointments, starting your home Hair Colour journey or looking for better results than a box dye, choosing the right products is the first step to achieving beautiful Hair.
With the right products, a little knowledge and a simple plan, you can achieve salon-quality Hair Colour from home, at a fraction of the cost and on your own schedule.
At My Hairdresser, we believe great Hair Colour starts with understanding your Hair. Instead of guessing or hoping for the best, we'll help you make informed choices that take the overwhelm out of colouring your Hair at home, so you can confidently create the Colour you actually want.
Before You Colour Your Hair, Know These 3 Things
Every successful home Hair Colour starts by answering three simple questions:
1. What is your Natural Hair Colour?
2. What Colour is currently in your Hair?
3. What Hair Colour do you want to achieve?
Knowing these three things will help you choose the right Hair Colour, the right Developer and the right products for your Hair Colour journey.
What is your Natural Hair Colour?
Your Natural Hair Colour is the foundation for choosing the right Hair Colour at home. Understanding your starting point helps you choose the right shade, Developer and Colouring approach to achieve the result you want.
Your Natural Hair Colour helps you understand:
Whether you need Grey Hair coverage.
If you want to go lighter than your Natural Hair Colour.
If you want to go darker than your Natural Hair Colour.
What Colour is currently in your Hair?
Understanding what Colour is currently in your Hair is one of the most important steps before Colouring at home.
Previous permanent, demi-permanent or semi-permanent Colour will affect your result. A lighter Hair Colour cannot simply be applied over previously coloured Hair to make it lighter. Hair Colour cannot lighten existing artificial Colour.
If you already have Colour in your Hair, you can:
Colour your regrowth to match your existing shade.
Colour your Hair a darker shade.
Blend darker roots into lighter ends for a softer transition.
Remove previous Colour before creating a new shade.
To remove Colour, you can:
Wait for semi or demi-permanent Colour to fade. A clarifying shampoo may help speed up the process.
Use Colour Remover. Our bleach-free Colour Remover works in approximately 20 minutes to dissolve and remove darker permanent Hair Colour without removing your natural pigment.
Bleach as a last resort. Bleaching removes artificial Colour and natural pigment, making it the strongest and harshest option for removing stubborn or very dark Colour build-up.
Colour
Remover
What Hair Colour do you want to achieve?
Now for the fun part: choosing your new Hair Colour.
Your ideal shade comes down to three things:
How light or dark you want to go.
Whether you prefer cool or warm tones.
The reflect you love, such as Ash, Beige, Natural, Copper or Plum.
Your chosen Colour will also help determine the right Developer for your result.
Cool Shades
Ash and Beige tones help soften unwanted warmth and reduce brassiness, making them ideal for cooler Blondes and Brunettes.
You'll Love These Colour Shades:
10.2 Very Light Beige Blonde, 9.1 Light Ash Blonde, 8.2 Light Beige Blonde, 7.1 Ash Blonde, 5.11 Intense Ash Brown
Warm Shades
Golden and Chocolate tones add warmth, richness and dimension, creating a soft, glowing finish. These shades create healthy-looking warmth throughout the Hair and are especially useful when colouring very light Hair darker, helping reduce the risk of unwanted green tones.
You'll Love These Colour Shades: 9.3 Light Golden Blonde, 7.53 Chocolate Blonde, 7.3 Golden Blonde
5.3
Natural Shades
Natural shades provide balanced pigment and are ideal for Grey Hair coverage or enhancing your natural Colour without added warmth or cool reflects.
You'll Love These Colour Shades:9 Very Light Blonde, 8 Light Blonde, 7 Medium Blonde, 6 Dark Blonde, 5 Light Brown, 3 Dark Brown
Copper Shades
Copper creates warm, vibrant Colour with beautiful ginger and rusty reflects. Whether subtle or bold, Copper Hair Colour always makes a statement and is particularly flattering on warmer skin tones.
You'll Love These Colour Shades: Strawberry Blonde , Cowgirl Copper, 8.44 Intense Copper Blonde, 7.46 Rich Copper Red, 6.4 Dark Copper Blonde
Red, Plum & Violet Shades
Rich Plum and Violet tones create deeper, cooler reds with luxurious depth and dimension.
