When life is busy and you don’t have hours to spare for a salon trip, an at-home hair-colour kit is an effective solution. But how do you get it right without a professional on hand? We asked Dana Fiore, owner and lead stylist at Hair House, for her expert tips – from when to apply hair colour, to how to keep it looking fresh for weeks to come.
Tip 1: Apply colour a day after washing
While you might be tempted to apply an at-home hair dye to freshly washed hair, Dana says this isn’t the best approach. ‘Hair should not be freshly washed because the pores will be open and the scalp will be sensitive,’ she says. ‘You don’t want the hair to be overly dirty, but it also shouldn’t have been cleaned within a few hours of colouring.’ So schedule in your colour for 24 to 48 hours after wash day for best results.
Tip 2: Look for nourishing ingredients
Not all at-home hair colours are created equal, so make sure you choose your formula carefully. ‘Look for ammonia-free hair colour containing moisturising ingredients, as they will keep the hair healthy and moisturised,’ advises Dana. Revlon’s Colorstay Longwear Cream Colour kits, for instance, are enriched with 100% natural murumuru butter and macadamia nut oil to protect and nourish the hair, and give it lasting shine and softness.
Tip 3: Ask a friend to help
Dana advises asking someone to help you apply at-home hair colour for best results. ‘This will help to make sure you don’t miss any spots, and guarantee coverage,’ she says. ‘The treatment should be applied to the roots only, so that you don’t overlap your existing colour. The ends of the hair are more porous and will absorb the dye, creating different tones.’ If you want to refresh your overall colour, Dana advises starting at the roots, then running the hair colour through the lengths for the last five minutes of your application time.
Tip 4: Find the right shade
Whether you want to add richness to your natural colour or go for something completely different, there are a couple of ways you can select the perfect shade. When it comes to enriching the hue you already have, Dana suggests simply choosing the box that most resembles your current colour. ‘If you are happy with that result and you want to maintain it, try to continue using the same formula for future applications,’ she says. If you’re thinking of making more of a dramatic change, haircare brands such as Revlon have virtual try-on tools to help you make an informed decision. Simply upload a photo, then see how you look in each of Revlon’s 16 hair shades, which include Black, Intense Red and Ultra Light Ash Blonde.
Revlon Colorstay Longwear Permanent Cream Colour
Revlon Colorstay Longwear Permanent Cream Colour
Revlon Colorstay Longwear Permanent Cream Colour
Revlon Colorstay Longwear Permanent Cream Colour
Tip 5: Keep your colour fresh
Once you’ve achieved your desired shade, you’ll want to keep it looking vibrant for as long as possible. You can do this by washing your hair in a colour-safe shampoo and conditioner, using tepid rather than hot water, and covering your hair when in bright sunlight or swimming.
Root growth is a little harder to prevent, Dana admits. ‘Hair growth is based on your body’s natural metabolism, so there is no sure fire-way to control root growth,’ she explains. ‘But washing less will help your colour stay fresh until your next application.’
Revlon’s ColorStay Longwear Cream Colour kits come with a unique colour booster mask, which revives vibrancy at week four, to get it looking just like the day you coloured it. Worth making a note in your diary for!
Find your perfect shade at revlon.co.uk and create beautiful, long-lasting colour from the comfort of your home
