Can you recreate a salon hair coloring at home? Experimenting with hair color is a satisfying, exciting form of expression that helps you feel confident. Many different motivations exist for coloring hair. Some people simply enjoy playing around with different shades because they love recreating the big “influencer” looks of the moment. Others use dye to cover unwanted grays.

The one thing that everyone who uses hair coloring for personal expression has in common is that they want vibrant, attractive, and long-lasting color results. This is why the debate over home hair coloring versus professional coloring is so complicated. Is coloring your hair at home a good idea? Take a look at what everyone needs to know about DIY hair coloring.

Is It Safe to Color Your Hair at Home?

Generally, products that are sold for home hair coloring are considered safe. Of course, proper handling of all dyes and chemicals is essential for safety. Here are some tips for staying safe while coloring your hair at home:

• Follow all instructions provided by the manufacturer.
• Use hair dye in a well-ventilated area. When possible, open a window while dyeing hair. Fans can also help to keep air circulating.
• Avoid direct contact between hair dye and skin. Always wear gloves when handling dye.
• Avoid breathing in fumes from hair dye. Wearing a mask can be helpful.
• Don’t allow dye to sit on the scalp for any longer than the instructions recommend.
• Avoid the temptation to rest on the couch, close your eyes, or nap while dye is setting on your scalp. These things can cause you to lose track of time. Always set a timer to ensure that you’ll be alerted when it’s time to rinse your scalp.
• Keep dyes and chemicals out of reach of pets and children.
• Have an eye-rinsing kit available to flush out any chemicals that may unintentionally enter the eye.
• Avoid dyeing hair in the kitchen to prevent any chemical splatters that could contaminate food or dishware.
• Only color hair using dyes that are approved for use on human hair. Using dyes or paints that are not intended for consumer use could expose you to harmful fumes, skin burns, and other hazards.
• Always rinse the scalp thoroughly when removing coloring from the hair.
• Avoid mixing different hair-coloring products. Mixing different hair dyes can create unwanted chemical reactions that can harm your scalp.

Finally, there’s one important safety step that cannot be skipped when coloring your hair at home. Always start the process with a “patch test” before applying dye to your scalp. A patch test is done by rubbing a tiny amount of dye on the inside of your elbow. The dye should be left in place for 48 hours. During the waiting period, look for any signs of irritation or burning in the test area. If you develop a rash, this is an indication that the dye contains an irritant that can create pain and injury on your scalp. Avoid using the product. If you don’t experience any kind of reaction in the test area, this is an indicator that your skin will tolerate the product without a negative reaction.

While coloring your hair at home is generally considered safe, there’s one type of dye job that should never be performed at home. Never dye eyebrows and eyelashes at home. DIY brow and lash dyeing can harm the tender, vulnerable eye area. In addition to causing burns and irritation, attempting to dye your own brows and lashes can result in permanent blindness. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) offers a strict warning against attempting to use professional-use cosmetics at home due to risks for permanent physical injury.

Can You Get Professional Salon Results at Home?

The fact that dyeing hair at home is generally safe doesn’t necessarily make this a good idea. Like all professional industries, cosmetology is a field that employs trained, knowledge experts capable of safely providing the services desired by their customers. While many dyeing techniques may appear simple after watching an online tutorial, the truth is that hair coloring involves a blend of precision, chemical interactions, and artistry that is extremely hard to master without having the training, experience, and passion possessed by professionals in this field. Licensed cosmetologists have the following credentials:

• A degree from an accredited cosmetology program.
• Hands-on training in a variety of techniques.
• Training in the chemistry of cosmetic products.
• Access to professional-grade products and equipment.
• Product expertise.
• Safety training.
• State licensure.

Sticking with a licensed cosmetologist when coloring your hair offers several benefits. The first is that professional stylists can offer a wide range of color options. They understand how to use different techniques and theories to create the varied, nuanced colors and textures you desire. They can also use cutting techniques to accentuate the color and highlights being added. The professional-grade, high-quality dyes offered at salons can help to prevent the dryness and damage that are common when coloring hair. Plus, many professional dyes last longer than “drugstore” hair coloring. Finally, cosmetologists are default product experts capable of making recommendations for how to preserve your color for as long as possible. That means that an investment in a professional color job may actually save you money by prolonging the life of your color.

