How to Dye Your Hair With Dye Cream

This article was co-authored by Frankie Sanderson. Franklin (Frankie) Sanderson is a Makeup Artist and Stylist and the Founder of TheStudeo, a styling business based in Washington DC that specializes in hairstyling, makeup, and personal image consulting services. He specializes in hair extensions, chemical services such as highlighting, Balayage, Japanese straightening, keratin treatments, and designer cuts. He has a BFA in Fashion Design from Virginia Commonwealth University and has trained at the L'Oreal Soho Academy, TIGI, Vidal Sassoon, Redken, and Wella. His clients include Nicole Kidman, Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Tina Fey, Jane Lynch, and Alicia Keys.

This article has been viewed 50,099 times.

When you want to change your hair, dyeing it at home is a great option and saves both time and money. You can create a professional look without dealing with the fuss of a salon by having the right materials and knowing how to use them.

Part 1 of 3:

Preparing Your Hair

You need to apply most dye creams to dry hair, so you’ll want to blow-dry your hair after you wash it, or if you have time, you can let your hair air-dry before applying the dye.
You can apply some dye creams to damp hair. Read the instructions on your specific dye cream before proceeding.

When applying the dye cream, you’ll work with one section at a time to ensure even color application. The smaller the sections, the more control you will have.

Many dye cream boxes include gloves for your convenience.
You can also place an old towel over your shoulders so you don’t get dye on your clothing. Towels and newspapers work great for protecting your work surface, too.

Advertisement Part 2 of 3:

Applying the Dye Cream

Using a mixing bowl instead of using the cream straight from the bottle will help you apply the dye evenly to your hair.
It might be a good idea to use a scale for precision.

Most dye creams sit for around 30 minutes and can then be rinsed. After this, you should be able to tell if you like the color or not.

Use your brush or gloved fingertips to smooth out any globs.
If your hair is thin, you should have no problem applying the dye evenly to the 4 sections. If you have thick hair, then you will likely need to divide each section into 2 or 4 more sections to apply the dye evenly.

Reclip your dyed hair and dye the next section. When you’ve finished applying an even coat of dye cream to one section of hair, reclip it back into place and unclip the next section. Repeat the same dyeing process for each of your four divided sections of hair.

Set a timer and let your hair dye develop. Follow the instructions on your dye cream to learn how long your dye should sit in your hair. Each dye needs a certain amount of time to correctly develop. If you rinse your hair too soon, the dye might not fully work. [7] X Research source

Rinse your hair with warm water. When you have let your hair sit for the required time, rinse it with warm water - not shampoo. [8] X Research source Finish off the process with a deep conditioner to make your new hair silky and smooth. Rinse the conditioner out of your hair with cool water to help lock in the dye.

Advertisement Part 3 of 3:

Maintaining Your New Color

Wait three days before shampooing. This will allow your new hair color to set in and absorb all the way for longer-lasting color. If you shampoo your hair too soon after dyeing it, the color can wash down the drain along with the suds from your shampoo. [9] X Research source

Buy natural, color-safe shampoo and conditioner. Look for hair products that are natural and meant for color-treated hair. Avoid any products that contain sulfates, as they can quickly strip the color from your hair and cause it to look dull. [10] X Research source

If you feel like you need to wash more frequently, try a leave-in treatment like dry shampoo or leave-in conditioner instead of a normal wash.

If you do use these tools, put a heat-protective spray on your hair first. These sprays help keep more moisture in your hair, therefore protecting it from the damaging heat of the tool.

Rinse your hair with cool water. Everyone loves a hot shower, but hot water itself can damage your dyed hair. [13] X Research source Shampoo with warm water and turn the temperature down when you condition and rinse. This will help your color last longer.

Expert Q&A

How do you dye your hair with food coloring? Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist

Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Licensed Cosmetologist Expert Answer

You can apply food coloring with a bottle or brush directly to the hair. Be careful not to get the coloring on your skin as it will stain.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

Can you dye your hair when you have product in it? Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist

Licensed Cosmetologist Expert Answer

If you have a little styling product in your hair it won't affect the dye, but if you use a lot you may want to gently shampoo and dry your hair (without product) before coloring.

Can you color your hair with conditioner in it? Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist

Licensed Cosmetologist Expert Answer

You should not apply color and conditioner together. The conditioner will prevent the color from fully absorbing into the hair. However, if you want to create a diluted version of a hair color you can do that by mixing it with conditioner.

Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Advertisement Things You’ll Need

Tips

Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Please provide your name and last initial Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

The dye might temporarily stain your skin. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, ears, and scalp with the dye.