7 hacks you need to know if you're colouring your hair at home

Read and (don’t) weep

Rules are there to be broken, right? Well...sometimes (we do love a rebel) but when it comes to hair-dyeing at home, freestyling is an absolute nono. Luckily, the brands behind the packet dyes take their jobs very seriously and have no doubt included a detailed pamphlet of instructions, broken down into little bite-sized steps, just for you. These are golden. Use them.

The two-shade bracket

We live for Mondays when a colleague waltzes in and debuts a completely new look. New year, new them! But when it comes to DIY, it’s important to exercise restraint. Two shades lighter or darker than your natural colour is a sure way to keep things looking legit. Oh, and take a watch, clock or timer into the bathroom. Before you start. Noone wants to run around the house trying to 'Mississippi' count while their hair shade slowly creeps towards a colour disaster.

Prepare to change

They aren’t joking when they say 'permanent'. Wear disposable gloves (a crinkly plastic pair are usually included in the packet), don an old t-shirt that isn't woven with nostalgia, and avoid that spa-worthy fluffy white towel at all costs. If you’re going to the dark side, we also recommend swiping a barrier of Vaseline around your hairline - this will protect your forehead from a temporarily tattooed fringe.

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Shower power

For the following few weeks, turn down the shower temperature to help that new shade stick. Why? Heat causes hair cuticles to open up, which increases the risk of your hair colour being released and washed down the drain. Also, try a shower filter. These nifty little nozzles are designed to remove harmful chemicals and chlorine from your water. Result? All those lovely essential oils in your hair stay put, as does the colour they hold in.

Smooth talking

At-home kits will often come with a sachet of conditioner. But once that’s finished (a.k.a. five minutes later), the hydration situation is down to you. To keep hair in a soft and silky state and stop the colour being stripped from your strands, switch out your regular conditioner for a colour-protecting hair mask. Your freshly-dyed locks will thank you for the extra boost of nourishment. Going sulphate-free will also help to keep that colour and moisture locked in.

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Skip the ends

Hair naturally lightens towards the ends - that’s the hair that’s had the most sun after all - so avoid giving those tips a double dose of dye (brunettes, we're talking to you). When topping up colour or patching up regrowth, focus on the roots of your hair, then let the colour naturally drag down as you comb – don’t worry about the dye stretching all the way down.

Now, wash, blow-dry, and get ready to show off that beautiful new barnet. Just be sure to add a little hair flip and coin jangle when strutting past your local salon. Need some colour inspo? Have a scroll...