What Do You Need to Color Your Hair at Home?

Coloring your hair at home can never be a spontaneous gesture. While you may get the urge to dye your hair on a whim, the reality is that the process must be carefully planned. As mentioned earlier, spot testing that is conducted two days prior to the act of coloring your hair is important for ensuring that a store-bought dye doesn’t cause a painful, harmful allergic reaction on your scalp.

One of the most important tools needed for coloring your hair at home is inspiration. Going in with a plan is recommended. This means having a plan for using the right color to achieve a look that you can picture in your mind. Using a photo for inspiration can be helpful when you don’t have experience with creating hair looks on your own.

It’s also important to have a roster of tools for coloring your hair. These items should be set out at your “workstation” for easy access. Here’s a checklist for coloring your hair at home:

• Boxed hair coloring.
• Slant-tip applicator.
• Color brushes.
• Latex-free disposable gloves.
• Access to a sink.
• Makeup remover wipes.
• Shower cap.
• Cotton swabs.
• A “junk” shirt/smock.

One important “trick of the trade” to know about is your hair color should always be about half of a shade lighter at the hairline compared to the rest of the head. The color should become gradually darker as you look toward the back of the head. This secret is what often distinguishes a professional color job from an at-home color job.

Unfortunately, many store-bought dyes create a one-dimensional look. This can make your hair seem like a “block of color” instead of bringing out the beauty of rich, nuanced strands. Professional stylists are trained to mix shades to add depth to hair. Professional stylists also have exciting blending techniques that create natural-looking, flattering highlights. In addition, cosmetologists can create the in-demand ombre effect that is beloved by many celebrities. This look combines darker routes with sun-kissed ends without creating a jarring, disjointed look. When attempting the ombre look at home, it can be hard to create the clean, naturally blended lines needed between the two shades to make this look work.

For people seeking to cover gray hair with dye, cosmetologists can offer techniques that cover “just the roots” for a natural look. The benefit of only addressing roots during the early stages of graying is that there’s no need to change the natural color of your hair. A blending technique can seamlessly integrate dyed roots with your existing color. This is an affordable, fast way to enjoy gray-free roots for weeks.

How Do You Learn How to Color Hair Professionally?

The situation isn’t hopeless if you’re tired of walking around with an “amateur” dye job. Anyone with the passion, interest, and dedication needed to learn about hairstyling can step up to a professional level. Plus, learning how to professionally dye your own hair can put you in a position to begin charging others for hair services. A passion for learning how to dye your hair at home could quickly turn into a satisfying, lucrative, and fun career. The best way to become good at coloring your own hair is to attend a cosmetology program at a vocational school.

A perfect option for beauty enthusiasts, a cosmetology program offers instruction and training for all facets of the beauty industry. Students study to become trained, licensed cosmetologists capable of performing a wide variety of aesthetic treatments. While a desire to learn how to professionally color hair may be the motivation for attending cosmetology school, a program will turn you into a true beauty expert with a variety of technical, practical, and managerial skills. Today’s accredited cosmetology programs cover:

• Hair cutting.
• Manicures and pedicures.
• Hair straightening.
• Skincare treatments.
• Makeup application.
• Low-level aesthetic treatments.

Graduates of cosmetology programs enjoy a variety of career options. Upon certification, cosmetologists can work in salons, spas, dermatology offices, retail stores, corporate makeup offices, and many more locations. Many decide to pursue the dream of opening their own salons. The credentials earned through an accredited program can even help to bolster a career as an online beauty influencer.

Final Thoughts

The best way to get professional results at home is to become a professional. If you’re passionate about turning your own bathroom into a salon, this could be a sign that you’re a professional cosmetologist at heart. Discover the possibilities when you enroll in a cosmetology program offering a path to an exciting career in the beauty industry.

Want to Learn More?

Did you enjoy learning coloring hair at home? You might be a natural cosmetologist. Meridian College offers a Cosmetology training program in Florida that prepares you to deliver high–quality beauty and hair services to both men and women. Their hands–on Cosmetology training program gives you the skills you need to start an exciting career and become a leader in the beauty industry.

Contact Meridian College today to learn more about becoming a cosmetologist.