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Box Hair Color - Yes or No?

We haven't talked about hair in a while (in fact, last time we discussed it was HERE when we talked about how much we spend), so today seems like a good time to revisit the topic. You may recall that in our last hair discussion, Katie 1 mentioned that she colors her own hair approximately every 3 months (in reality it ends up being about every 6 months but whatever). She also occasionally falls into YouTube beauty rabbit holes (it was DIY Charcoal masks for awhile) and her most recent obsession is YouTube hair color tutorials because they are fascinating and weirdly calming. Thus, this post is very well timed. 

So... we've rambled a little bit about home hair color and YouTube, what does that have to do with this post? Glad you asked. As it so happens, Katie 1 also had a haircut on Saturday and was discussing her recent hair related YouTube obsession with her stylist, Kassi. This discussion lead to the inevitable question: What do professionals think about at home hair color? And now you know the purpose of this post. We're going to discuss the dos and don'ts of coloring  your hair yourself. 

There's one general rule when it comes to coloring your own hair at home - stay within 2-3 shades of your natural color. Anything outside of that range, for the love of God go to a professional. We recognize that our readers are probably rational human beings and knew this already but there are a TON of professional fashun bloggers with #ad YouTube posts telling readers that DIY baylage is OMG so easy with *insert hair color brand*. While the results of these sponsored posts look terrific do not think you can do this at home. Lightening your hair is best left to the professionals because bleach is no joke. Leave it on too long and your hair will literally fall out. Other times to leave the hair coloring to the professionals? If you are going from super light to super dark. Doing this yourself will leave your hair color looking flat and uneven and the color won't wear well. Also, if your hair is already super damaged or heavily processed, leave any coloring to a professional who knows what he or she is doing. 

Now that we've told you when you absolutely under no circumstances should color your own hair, let's discuss when you can. Per Katie 1's conversation with her stylist and additional research, the general rule is that if you're staying within the range of your natural color you should be fine. Why? Since the changes aren't dramatic the margin for error is much lower. Also, the ability to over process is minimized resulting in less damage to your hair. Katie 1 has followed this rule for years and has maintained healthy, shiny hair and has the blessing from her stylist to Keep Calm and Color On. 

Want some advice on how to successfully color at home and our recommendations on the best at home hair color? We thought so. Here's our list of tips to make the at home coloring process generally better: 
  • Even the most experienced at home colorists have to deal with drips. Have an old bathrobe or t-shirt that's designated as your "hair color" attire. Wear it every time you color so you don't have to worry about hair color drips ruining your clothing. 
  • Try and color your hair when it's a little dirty. The natural oils will protect your hair and prevent the color from staining your scalp. 
  • Most gloves provided with box hair color suck. Spend the $2 on a box of latex gloves and use them instead. 
  • Divide your hair into sections and color by section. Comb the color through each section with a wide tooth comb. Once you've colored each section, comb the color through your entire head and pile your hair on top of your head. 
  • While the color is processing, cover your head with a shower cap or a plastic grocery bag (just put the bag over your hair and tie the ends together. Instant shower cap).
  • Taking a page from the salon, we make our color last longer by blasting our shower cap covered hair with a hairdryer on medium heat for a minute or so while the color processes. 
  • Gently use a wide tooth comb as an aide when rinsing your hair
  • Make sure to utilize the conditioner that comes along with the color. 
  • Keep some astringent handy to wipe up any hair color that may drip on your skin. 
  • Load up on leave-in conditioner post coloring.
What are our favorite home hair color brands? 
  • As she has mentioned before, Katie 1 is a fan of L'Oreal Excellence cream. It's easy to use (LOVE the built in comb), doesn't drip terribly, provides even color that covers grays but doesn't look flat (the natural tones and highlights in Katie 1's hair still show through), and doesn't fade. Also, in addition to showing pictures of the color, the box provides a nice description of the color. 
  • The last time she colored, Katie 1 tried this Schwarzkopf Keratin Color in Intense Cocoa. Katie 1's stylist was very keen on the brand because it's a professional product. Katie 1 isn't so sure.  The description of the color on the box was vague, at best. The product was a lot messier than she's used to. The color was very dark for her liking and is a bit flatter than the L'Oreal she's used to. She'll probably try it again but in the color "Cappuccino." 
So there you have it, our ramblings on coloring your hair at home. Enjoy. 



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