I dyed my hair. At home. It wasn’t a disaster.
I don’t dye my hair all that often (once a year used to be my “thing”), and when my sister-in-law’s were visiting we all wanted to go to the hair salon and get it done together. A hair cut for one, and the other two of us got our hair dyed. As you do in California, I looked up a well-rated hair salon on yelp and noticed a salon that had good reviews that was semi-close by. We drove to Campbell and sat down in the chairs. There were supposed to be 3 stylists doing out hair, but one guy never ended up showing up all together. That was unsettling.
I asked to go a bit darker with my hair, but to have no red in it at all. She showed me some hair swatches and we chatted through it. Once I walked out of the salon, I was pleased with it. I paid an exorbitant amount of money for an overall colour that faded out within 3 months.
I do all things correctly when taking care of dyed hair. Not washing it on the regular, and using colour treated shampoos (Aveda is my favourite). Well, fast forward a few months and I have this faded out reddish colour. I hated it. In the sunlight I had red hair. I have done red all throughout my teenage years and older. I’m sick of it, and now I’m all about embracing a natural brunette colour. No more reds!
I wasn’t about to go back to the salon, especially since the colourist used semi-permanent and not permanent (clearly). You ain’t eatin’ up no more of my money, fool!
Since my brunette roots were showing, I have been noticing an awful lot of greys coming in behind my ears, especially when my hair is in a pony (which is never, so maybe that’s why I hadn’t noticed them). Panic stricken and in a fit of fury I spent a while plucking them all out from behind my ear. I mean, who gets greys in their happiest time of their life? I thought you got greys when you’re stressed out! Well, the greys are starting to stress me out you guys.
I told The Guy to look and confirm I was in fact getting grey hairs, and mentioned to him I was plucking them out. He seemed to notice them and also panicked and told me to NEVER rip them out because apparently hair doesn’t grow back?
What does he know.
It might be true, so instead of continuing to pluck because god that took way too long, I started to do something about it. I feel way too young to have some grey hair man! At least it’s hide-able behind my ears and not on the top of my head. Some members of my family still aren’t grey. Guess I didn’t get those genes. I still hate them (the grey hairs lol).
As luck would have it, I received an Ulta coupon in the mail for a $10 off anything in the store. How convenient. I don’t want to waste my money on any more hair salons, since I never get what I want, why not just dye my hair at home and save me the frustration of throwing away my big dollars to someone who doesn’t listen to what I want anyway? Plus, the gals at Ulta were pretty helpful. Since I had my hair dyed in July (ugh it seems not even that long ago! I hope I don’t become a regular at hair-dying…) I wanted to know if I should do the roots, or the ends first. Luckily tey knew what they were talking about and walked me through the steps.
I even e-mailed my OLD hair dresser back in Waterloo Ontario to ask what colour I “should” dye my hair and what she used to do with it. Staying away from ashy colours is a thing I should listen to as apparently it’ll give my hair this greenish tinge. Could be okay for Christmas, with a red sweater, no?
All jokes aside. A 13.99 Clairol hair colour + $10 coupon = my kinda price range. right up my alley. A before picture.
Here are the after photos! 
Not bad for a first time hair dye at home in over ten years, right? I’m pretty pleased with how it came out. There is a smidge of red still in, which I dislike. But overall it’s pretty awesome, and I’m happy with the new colour!
26 Comments
I love the dark hair! I’ve done mine at home before too, and it’s not too hard at all. Rock it:)
Ashley @ A Lady Goes West recently posted..Thursdays are for Thinking Out Loud
I think it came out GREAT! I love the darker color on you <3
Angelic Sinova recently posted..Ipsy Bag November 2014 Review
I can’t tell you how long I’ve been doing my own hair color. Since i have serious grey (started graying in my early 30’s) I am always in need of a root touch up. No making appointments and spending hours in the chair for routine stuff for me! The new color makes your blue eyes pop even more.
@Catheryn Cervantes: Thanks! I used to dye my hair at home as a teen, but since got a little scared. Not anymore after this dye-job! I love how it came out :) What brand of box dye do you use to cover gray?
@Nancy: I use salon hair color. Paul Mitchell’s it’s called “The Color” with a 20 Vol developer. They have a grey formula too think it’s called +grey. Love it!
