1. Start with freshly washed hair.

The first step to getting the most out of your hair dye experience is to start with freshly washed hair.

• Wash it before you dye it. I know, I know: you’ve heard this advice a million times before, but trust me on this one! Even if you think there isn’t much grease in your strands, never skip washing at least the roots before applying color. Otherwise, you risk getting uneven results—or worse yet (for some of us), having an entire chunk of our heads turn purple when we’re not looking!
• Use the right products for your hair type. If possible, use shampoo and conditioner designed specifically for coloring locks; otherwise at least make sure that whatever brand/type product(s) you choose does not contain sulfates (which can strip away pigment). Also remember that shampoo should be kept only on scalps while conditioner is appropriate for ends only—and don’t forget to rinse well between applications!

2. Mix your dye in a plastic bowl.

• Mix your dye in a plastic bowl.

Plastic bowls are the best choice for mixing hair dye because they’re easy to clean, don’t break if dropped, and are cheaper than glass or ceramic bowls. Plus, it’s easy to toss them when you’re done using them!

3. Check that the right amount of developer is in the bottle.

• Check that the right amount of developer is in the bottle.

If you’ve ever used some kind of dye product, you may have noticed that almost every single one comes with specific instructions on how to use it. These instructions include things like how much time to leave your hair in the color solution and what temperature water should be when washing out the dye (usually warm or lukewarm). They also often tell you what strength developer you need to mix with your color prior to application.

The important thing here is: don’t use more than recommended! The same goes for using less than recommended—if it says add 1 packet of powder per 8oz container of developer, don’t add 2 packets just because you want a stronger color job! Use exactly as instructed on your box or bottle label and save yourself from damaging your hair by applying too much dye or too much chemical bleach-type solution.

4. Leave extra time for processing if you apply to long or thick hair.

As with all of these tips, this one is simple: using more dye means you’ll need more processing time. This can be tricky depending on how long and thick your hair is, but a few minutes extra in the chair should do the trick. In general, you’ll want to leave at least 15 minutes for every inch of length or thickness. Another thing you can do is use a lower volume developer to make sure that it doesn’t over-process your hair—in other words, don’t leave the dye in for longer than necessary because this will damage your locks!

If you’re worried about overprocessing and damaging your hair before going red (or any other shade), consider using plastic bowls instead of metal ones when mixing up your color. The plastic won’t absorb any of the chemicals from coloring products—which means that when you’re ready for round two (or three), it’s still full strength!

5. Don’t waste your mixing dye or mix it with any other products, especially conditioner!

• Don’t waste your mixing dye or mix it with any other products, especially conditioner!

Dyes are expensive and you want them to go as far as possible. If you’re not careful, your dye can end up going down the drain and that’s money down the drain too! You should never use two different dyes together (they will cancel each other out) so don’t be tempted to add any product into your mixing bowl unless you know what it is.

Also, if something goes wrong (your hair turns green), don’t be tempted to blame the salon for using an inferior product – what goes into your head also goes onto your scalp!

6. Only do a strand test if you’re using a new color or product and only after you’ve checked instructions carefully.

• Only do a strand test if you’re using a new color or product and only after you’ve checked instructions carefully.

It’s always better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to hair dye! Even if you’ve used the same brand for years, it’s still advisable to check the instructions carefully before applying any dye to your strands. The last thing you want is for something bad (like an allergic reaction) happen because of something as simple as missing a step on the bottle.

If using a new color or product is on your agenda for tomorrow, do yourself (and everyone around) a favor by doing the following:

a) Read all directions from start to finish so that there will be no surprises down the line;

b) If possible, talk with someone who has used this particular product before so they can let you know what they liked and disliked about their experience; and

c) Do an at-home strand test prior to going all out with an entire head application of said product!

7. Use up most of the dye before rinsing, but don’t let it sit for too long as this can damage your hair and scalp!

You may be tempted to leave the dye in your hair for as long as possible, but this can damage your hair and scalp. It’s best to use up most of the product before rinsing it out, but don’t let it sit too long or you’ll risk damaging your tresses.

After using up as much as possible, make sure you rinse thoroughly after using any dye products. If you’re still worried about how well your color was applied or didn’t get enough coverage, do another application of dye at home after washing out with shampoo and water!

These tips will help make sure every drop of dye does its job to perfection!

When it comes to hair dye, not all products are created equal. While some brands make your head look like a unicorn threw up on your hair, others can leave you with an amazing shade of red or purple that lasts for weeks.

But how do you know which brand is right for you? It’s important to do your research and choose dyes based on their quality of ingredients and formula. In this article, we’ll walk through some tips for choosing the best hair dye.