If you must wash your hair before you dye it, use shampoo only and skip the conditioner. Hair dye has a hard time attaching itself to recently conditioned hair.
If you’ve never dyed your hair before, use a semi-permanent black dye the first time. If you’re more experienced, feel free to use permanent color. If you are a natural blonde, you may want to dye your hair dark brown first, then black. Sometimes black dye on naturally blonde hair can result in a greenish tinge.
For a slightly more subtle result, pick up a little more hair after you have it in a half-ponytail. For example, you can part your hair at the nape of your neck. That way, you’ll have much more hair to dye black than you do red. Make sure to evaluate the different thickness options before you begin dyeing. It’s best not to make any impulse decisions when you’re in the middle of the process.
Make sure that you clip back all of the face-framing pieces of your hair. These pieces need to be dyed black so that the red layer will appear to be “underneath” the black layer. [3] X Research source
The foil should be right beneath the top layer, protecting the uppermost part of the bottom layer. If you feel confident that you can apply the black dye without getting it on the bottom layer of your hair, you can skip the foil.
You can use a hairdresser’s cape instead of a towel if you have one.
If you have thick hair, you may need to separate the sections into smaller sections that are about 1 inch (2. 5 cm) thick. You can twist each completed section into a mini-bun and pin the sections like that, if you like.
As soon as you finish applying the dye, set a timer for the time span the product recommends.
Don’t get the bottom layer of your hair wet and keep it out of the way. It may be easier if you have a friend help you with this part. Rinse your hair until the water runs clear.
Keep the bottom portion of your hair in the low ponytail throughout this process. After your black layer is completely dry, clip the hair up again so that you can move on to dyeing the bottom layer.
Bleaching is not as easy as dyeing your hair. Far more chemicals are involved and these chemicals can burn your skin and severely damage your hair.
Make sure you are working in a well-ventilated area, since bleach fumes are quite strong.
Semi-permanent dye is not damaging to the hair, and the longer you leave it on, the brighter the red will be. [9] X Research source
Gently towel dry your hair. Allow it to air dry or take down the top layer and style your hair as you normally would. You may want to avoid sleeping on a light-colored pillowcase for a few days to avoid staining. Be sure to use cool water, as it seals your cuticle and locks in the color.
You can use dry shampoo in between your normal washes, if needed. Avoid getting your hair wet in a swimming pool, since chlorine can wreak havoc on vibrant colors. [12] X Research source
Look for products that contain ingredients like glycerin, vitamin E, shea butter, proteins, Argan oil, keratin, avocado oil, Moroccan oil and coconut oil. [13] X Research source
After bleaching, your hair is going to be much drier than before. This means it can burn more easily. Use heated tools with care. [14] X Research source
After the first time you color your hair, you will only need to dye your new growth. You can also refresh the previously colored hair if you want to. Do not bleach your hair every time you need to touch up the color. This will severely damage your hair. You only need to apply bleach when dyeing new growth. Pay attention to the condition of your hair and only repeat the bleaching process when it’s healthy and strong enough to withstand the harsh chemicals.
