Whether you’ve visited salons in the past to colour your hair blonde, or brunette, even copper or rose gold, now we’re in lockdown, maintaining dyed hair at home can sometimes feel like an uphill battle.
If you feel like your hair is rapidly fading, your roots are regrowing at the speed of light, or you have little greys peeking through that you’d rather have coated in glossy hair colour, we feel you.
You can slow the fading of hair colour by avoiding sulphates in your shampoo, and using colour-protect hair care lines.
But, if you’re feeling tempted to try to colour your hair at home (à la Holly Willoughby), then here’s your guide to everything hair colour, from glosses and masks, to slightly higher commitment semi-permanent colours, all the way through to the full monty
Oh, and please remember to ALWAYS do a patch test before using any kind of hair dye (even if you’ve used it before), otherwise you could risk an allergic reaction.
HAIR DYE REFRESHING MASKS
Who’s it best for?
These masks best for refreshing already-coloured hair. If you pick the right shade (it takes a little trial and error), they’ll knock out brassiness from blonde, revitalise reds and coppers, deepen dark brown and enrich brunettes.
Some are stronger than others, so a strand test might be wise. Others, such as Leonor Greyl’s mask, work accumulatively, so the effects will be stronger on the second use than the first, and so on.
Pros
Super-duper low commitment, almost foolproof, speedy, usually incredibly conditioning, and the least messy option due to being applied in the shower.
Cons
A light touch – it won’t pack too much of a punch.
Tips
Use a silicone-free shampoo (keep those cuticles clear!) and brush through the hair with a wet brush before applying – this helps better distribute the mask and avoid patchiness.
Who’s it best for?
Those looking to step it up from glosses and masks, but who don’t fancy the maintenance of root-regrowth from permanent hair dye.
Bear in mind, this category can differ wildly. You have your wash-in/wash-out options which can, for some, wash out immediately – or within a stated number of washes.
But my advice? Take the lasting time on the box with a pinch of salt, especially with so-called wash-in/wash-out. They’re usually dependent on the porosity of your hair, and there’s always a risk of A) them not taking to your hair at all (more likely), or B) them sticking around a little longer than you planned.
Same goes for semi-permanent colour (such as your classic box-dyes), though these most often stick around for at least 6 hair washes, provided you’re using sulphate-free shampoo and conditioner.
Pros
Longer-lasting than glosses and masks (meaning this ends up a cheaper overall). Depending on the type of dye, these often allow natural dimension to shine through, so greys / old highlights or lowlights will pick up the new colour and look textured.
Cons
These are sometimes a little trickier to nail than masks, so need a little more attention to detail. They also still do wash out, and you might find yourself tiring of re-doing your colour every time it fades.
Tips
Don’t forget, semi-permanent dyes an be used in alternately with glosses and masks. If you opt for ammonia-free formulations, they won’t be able to lighten your hair, only alter the hue.
That in mind, the lighter your hair, the freer you are to experiment with shades (though it’s wise to go no more than two shades lighter or darker than your natural colour).
