The first rule of coloring your hair is for you to stay within the color palette that looks good with your skin tone. If you have fair skin then a deep black on your hair will look unnatural, so you will want to choose colors that look good with the color of your skin.
There are ammonia free hair color products available to people who wish to do their own color changes at home. These ammonia free hair color products will be labeled on the front of the box letting you know that they contain no ammonia. These products are gentler on your hair and they are better for people who suffer from breathing conditions like asthma.
Consider the thickness and the length of your hair when you purchase products. Most hair coloring kits are designed for people with average length hair that is of average thickness. If your locks are longer or thicker than average you may not have enough hair color in a box to get the look you want. If you think this might be the case it would be best to buy more than one box of color.
You can place petroleum jelly around your hair line, on the tips of your ears, and on your neck to stop the hair color from discoloring your skin. Simply apply the petroleum jelly with your finger tips to these areas before you put the dye in your hair.
You cannot save any leftover color. When you are dying your hair you need to discard any of the products that is left after you are finished. The chemical reactions that can occur in these bottles can be unsafe.
Always color your hair in a well-ventilated area. The fumes of the dye can cause people to become ill. You need proper ventilation to make certain that you are not one of them.
Always do a test piece of hair to determine the length of time you should leave the product in your hair. You cannot tell how well the hair will look if you are watching it turn in the mirror while the product is in place. You should do a test strip of hair to make certain the exact amount of time you wish to leave it in.
If you do not like the results of the dye you can make it fade more quickly by washing your hair frequently. You can wash your hair using dish detergent or laundry detergent to strip the color away quicker, but this will leave your hair dry and brittle. Do not apply another color to your hair without waiting a few weeks or you may damage the hair.