Dye Hair Bright Red
So you want to dye your hair red? Follow these steps and you will have healthy red hair in no time.
Steps
- Find out what red you want. Do you want blood red? Vibrant cherry red? Or a bright cinnamon color? Whatever color you want there is a dye for it but you must browse shops, read reviews and get advice before you decide on your dye.
- Pre-lighten your hair. If you have dark hair pre-lightening your hair will ensure you get the best result of the color you want. Just get the pre-lightener out, and apply to your hair like a dye. The best pre-lighteners will not only lighten your hair but strip any previous permanent color left in your hair.
- Leave it for at least a week, as your hair can only take so much damage at a time. Do a deep conditioning treatment which will help your hair get back into a suitable state for dyeing it again.
- As always do a patch test with your dye. Most dyes will have instructions on how to do a patch test. Make sure each time you dye your hair you do a patch test. This will tell you if you will have an allergic reaction or not when you apply the dye. Do not apply the dye if you experience swelling, itching or burning during the patch test or if you get a rash, do not use the product and seek medical advice before dyeing your hair again.
- Set up your area for dyeing your hair. Lay some newspaper on the surfaces, mix your dye if needed, get out gloves, towels, a comb, hair clips etc. Make sure you have everything you will need during the dyeing process.
- Put on your gloves!
- Comb your hair through so there are no knots.
- Pour some of the mixture into your hands (with gloves on, of course) and starting at the ends apply all over. Make sure the ends are all covered in dye. Comb the ends to make sure they are completely covered in dye.
- Now do the roots. Section them out with hair clips and dye each one separately. Make sure you have gotten right to the bottom of the root and that each one is completely covered in dye.
- Make sure your whole head is covered in dye!
- Leave for the recommended amount of time and wash out. Make sure the dye is completely washed out before drying it.
- Dry your hair and style
- Enjoy your new red hair.
Tips
- To keep your new red hair vibrant, wash hair with cold water. Warm-hot water will make your hair color bleed out much faster.
- Wear old clothes while dyeing your hair. Don't get your good clothes dyed red!
- After dyeing your hair, if it is really damaged, do a conditioning treatment once a week, have a good diet full of protein, avoid dyeing it for awhile and get it trimmed regularly.
- After lightening hair and dyeing it use a deep conditioning treatment to repair your hair and get it soft, shiny and healthy.
- Trim your hair regularly as your hair will be more damaged after dyeing it and you will be more likely to get split ends.
- If your hair is longer than chin length some dyes recommend you use two boxes of dye.
- Make sure you have the conditioning mask, they help a lot.
- If it says permanent, make sure you don't get it on your skin.
- Avoid using heating on your hair; it promotes fading.
- It is best to get your hair cut afterward to maintain it's growth.
- Apply shampoo only to the roots. It strips the color out of your hair.
- Always read and follow the instructions your dye gives you.
- Always perform a patch test!
Warnings
- Do not use the pre-lightener or dye if you have experienced a reaction before to either a lightener or any red hair dye. Seek medical advice first.
- Do not use dye on dry, irritated or damaged scalp.
- If, during the dyeing process, you experience swelling, itching or burning, rinse out the dye immediately and seek medical advice.
- Always read the warnings on the side of the dye boxes.
- If product gets into eyes, flush eye with water and seek immediate medical help as the dye may cause serious permanent damage to your eye.
Things You'll Need
- Hair lightener
- Red hair dye. Shampoo
- Brush/comb
- Deep conditioner
- Gloves
- Old clothes
- Hairbrush
- (Optional) Tint brush
