How To Dye Black Hair Brown – smartesthairstyles.com – Dyeing black hair can be tricky as not all hair colors appear on it. That’s because hair isn’t translucent; it is opaque. However, with the right products and techniques, it is possible to dye black hair. Brown is an excellent color choice for black hair because it’s natural and not too light (compared to pastel blue, pink, blonde, etc.). Best of all, you don’t have to bleach your hair unless you want a really light shade of brown.
- Preparing your hair and coloring it
Start with dry, unwashed hair. It is much better to work on hair that has not been washed for at least 1 day. The natural oils on your hair not only help protect it from the color, but also help the color adhere better.
Purchase a coloring kit specially formulated for black or dark colored hair. Since this type of dye will lighten your hair, look for a brown color that is 1 or 2 shades lighter than your own. You can also use a normal light ash brown or dark ash blonde color set.
Buying an “ash” shade is key because it has cool undertones that keep your hair from looking too brassy or orange after you dye it.
If you have natural hair, look for a kit that is formulated for natural hair. It not only brightens your hair but also protects it from damage.
Protect your clothes and your workplace. Put on an old shirt that you don’t mind ruining. If you’re worried about your counter, cover it with newspaper, paper bags, or plastic bags. Clear away anything that could be ruined by accidental splashes or spills.
If you don’t have a spare shirt, drape an old towel or plastic hair-dye cape over your shoulders instead.
Part your hair into 4 sections as it falls past your shoulders. Part your hair down the middle and then drape each half over your shoulder like you are doing pigtails. Split each half horizontally at about ear level so you have a top section and a bottom section. Twist each section into a bun and secure with a hair clip.
Make short, thick hair more manageable by dividing it into 6 or 8 mini buns. This is a great option for African American or natural hair.
If your hair is just a few inches long or even shorter, don’t worry about sectioning it. Instead, you can just apply the color all over your head and work through it to make sure each strand is evenly covered.
Apply petroleum jelly around your hairline, then put on plastic gloves. Your hairline includes your forehead, temples, sideburns, and nape of the neck. It would be a good idea to coat the tips of your ears as well. Once you’ve applied the petroleum jelly, put on a pair of plastic hair dye gloves.
If you’re using a hair dye kit, the gloves should already be in the box. If you can’t find them, open the guide pack; they are mostly in.
If you don’t use a kit, get a pair of gloves from the beauty salon or hair salon. Craft stores may also carry plastic or vinyl gloves for fabric dye.
Mix the paint and developer together, then pour into a plastic bowl. Pour the paint and any oils it contains into the developer bottle first, then shake the bottle to mix everything together. After that, you can pour the mixture into the mixing bowl.
Your finished paint should not have any streaks. If there are any, stir them out with a plastic spoon or with the handle of your tint brush.
You can leave the color in the developer bottle if you have very short hair. If your hair is short enough that it didn’t have to be trimmed, there’s no need to pour your dye into a bowl.
If you’re using a dark, ash blonde color, consider adding a packet of “Color Corrector” to reduce brassy tones.
- Applying and rinsing the dye
Undo one of the lower sections in your hair. Comb out the section so it is nice and smooth and free from knots and tangles. If you have very thick hair, you might even want to split this section into 2 or 4 smaller sections.
Don’t worry about it if you haven’t cut your hair.
If you want to further divide the section, just do it twice and pin the smaller sections into mini buns.
Use the coloring brush to apply the color to your hair. If you’re touching up a previous dye job, apply the dye to your roots first, then work your way up to the lighter part of your hair. However, if you’ve never colored your hair before, apply the color to all of your ends first. Then go back and dye the dye onto your roots. This will help prevent your roots from getting too much color and becoming “hot roots.”
The heat from your scalp will cause the color to work faster. If you apply the color from root to tip, it will lighten up too quickly on top.
If you kept the color in the kit bottle, press some onto your hair and then work it in with your fingers. Next, comb the section with a wide-toothed comb.
You only apply the color to the loose section of hair. Don’t worry about the other sections.
Undo the next section of hair and repeat the process. Finish the lower sections first and the upper sections last. This is because the heat generated by your scalp will cause the color to process and lighten faster in those areas.
You can leave the already dyed section loose or twist it back into a knot.
If you’re touching up a previous color job, apply the color to your hairline, then work your way down to the ends or whenever the lighter color starts.
Tuck your hair under a plastic shower cap and wait 20 to 30 minutes. How long you end up waiting depends on the type of developer or kit you’re using. Read the directions on the bottle or kit to find out how long to wait. However, in most cases you will wait around 20 to 30 minutes.
Not only does the shower cap help keep your surroundings clean, but it also traps heat and aids in the dyeing process.
If you don’t have a shower cap, use a plastic bag instead. Secure it with hair clips to lock in the warmth.
Rinse the color out with cold water, then apply conditioner to your hair. Do not use hot water or shampoo. Instead, rinse your hair with cool to lukewarm water until the water runs clear. Next apply conditioner to your hair, wait 2 to 3 minutes and then rinse with cool/lukewarm water as well.
If your kit doesn’t include conditioner, use a color-treated hair conditioner. You can also use a sulfate-free conditioner.
Allow your hair to air dry. If you must use a hair dryer, apply a heat protectant first. However, it would really be better if you let your hair air dry; Your hair is brittle after dyeing.
If your hair still looks brassy after drying, tone it with hair tonic.
- Care for your hair
Wait at least 24 to 48 hours before washing your hair. If your hair tends to get greasy quickly, use some dry shampoo. Your hair is still porous at this point. If you wash it too soon after dyeing, the color will come out.
If you can, it would be even better if you wait a full 72 hours.
Wash your hair no more than once or twice a week. Your hair really doesn’t need to be washed every day. The more often you wash your hair, the drier it gets! Washing too often will also cause the color to fade faster.
If you absolutely must wash your hair, consider washing it with conditioner only. You can also use some dry shampoo instead.
Use cool water to wash and rinse your hair. Heat can cause color to fade faster; it can also damage your hair and make it frizzy. Use the coldest temperature you can handle to wash and rinse your hair.
Use cool to lukewarm water every time you wash your hair, not just the first wash and rinse.
Wash your hair with colored hair shampoo and conditioner. Not only do these help the color last longer and keep it from fading, but they also help maintain it. If you can’t find one, stick to sulfate-free products instead.
Most shampoos and conditioners will state on the label if they are “sulfate-free.” If it doesn’t say so on the label, check the ingredients label.
Sulfates are harsh detergents that cause hair to become dry and brittle. They also cause dyes to fade.
About once or twice a month, consider swapping out your conditioner for a deep conditioning mask instead.
Limit heat styling and use heat protectant when you do. Colored hair is fragile, so any heat will damage it. It will also cause the color to fade. Whenever possible, let your hair air dry and focus on heat-free styling methods instead of using curling irons and flat irons.
If you must heat style your hair, apply a heat protectant first.
Make sure your hair is completely dry before using a curling iron or flat iron on it.
Instead of blow-drying your hair from start to finish, let it air dry about 90% first, then use a blow dryer to finish drying and styling.
Cover your hair to protect it from sunlight. A hat, scarf or hood would be ideal. If you don’t like wearing things on your head, use a UV hairspray instead. It’s similar to the heat protectant you apply before curling or straightening your hair.
Sunlight can fade your hair color faster. It can also damage your hair.
Touch up your coloring job every 6 to 8 weeks. Hair dye isn’t as harmful as bleach, but it can still ruin your hair if you do it too often. This is especially important when going from black to brown as the color will lighten your hair to some degree .
Unless there is significant fading, you do not need to re-dye your hair; Focus on the roots.