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At-Home Hair Dye Hacks For Busy Moms via. The Pacific Standard | www.thepacificstandard.com

As a busy new mom, my beauty routine and habits have been a raise against the clock. I’m either rushing to put on a few swipes of mascara or quickly trying to brush my hair into a manageable style. So, I’m sure, it goes without saying that I don’t typically have the time to go to the Salon to get my hair colored. This is why I’ve turned to Schwarzkopf® for help with an at-home hair color brand. You may be wondering, “how do I apply color myself?” At-home coloring really couldn’t be any easier! In following this step-by-step guide you’ll be able to select your shade and freshen up your color in under an hour!

How to Color Hair at Home

When it comes to at-home color my two biggest gripes are product coverage and color variety. Schwarzkopf® Keratin Color provided even coverage from root to tip. Box color has also come a long way since the days of standard color options. With a shade variety from Light Pearl Blonde to Berry Brown and Black Onyx, there's bound to be an option that suits your taste. If you haven’t tried an at-home color before, I’d suggest saving BIG changes for the professionals.

Picking your shade is the first step in the process, and thanks to the convenience of Walgreens is very easy to purchase! At-home color can be found in the haircare aisle, most commonly located near the beauty department. You’ll find the hair swatch at the top of the box along with shade instructions on the back of the packaging which indicates how the product will react to your current shade. I was looking to intensify my natural color, so I opted to go with the shade Cappuccino.

read the instructions!

The first crucial step is to follow the instructions! Give them a read through and do a test patch before jumping into mixing your color. This will give you a feeling for the steps involved in the process. Next, unbox all the included product and tools. I typically like to unfold the instructions and arrange the product in the order that I will need them. This is also a good time to pull out any extra clips, combs, or brushes you may need for sectioning or dividing the hair.

When coloring my hair I like to use 3-4 duckbill clips, a large comb (for sectioning) and a paddle brush. You may also like to keep makeup remover wipes or petroleum jelly on hand if you're worried about getting dye outside your hairline.

Section your hair

This step is crucial if you want to get even coverage! As I mentioned above I have thick hair, so I divide my hair into a bottom, middle, and top layer. Then, divide these once again. Brush through each section with a paddle brush, twisting and securing with a duckbill clip. You could also use hair ties, but I find clips to be much more efficient. Once your hair is sectioned as needed put on something to protect your clothes or wear something that you won’t mind getting dye on. An old robe or dark button-down will work too!

Mix your color

The instructions will determine which products you’ll need to mix to create the shade you chose. Before you jump input on the plastic gloves included in your kit just in case you happen to get dye on your hands. You may also want to keep a timer or clock (on your phone) close by for when its time to apply. Follow the instructions for mixing your color and get ready to apply.

Application

Don’t let the application process intimidate you - it’s pretty straight forward! Start the process at your roots on the top of your hair, as color needs time to develop. Slowly work your way through your hair, applying the product to each section from root to ends, ensuring all hair is covered. As you complete each section, you can then run a comb through your hair to ensure that the dye has covered each strand. Once completed, I like to take a mirror and look at the back of the head to ensure I didn’t miss any spots (this is just an extra measure!)

Post hair color care

Schwarzkopf® Gliss® Ultimate Repair Shampoo and conditioner are formulated with Hair-Identical Keratin Technology help repair and restore hair. Switching to a keratin system will ensure your hair looks shiny while acting as an aid to damaged hair. Schwarzkopf® Gliss Ultimate Express Repair® Conditioner is a post-shower product so it won’t require extended wait-time, which most of us don’t have.