You'll Love These Colour Shades:7.65 Intense Red Mahogany, 7.46 Rich Copper Red, 6.5 Pure Plum , 6.22 Intense Violet, 5.56 Intense Plum Red , 5.52 Deep Chocolate Plum, 4.66 Intense Dark Red, 4.56 Deep Plum Red
Choosing the Right Developer
Your Hair Colour and Developer work together to create your final result. Choosing the right Developer depends on your starting Colour and whether you want to maintain, darken or lighten your Hair.
Not sure which Developer is right for you? Read our guide: How To Choose The Right Developer For Your Hair Colour
How to Colour Your Hair at Home
Once you've chosen your Hair Colour, it's time to colour.
Step 1. Choose Your Hair Colour + Developer
Every Permanent Hair Colour needs to be mixed with a Developer. Choose your shade, then select the Developer that will help you achieve your desired result.
Step 2. Gather Your Tools
Before you begin, you'll need:
A Tint Bowl and Brush or Applicator Bottle.
Dry Hair. It's best if your Hair hasn't been washed for a day or two and is free from styling products.
A Wide Tooth Comb to detangle your Hair.
Sectioning Clips to divide your Hair into four quadrants.
Working in sections helps ensure even application and makes it much easier not to miss any areas.
Step 3. Mix Your Hair Colour
If using an Applicator Bottle: Pour your Developer into the bottle first, then add your Hair Colour. Secure the lid and shake until fully blended.
If using a Tint Bowl and Brush: Squeeze your Hair Colour into the bowl first and mix until smooth. Then add your Developer and stir until fully blended.
Standard Mixing Ratio
Our standard mixing ratio is: 1:1.5
For example:
60ml Hair Colour + 90ml Developer.
1 tube of Hair Colour + 1 bottle of Developer.
If mixing two Hair Colours together, simply divide the tube amounts while still using one full bottle of Developer.
For smaller root touch-ups, you can mix:
½ tube of Hair Colour.
½ bottle of Developer.
Reseal the remaining product for your next touch-up.
High Lift Blonde Mixing Ratio
For shades 901 Extra Light Ash Blonde, 902 Extra Light Beige Blonde and 908
Extra Light Silver Blonde, use 40 Volume Developer.
The mixing ratio is: 1:2
For example:
60ml Hair Colour + 120ml Developer.
1 tube of Hair Colour + 1 bottle of Developer plus an additional 20ml from a second bottle.
Always use plastic or glass bowls and tools when measuring and mixing. Never use metal.
Step 4. Apply Your Hair Colour
Begin by applying your Colour to the two front sections, followed by the two back sections, ensuring all roots are fully covered.
Helpful tips:
Apply Colour to stubborn Grey Hair first if needed.
If you're concerned about your Hair becoming too dark around the face, begin at the back of your head.
For full-head Colour, complete your roots first before working the Colour through your mid-lengths and ends.
Step 5. Allow Your Hair Colour to Develop
Our recommended development time is: 35 to 40 minutes.
For best results:
Leave Grey Hair for 45 minutes.
If using a cool Hair Colour and you regularly experience brassiness or warmth, allow 45 minutes of development.
Now is the perfect time to relax. Read a book, catch up with friends, answer emails, plan your week or enjoy a face mask while your Colour develops.
Step 6. Rinse, Shampoo and Condition
Once your development time is complete:
Rinse with warm water until the water runs clear.
Shampoo your Hair.
Finish with conditioner.
Blow dry your Hair and enjoy your fresh new Colour.
Looking After Your Colour
To help your new Hair Colour last longer, we recommend waiting 48 hours before washing your Hair again.
When it's time for your next refresh, maintain your Colour with regular root touch-ups or tone unwanted warmth using one of our Toner Kits.
Beautiful Hair Colour doesn't have to mean salon appointments every few weeks.
With the right products, the right knowledge and a little confidence, you can achieve beautiful, professional-looking Hair Colour from home, every time.
