Can you help me with home haircoloring?

[StressLess]

The last couple of times I covered the gray, I paid to have it done when I got my haircut. At $45 a trip, I really can't afford it. Besides, I still have boxes of haircolor left from sales last year.

So, does anyone have any tips for making it less of a hassle to do at home?

I always try to have DH help, so no spots get missed. Sometimes he's just not in the mood! How do you manage it totally by yourself? Especially if you wear glasses?

I use a disposable cap to keep the fumes in and control drips. But we always seem to find drips in the bathroom afterwards, which are sometimes hard to get off. (I had to use Soft Scrub on the oak vanity last time--took part of the finish off.) How do you protect surfaces from the dye?

Any tips at all will be welcome!

[shengmei]

I used henna once and it was totally awesome. You put it on your hair and it takes four hours to settle in, but I love how it was natural and no fumes. It was easy to clean, too.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

When I first started dying my hair, I would spread newspaper newspaper on the floor. And this is wierd but effective--I spread a thin layer of shampoo over the vanity top which was below the mirror. On my dye box it said to clean up dye spots from your skin with shampoo and it worked to get it off of my vanity as well. I put the shampoo down so that if a drip falls, it could not start to bond at all before I wiped it off. But my vanity is some kind of plastic-marble look stuff, not wood. If I had wood, I beleive I'd caover the surface with something. Maybe plastic wrap from the kitchen? After my first few times of dying my hair, I was less messy and now I no longer do any of that. For me, part of it was finding that I did not need to use the whole bottle on my hair. At first I was using more than necessary which led to drips.

Have you tried the kind that is more like a thick gel or creme? That might help.

[StressLess]

Thanks, I'll have to look into henna for the future. Right now I want to use up what I've got, though.

The shampoo coating on the sink sounds good. Our vanity is a wood base with the same plastic/marble type sink you describe, Joan of the Arch.

Thanks again.

[Thrifty Ray]

I have been coloring my own hair for years. I have an old shirt that I use to cover me...and I keep a damp old rag for wiping up drops and to wipe off skin. I don't have many drops on my sink or floor anymore.

You should plan to protect your surface with an old towel or newspsper.

I start with all roots first...and then hit the ends if there is color left in the bottle...since I always use the same color now, I can get away with just the roots. I run the bottle tip along my entire head and make sure my tips are well covered (darn that gray)

I have bought color on sale before because it was 'old'...and found the color came out wierd...so I am careful not to keep the color for more than 6-9 months. But I may have just had bad luck.

I don't need my glasses to color my hair, so I am not sure how to overcome this one...

Just keep experimenting...you will get the hang of it... and will save LOTS of money in the meantime!!

Good luck!

[CRFSaver]

don't forget the local beauty schools. you can go there and get it done for probably half the price of what you have been paying, if not more.

[Fern]

I use Chap Stick on my forehead, along the hairline, to prevent drips and to keep the stuff off my skin. I also use an old t-shirt expressly for coloring my hair. I used L'Oreal Excellence Creme for years, which i liked cus it doesn't run as much as regular stuff, but now i've switched to Clairol cus it has no ammonia and is HALF the price.

Just call me Golden Ash Brown.

[Ima saver]

I use clariol nice and easy and have for 35 years. I do it right over the sink, so if there are any drips, they fall in the sink. I bet I have saved a fortune over the years. (and if I miss a spot in the back, so what? I usually get the front pretty good!

[Snoopy2645]

Just just a tip for you when you buy it for those who dont know look for coupons & look for rebates I have gotten b1g1 free coupons before with a free after rebate so I got 2 for free also walgreens will have lots of sales & rebates on this mix that in with a good coupon for a good deal!!! What I do when I dye mine is use a brush & brush threw my hair so I get all the strains!! I havent paid for hair dye in years & I still have 2 boxes at least in my cupboards Thinking of dying mine & my oldest daughters hair soon!!

[markio26]

i just wanted to say, if your hair comes out too dark, use dandruff shampoo and it will lighten it.. this happened to bev and it worked for her.