How to not f*ck up your DIY hair color

I've had my fair share of both professional and DIY dye jobs as someone who loves playing with different (okay, crazy) hair colors. Believe it or not, coloring your hair at home is easy as counting 1-2-3! Many of the box dyes require mixing only two chemicals together before applying them to your hair. It's not as complicated as the instructions and pretty results make it look.

However, if you're coloring your hair for the very first time and plan to use bleach, I strongly recommend getting it done at a trusted salon first so you have an idea of what to expect. For the rest of you coloristas, I've compiled my best tips for getting a good box color and preventing a hair disaster.   

1. Prep and treat your hair before and after coloring. Indulge your tresses with hot oil treatments at least three days before dyeing, then once every week after. Soaking your hair in virgin coconut oil (VCO) also helps. If you’re planning to DIY bleach your hair, make sure to treat your hair two to four weeks before. 

2. Don’t wash your hair before coloring. A lot of salons disapprove of this because they believe dirty hair won’t effectively absorb the color. Personally, I’ve tried both ways and the results are just about the same. The big advantage of dyeing unwashed hair, however, is that it has natural oils to protect the scalp.

3. Invest in good hair care products. If damage has already been done, fret not. There are products out there that could still help you out. Here are some of the products that I personally use and recommend:

• Human Nature Natural Strengthening Shampoo - an organic hair cleanser that makes hair grow faster, doesn’t strip the colors, and is easily found in most supermarkets.
• Joico K-Pak Deep Reconstructor - its not available locally (I order mine from eBay or Amazon) but it’s a miracle worker for bleached hair
• Kérastase Nutritive Oléo-Relax Anti-Frizz Serum - a high-end serum that can make your hair soft and frizz-free
• Silk Secrets in Milk Hot Oil Treatment - an affordable one-minute hot oil treatment that you can use daily. 

4. Understand the color wheel. If you would like to tone down a certain shade on your hair, you need to know its opposite color. For example, blond hair has a tendency to turn brassy or develop orange-yellow tones. To remove this, you need purple shampoo like the Clairol Shimmer Lights because it's the color on the opposite side of the spectrum.

5. Always get a lighter color and more dye than you think you need. Hair dye always looks darker in real life than in the box. Also, it's better to have too much than to run out of product while you're in the process!

Have you tried coloring your hair on your own? Got any tips to share? What hair color/s will you be trying this year? Sound off in the comments!