Have you dyed your hair red before? That red is so freaking hard to get out! It looks amazing on you <3
Brooklyn Jolley recently posted..5 Ways Anyone Can Give Back
@Brooklyn Jolley: Yeah, red is hard to get out. The woman used demi-permanent dye on my hair. It looked brown and she assured me there wasn’t any red (I haven’t had red dye in my hair for years) until what she did to my hair, made it fade to a nasty red. So, I’m taking matters into my own hands lol.
Aww, why all the ginger hate? :) j/k Your dark color looks great, I just spend so much money trying to keep my red in! :) Someday I may brave the home remedy…but not quite yet. Good job on making it look so nice!!
Angie Scheie recently posted..Girls Day In – Christmas Movie Marathon Party
@Angie Scheie: I just can’t stand red hair on me. At all.
It turned out great! My biggest worry is whether the chemicals are the same quality as the salon versions – what do you think?
It turned out lovely! I haven’t dyed my hair in 4 years and it’s now completely virgin for the first time in 17 years lol!!!
I used to get it done and change my hair style more often than I’d like to admit. My hair is super healthy now but I still go in and get it styled and trimmed. Yes, we are true Californians aren’t we?! :D Ah, I love this state!
Amby Felix recently posted..Eggnog Rice Krispies Treats
I think it looks great! I can never dye hair myself and not have red in it!
Claire recently posted..Tutorial: Custom Pin It Button {and free gold glitter pin it button}
The final result looks great. It really matched your skintone and made your eyes stand out even more.
LOVE that colour!!! I almost hit a cyclist with my car when I caught my first glimpse of a grey hair in my rear view mirror. I feel your pain!!!
(PS: I have a few friends who went to Waterloo!)
Michelle Webber recently posted..Throwback Thursday to That Time I was a Desert Nomad
Your hair looks great. I recently did mine red at home and loved it.
karissa recently posted..Insider tips to shopping smarter at Albertsons! #Albs2GC10
it looks great! I’m way too afraid to do my own hair. But I’m blonde dammit and I’m staying that way!
I think the red undertones have to be there, otherwise the hair will look too monochromatic and you will look washed out. They are subtle and add color to your face!
Jessa recently posted..Holly Jolly Engraved Letters
You did a great job – your hair looks gorgeous!! I’ve never dyed my hair because it’s such a dark dark brown that I would need to bleach my hair first and that just gives me anxiety, haha.
Rachel @ Bakerita recently posted..Peppermint Skillet Brownie
I absolutely love the dark hair! I’ve always been curious about coloring mine, but every stylist i go to tells me not to dare! ;)
Brenda recently posted..Disneyland for the Holidays
Ughhhh, that’s exactly why I don’t ever want to get my hair cut. It’s so darn expensive especially when all I want is really just a straight line across the back and they want to charge me $20 plus a tip. Wow, am I ranting or what?! haha! I love the box color though, so pretty!!!
Alyssa recently posted..tmart.com
You look great chickee! I have been missing reading your blog. NaBloPoMo took a lot out of me. LOL!
Love your new hair colour. I used to dye my hair at home all the time when I was younger. The last few years I have gotten it professionally done to spoil myself once a year or so. But the last one I did was an at home kit. Not sure it really worked out. It was red and I think I missed parts at the back. Hehe. Oh well.
@Brandy: Hey Brandy! So good to hear from you :) I miss my hair dresser in Ontario and her spoiling me with inexpensive hair dyes/cuts. I’d spoil myself too once a year but I dislike paying the $100+ for a trim or overall colour. :( Lol.
Nancy recently posted..20 Stocking Stuffer Ideas
Looks stunning! It really makes your baby blues pop! <3
Shipra recently posted..Colors by Llarowe Gemini Rising Swatches and Review
Your hair looks fabulous :D I am a DIY hair colour-er too, especially when it’s just one colour!
Rebekah recently posted..Weekly Highlights
You did a fabulous job! When Ernie and I were in college, I had him dying my hair to save money. It was not pretty looking. Since you can’t dye blonde hair, you have to lift the color, it never looked quite right. Thank goodness for pros, in my opinion!
Lauren recently posted..Top 10 Presents For Him
That dark hair looks great on you. It really brings out your eyes! I love it! :)
It looks great Nancy :)
Amy recently posted..Easiest Technique To Apply Nail Wraps with OMG Nail Strips