Gransnet forums

Style & beauty

Do you colour your own hair?

(83 Posts)
Shirleyw Fri 01-Sept-17 05:12:39

I always go to hairdresser for colour, never coloured my own as not confident in doing so. Is it reliable and easy to do at home ? and is it just as good as having it done at the hairdresser? .....Shirley

Teddy123 Sat 02-Sept-17 14:53:57

No! I leave it to the professionals. My girl does a brilliant job. Yes it's a luxury and I'm worth it ?

sussexoldbag Sat 02-Sept-17 16:06:06

silver lining my OH uses a silver tint shampoo/conditioner with excellent results. It's easy to use and removes yellow and uneven grey tones whilst giving a lovely silver colour.

inishowen Sat 02-Sept-17 18:28:17

I have always done my own colour. My tip is to rinse the colour off in the shower, and then go on with my usual shower. Saves time and mess.

seacliff Sat 02-Sept-17 19:59:58

I did diy for decades. It was getting too dark for my older complexion, even though I'd chose lighter shades. Eventually I went to salon and had bleached highlights on dark hair. Still not sure what to do long term, blond isn't me, and not good for hair condition. Someone mentioned henna, that used to make my hair so lovely and healthy looking.

1974cookie Sat 02-Sept-17 20:45:17

I always used to colour my own hair, usually a golden brown colour, until one day I decided that I had had enough of all the faffing around.
I told my VERY trusted Hairdresser, and said that I wanted her to colour my hair instead. I told her that I would give her free rein with the colour.
She then told me what she planned to do, I was to go blonde.
Visions of looking brassy went through my mind, but she reassured me by telling me that the blonde would be a dark blonde with a subtle caramel colour flowing through using foils which do not show regrowth as much as having your hair coloured in one colour all over.
Ladies, when I saw the result, I was stunned. I truly could not believe the transformation. I was now a blonde, and it actually suited me, and still does. I feel like a million dollars.
I have never looked back.

PS. My Hairdresser said that she looked at the natural colour of my eyebrows to determine my hair colour.

WendyS Sat 02-Sept-17 21:03:54

I do it myself with Nice and Easy dark brown colour. I mix and lightly comb the mixture through my silver and grey hair. Then I shave my legs and pumice my feet. Finally I shower off. I love my hair.

Nanna58 Sat 02-Sept-17 21:54:03

1974cookie says it all, diy is ok sometimes and sometimes a disaster, but a good professional colour literally can transform you - well worth the money in my opinion.

David1968 Sat 02-Sept-17 23:25:31

I've said this before here, but I think it's worth repeating. I go to the "training" hair salon at our local Further Education College. They are great and it's so cheap! The tutors keep an eye on everything; they're experienced stylists themselves and won't allow any treatment that they think could damage your hair. My hair colour (highlights on my natural grey) has never looked so good - after 40 years of both pricey salon & (cheaper) home colouring. I've often been complimented on it, which rarely happened before!

Stella14 Sat 02-Sept-17 23:37:21

I used to go to a hairdresser. Generally, I believe professionals do a better job with a few highlights and/or low lights with the main colour. It looks more natural than one flat colour. That said, about 18 months ago, I decided to go natural and grow the grey in. I had my hair cropped very short when the roots were already showing, to avoid the hideous long half grey hair look. It is now in much better condition and I love it!

Shirleyw Sun 03-Sept-17 05:26:46

think I might give home colouring a go now after your replies. Can always go back to hair dresser ...thanks all.

WendyS Sun 03-Sept-17 05:39:38

Good Luck. You'll love the savings.

maddy629 Sun 03-Sept-17 07:17:39

I have always coloured my own hair, it is easy, better for your hair, no colour stripping and a lot cheaper. I have stopped colouring mine now, I had a pixie cut and I love my new silver blonde hair.

Norah Sun 03-Sept-17 07:25:02

I have coloured my hair, until I decided I like my grey.

SallyDapp Sun 03-Sept-17 08:54:54

I have pink, blue and purple hair (looks like a unicorn has pooed on my head according to my son) and get it done by the hairdresser every 6-8 weeks as it's easier. The pink washes out quite quickly, depending on how often I wash it so I 'top up' in between. This means I add 25% pink colour to 75% conditioner and apply it to the pink section of my hair and leave it for half an hour once a week to a fortnight. The blue that's on my hair is indestructible so I don't have to worry about that. The last time the hairdresser did my hair, at my request, we stripped it back to ash blonde in the pink bit first but it's up to you what you ask for. It's your hair, ask for what you want, you don't have to have it bleached if you don't want to. I have a good relationship with my hairdresser and have been using this lovely lady for about 12 years. She's Gold dust, she listens to me and gives good advice. I'm always happy with the results.

