Step 1: Embrace the damage

You are going to need to cut your hair, bleach it and dye it. You will also have to use heat on your hair (straightening or curling) and then apply a toner or color remover. This process can be time consuming for many people, so before you begin make sure that you have enough free time to dedicate yourself to the process.

Step 2: Bleach your hair

The second step of the process is bleaching your hair. If you want to do this step yourself, use a balayage technique that will give your hair some dimension and depth. Make sure to use someone who knows what they’re doing and apply bleach in thin layers over two or three sessions so that it doesn’t damage your scalp or dry out your hair too much.

Step 3: Wait for the blue

You can expect the color to appear after a few hours. You might be tempted to wash it out right away, but I would recommend leaving it on for at least four hours before doing so. Although this will leave you with a little bit of color, it will fade much more quickly than if you wait until after 24 hours or longer.

If your hair does not seem to be lightening up at all, there are a few things that may be going wrong:

• You might have used too much dye (you can fix this by using less next time)
• The dye could be old and no longer effective (buy fresh dye)

Step 4: Use a toner to get rid of yellow, orange and red undertones

You can use a toner to get rid of yellow, orange and red undertones that may have appeared in your hair. Toner is like a shampoo for your hair. It will only work if you have bleached your hair first!

To use the toner:

• Put it on using an applicator brush or by pouring it into your hand and then applying it to wet hair.
• Leave on for 30 minutes (or until dry).
• Wash out with cold water only; don’t use heaters or blow dryers because they will make the color fade prematurely! Repeat this process two more times until all traces of color are removed from your locks (you did leave some of that dye behind – don’t worry!).

Step 5: Shampoo your hair with a color-depositing shampoo at least twice a week.

At this point, your hair should be ready to be shampooed with a blue-tinted shampoo at least twice a week. Doing so will prevent fading and keep the color looking vibrant. You can also use a color-protecting conditioner on the days that you don’t wash it. Do not use hot water when washing or conditioning your hair—cold water is best for keeping strands healthy and preserving their original tone as long as possible! When applying both shampoo and conditioner, try to massage them into each strand rather than just letting them sit on top of the surface of your strands (this helps distribute product more evenly).

Step 6: Sleep on silk

• Don’t forget to sleep on a silk pillowcase. This is probably the most important part of keeping your hair in good condition while you wear it blue. Silk will help prevent tangles from occurring, which can lead to breakage if not taken care of properly.
• Use a silk bonnet or shower cap when washing your hair for the first time with the new color that you’ve chosen. This will keep your color-treated locks protected from water and shampoo residue that could otherwise stain them before they’re ready (and potentially cause damage). It’s also handy because it means less cleanup!

Tips to make your color last longer, and some warnings about dyes

If you want your blue-hair color to last longer, here are some tips:

• Use a color depositing shampoo.
• Avoid heat treatments (for example, blow-drying and flat ironing).
• Avoid washing your hair as much as possible. If you have to wash it, use cool water, not hot water.
• Do not use dye from a box! Box dyes are damaging to the hair and will make your color fade faster than other types of dyes.

How long does it take to develop that perfect shade of blue? After applying the final product in step 8, wait for 30 minutes before rinsing out all traces of dye from your hair with lukewarm water only; do not use any conditioner at this point or afterwards until after 48 hours have passed since the process was finished (with conditioner on). After 48 hours have passed since completing step 8 above, shampoo and condition using products specific for colored/highlighted hair (not just any old shampoo/conditioner).

You’ll need to invest in time and money, but follow these steps and you’ll be able to dye your hair blue!

• You’ll need to invest in time and money. It’s not going to happen overnight, so be prepared to do this over a few days or weeks depending on how fast your hair grows and how dark your natural color is.
• Follow these steps and you’ll be able to dye your hair blue! Don’t forget about conditioner for healthy locks, gloves for protection against chemicals and old clothes that can get stained by bleach. In order for the dye job to really take hold, there are some other important things you should consider: brush or comb through your hair during the process; use assistance if necessary (I had my boyfriend help me); don’t forget earrings (they can get stained by bleach) or any other accessories (it’s best just not wear them while dying).