With the current pandemic many of us may be tempted to grab a box of dye and do a touch-up or try out a new colour. And understandably so. But you might want to rethink that drastic hair change before you end up regretting it. In the hopes of helping to minimise damage and give you some decent results from your bathroom, we chatted to Shanti O’Hagan, owner of Mop Hair in Cape Town about what you should know before you dye your hair at home.
Rethink the box dye
Like any hairstylist will tell you, dying your own hair is a big no-no. But granted the circumstances, many local salons have created at-home dye kits and products (which you can order via Insta) so you can do the job yourself. “Firstly rather than buying colour off the shelf and guessing your colour match — get in touch with the professional salons that are offering online consultations and professional kits,” says Shanti. Scar hair, Ochre and Mop hair are some of the salons in Cape Town that are offering such services, so be sure to get in touch with your local salon to see if they can assist you.
Shanti adds that this not only helps minimize the risk of getting the colour wrong which will be costly and damaging to your hair but it also helps support the salons and the hair industry, which are taking immense strain during this time.
Follow the instructions
Once you’ve bought the dye from your selected salon, be sure to follow the instructions properly. Luckily, salons that are creating the kits are also providing instructional videos on how to use your professional kit at home
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How to apply your root colour
READ MORE: 8 DIY Hair Masks For Every Hair Type
Wait it out
If you can wait until salons can operate again, then do so. Rather use this time to give your hair a break from styling. Do a weekly hair mask to help repair damage and keep your hair nourished until the lockdown is over. If you’re looking to freshen up your hair, Shanti suggests rather opting for treatments, like Evo, which contain built-in colour refreshers and toners. And if you can, support your local hair salon by buying their hair kits and products.
But if you really need to…
Speaking as someone that has had many dye adventures in her bathroom, I do agree with the experts that a lot can go wrong. But I also know that many of us are (myself included) will still be reaching for that box dye. So if you are going to be breaking the hearts of hairstylists everywhere, proceed with caution. Hairdresser and Youtuber, Brad Mondo has a great video on professional tips on how to dye your hair at home.
