Color Hair With Food Coloring

Food coloring is cheap, easy, and much less harsh on hair than other kinds of dye. To color either all of your hair or just make streaks of it with food coloring, use one of the methods below.

Steps

  1. Prepare your work space. Work over vinyl or tiles or put down newspaper or towels. Avoid carpet and other hard-to-clean surfaces.
  2. Put on a set of old clothes and gloves. It would be best to use clothes that you won't mind getting stained. 
  3. In a small container, mix food coloring with enough white or clear gel to cover the desired amount of hair. Gel shampoo, white conditioner, or even aloe-vera gel will make a good medium for spreading the color. Add drops of food coloring until the mix has a color intensity you’re comfortable with. Once you find your desired color add a couple more drops because it is darker in the bowl than in hair. Five drops per tablespoon is a good place to start.
    • Mix colors if desired. Blue and red will make purple, for example.
  4. Apply dye using one of the methods below. Don’t wet your hair first.
  5. Leave the product in your hair. If you have blonde hair, 30 minutes will be enough for low-intensity color, whereas with brown hair, 3 hours might be more appropriate. If you can spare the time and want deep color, shoot for closer to five hours – or sleep with the dye in your hair overnight.
  6. Wash the dye out in the shower with lukewarm water. Don't use shampoo and conditioner; it will take the dye out straight away!
  7. Blow-dry your hair on a low setting.
  8. If you can manage it, don’t wash your hair for another day or two. This will allow the color to fully set.

Color All Your Hair

  1. Spread the dye mix throughout your hair. Massage in as necessary, but if the mix contains shampoo, avoid sudsing, which can dilute the strength of the dye.
  2. Avoid spreading the mix onto your face and neck. Though this can be wiped away later, it’s better to avoid the mess in the first place.
  3. Place a shower cap or plastic bag over your hair. Secure by tying if necessary.

Color Streaks of Hair

  1. Separate the strands of hair you want to dye from the rest of your hair. Secure the rest of the hair in a ponytail (preferable) or clips.
  2. Place a shower cap or plastic bag over your hair. Secure by tying if necessary.
  3. Make small holes in the plastic where the loose strands start on the scalp. It might be best to gently poke/rip these with your fingers, as cutting into the bag puts you at risk of cutting your hair accidentally. The holes don’t have to be perfect; the point is simply to separate the strands you want to dye from the rest of your hair as best you can.
    • If you accidentally rip a too-large hole, tape around the edges with tape to keep the hole reasonably small.
  4. Pull the loose strands through the holes.
  5. Apply the dye mix to each strand of hair with a comb or toothbrush. Make sure the toothbrush is a not a new one your mum just bought!
  6. Wrap each dyed strand in aluminum foil and tape it to the plastic bag. Again, this process doesn’t need to be perfect; the idea is simply to minimize mess.
  7. Place a second shower cap or plastic bag over your head if necessary.

Tips

  • For a deeper color, you'd want more food coloring in the mixture than the amount you'd apply for a lighter one
  • The dye would require a few applications if your hair is dark.
  • Make sure you don't sleep on white sheets or pillow cases.
  • If this is your first time, do a strand test to make sure you like the effect!
  • Put conditioner in your hair to hold color and prevent it from coming out. Don't rinse the conditioner out for at least 1 hour or more.
  • Put a towel around your shoulders .
  • Do not touch it while it's drying unless you want dyed hands too.
  • Don't swim in chlorinated water for a few days. The dye will fade away.
  • Blue turns green in blonde and red and pink stays in blonde for longer than usual. It's hard to get it out, but it depends how long you let it sit in your hair.
  • If you want it to last up to 3 weeks, soak your hair in vinegar for 30 seconds, let it dry, then rinse it out with the food colouring.
    • Vinegar Rinse Ratio: 1/2 Cup White Vinegar to 1/2 Cup Water
  • Make sure you don't touch anything hard to clean.
  • If the food colouring in the shampoo is too thick add a little water
  • Put your hair in two ponytails & rub in the dye.
  • If you have very dark hair, you will need to bleach it or at least lighten it with sun-in or other lightening products beforehand.
  • Don't use conditioner until its almost faded.
  • Bleach hair prior to dying if you have really dark hair.
  • As you are applying the dye, put tin-foil underneath your hair and brush the dye on your hair.
  • Make sure your hair is dry before laying on anything.

Warnings

  • It will itch as the shampoo dries, but don't scratch it.
  • The food coloring will stain your skin (not permanently)
  • Food Coloring dye is not recommended for dying all of your hair. It can end up looking really stupid, so Food dye is only recommended for full-hair dye in emergency situations.

Things You'll Need

All Methods

  • Newspaper/towels
  • Old clothes
  • Gloves
  • Food coloring
  • Clear or white gel or hair product
  • An empty container
  • Mirror
  • Shower cap or plastic bag

Streak Method

  • Hair tie or clips
  • Toothbrush or comb
  • Aluminum foil
  • Tape
  • Extra shower cap or bag (optional)

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