How to Dye your Hair at Home
If you’ve had apprehensions about dying your hair, whether it be at home or in the salon, you certainly aren’t alone. Unfortunately, there’s a stigma around the idea that dying your grays isn’t masculine or tasteful, but we couldn’t disagree more. There’s nothing quite like the power of hair dye for men to transform their look and reverse aging. Yet it can be intimidating to attempt this at home. Follow our guidelines and tips below to easily get natural-looking results, without the mess.
1. Think about your desired end result and how you want to get there, as different products cater to different needs. Do you want Full Coverage or a Salt & Pepper look? Do you want immediate results or a more gradual process, so that you discreetly cover (or diminish) grays over time? Do you want just to cover your First Grays?
2. Once you know what end result you are going for, pick the right product: if you want to cover a specific spot in your hair or dye your beard, mutli-use solutions will be a much better choice. For an all over hair solution (whether it’s full coverage or Salt & Pepper) a single use option is fine as you’ll need more quantity. Online direct to consumer options, like Cleverman, will help with this process by using a short quiz that allows them to customize the right solution for you.
3. Select the right shade. When trying to find a match for your hair color, it’s always safer to go lighter.
4. Once at home with your selected products
- You always want to read safety warnings and do the recommended patch test 48hs before you dye, especially if this is your first time.
- Start with dry, unwashed hair. This will allow natural oils to build on your skin, reducing potential itching or sensitivity to the product.
- In order to prevent stains on your skin, you might want to apply a barrier cream to your hair line (if the product you selected does not include one, you can use petroleum jelly or just a moisturizer).
- Always wear gloves (most box color kits include them, or you can just purchase some latex ones at your local pharmacy), not only to protect your hands, but also because your fingers can be a key tool when applying dye successfully.
- Always start with the areas where you have more grays, like roots or sideburns, particularly if you have stubborn grays. That way the dye will on those areas a bit longer.
- Even if you are just covering roots or a specific spot, always run the product with a comb through the rest of your hair, to ensure no line and an even look. To prevent color going too dark, just do this when there’s about 3 minutes left of the recommended timing. So if your product says to leave color on for 10’, you would run it through with a comb after 7’.
- Before you rinse, damp your hair a bit and massage for a minute or so (easier to do this, and then rinse, in the shower).
5. If there are stains on your skin, you might want to use a cleansing wipe (if not included with your kit, you can try soap and water, rubbing off stains with a washcloth or old towel). You can also use the wipe to quickly clean up any drips on your bathroom counter or sink.
Ready to make your selection? You can either run to the store or try a direct to consumer service. These usually help with selection via a short quiz and ship discretely to your home. Try Cleverman, Spy Magazine’s top choice for male hair dye, a fully customizable solution that works with professional-quality dyes. Our kits come with everything you need for natural results at home (color, application tools, customized instructions, hair or beard care… even a barrier cream and a stain removal wipe to care for your skin). They are easy to use and work fast, usually in 5-10 minutes. And they are 100% vegan and enriched with organic oils. Plus we are so certain you’ll love it, that they’ll give you your money back if things don’t work out for you!