TriciaF Sun 03-Sept-17 09:22:51

My hair grows fast and so would cost me a fortune to have it colored professionally . Forever going back.

Skweek1 Sun 03-Sept-17 11:28:45

I've only ever had it done once by a hairdresser (can't afford luxury of hairdressers!) but works well doing it yourself. Don't follow the advice to do a test a day or two before, otherwise try it.

Mercedes55 Sun 03-Sept-17 12:24:05

I'm another that can't really afford to pay to have my roots done, so have done my hair myself for about 30yrs. I used to use the boxes of colour from the supermarket until I realised I could get a much better selection of colours if I bought professional colours. So now I buy a 60ml tube of Kolesten colour and mix up half the tube with the same amount of peroxide and depending on how much lift I want with the colour I use either 6% or 9% peroxide and I'm very happy with it. I find if you get all your stuff together first, part your hair front to back and side to side and start at the back where it's thickest that by the time you've got to the finer front hair then it colours evenly everytime. It does take a bit of time to get used to doing the back sections on your own, but with a couple of mirrors strategically placed it's not too difficult.

123kitty Sun 03-Sept-17 15:46:39

Hairdresser every time

Esspee Mon 04-Sept-17 07:11:54

I never have problems colouring the roots. Have found there is no need to fiddle trying to cover the "stripe" horizontally and worrying about overlap. I apply the mixture by squeezing lines of the product on my scalp in a downwards direction through my dry hair then I wait a while and comb it through. The remaining colour then gets applied in lines starting at the roots on the top, dryish hair, left a while then massaged through the whole head, left a while again then rinsed off. Gives a highly effective multi tonal effect. I use Preference by L'Oreal and the conditioner is wonderful. I think the key is to find the perfect colour. Most ladies choose a darker colour than they should.

travelsafar Mon 04-Sept-17 08:01:19

I am amazed by how many people colour their hair, be it at home or at the hairdressers.

When i mentioned 1 was starting to think about colouring mine my hairdresser advised against it saying it will ruin your hair!!

lemongrove Mon 04-Sept-17 09:23:43

Well, can't agree with that, as I have been colouring my hair in one form or another since I was a teenager.?My hair is still silky.
However, I have heard that the main culprit regarding dyeing hair is contained in very dark dyes, and have never used those.

valeriej43 Tue 05-Sept-17 09:15:20

I have always coloured mine at home, been to a hairdresser on odd occasions, for special occasions,had it done for my sons wedding,it cost 65 pounds and i was thee for 4 hours, it was no better than home colours,
I used to use nice and easy,but recently changed to Excellence which left it very soft and silky,
I use golden blonde usually,
I used to have blonde highlight on dark hair, but went to a new hairdresser,when my usual one retired,
I was shocked when i looked in the mirror after her drying it,i was completely blonde,and not pleased,and so it has been blonde ever since,but now colour my own
Hairdressers are so expensive and i could afford to go on a regular basis
I also use the applicator to go through the roots, leave on for about 20 minutes then shampoo the rest in
Also with Excellence you get a preconditoner











3

GrannyA11i Tue 05-Sept-17 11:22:22

I've used nice n easy for years but just changed to e salon - it cones in the post and is made up for you by them after seeing pictures of your hair and following your requests for the colour you want. It's very good and they give you the gloves, brush , stain remover and stain barrier in the kit. My hairdresser complimented me on the colour and condition of my hair so it is possible not to ruin it my doing it yourself. It's more expensive than a box of N&E but way cheaper than the hairdressers!

Macgran43 Wed 06-Sept-17 14:55:53

I bought a brush for applying colour to roots. I mix up Nice and Easy in a bowl and my husband applies solution to my roots. Have had several compliments on my hair colour I use dark blonde. Fraction of the cost charged by hairdressers. I spend the money saved on a good cut.

TriciaF Wed 06-Sept-17 17:24:28

My close friend here is almost as old as me, 79, and her hair is still thick and bouncy and a rich chestnut colour, except for few white hairs around her ears. She doesn't dye it!
She's shown me photos of herself when younger and her hair was the same colour, but maybe thicker. She's lucky!