How to: Dye Your Hair Successfully

by Michael Rushby June 27, 2017

Hair colouring - How to dye your hair

Smart Beauty products have been on the market since 2002 and have been regularly used by many happy customers. Most people using our products get amazing results and enjoy the process for many reasons.
We use amazing products that smell nice, don't make the eyes water, are vegan, PPD free (except a few browns) and ammonia free (except a few bleaches) and are Not Tested On Animals.
However, periodically we get feedback from customers about their hair dying results and these are the questions;

• My hair colour was patchy

• My hair went the wrong colour

• My hair didn't dye

• The hair colour didn't last

• My hair green not blue

• My end result colour is no where near electric blue
So, to answer your questions about why the colour didn't take, why shade is wrong, or why the colour didn't last, we are doing a step-by-step guide to preparing your hair for dying.
Preparation
Wash your hair the day before with a clarifying shampoo to remove build up of chemicals, hard water mineral deposits, spray, mousse, gels, chlorine and conditioner residue from your hair. If there is a lot of build up the results could be patchy, faint or not at all.
For Smart Colour Semi-permanent colours, Smart Highlights, Dipdye and Smart Pastel colours, hair should be sqeaky clean.
For Permanent hair dyes and hair lightening where the chemicals are harsher, wait a day or two after cleaning off your hair - the oils in your hair from a day of rest will protect your scalp from the harsh chemicals and help to keep the hair healthy.
Don't use a silicone shampoo designed to leave your hair glossy – it will act as a barrier to the dye and stop the colour from taking hold. Clarifying shampoos do not include oils, though I recently found a Moroccan oil based product claiming to be a clarifying shampoo. Try;

• Anti-residue shampoo by Neutrogena

• Coppola keratin complex clarifying shampoo

• Clarifying shampoo three by Paul Mitchell (good for swimmers)

• Quantum clarifying shampoo

• Or as a last resort use a baby shampoo, mix a small amount of fairy liquid with a non conditioning shampoo or mix 2 tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda with 3 cups of warm water and massage into hair & rinse.
*Smart Beauty are in the process of producing a clarifying shampoo, which will be available in sachets. We can't include these in our products because we are under pressure by the retailers to keep prices down.
The technical bit....
Conditioner is a thick substance that coats the cuticles of hair. It contains oils, silicone, sunscreen which protects the hair by penetrating the hair shaft and changing the ph. Hair is made of a protein called Keratin. Keratin has a high percentage of negative charged amino acids that stick out of the follicle. Shampoos are also negatively charged, which removed dirt as well as natural oils. Conditioner contains positively charged molecules (oily and wet), which bind to the negative charges in the hair. The wet molecules contain the positive charge, the oily molecules smooths the hair and gives weight. These molecules don't completely rinse out of the hair, protecting it longer term.
Dying your hair
• Hair dye will stain your skin. To prevent this use Vaseline or thick conditioner around the hair line. Remove stains with vinegar

• Wear protective gloves.

• Apply to clean, dry hair and follow the instructions that come in the hair dye packaging.

Related articles

  • Bleach Bath: Safely Clear Out The Colour From Your Hair

    by Nalin Apurva August 24, 2021
    Hair colour can only last for so long, and there comes a time when you get bored with your current hair colour and want a little pick-me-up. But, there’s always the issue of damaging your hair from bleach. Bleach is a harsh chemical and could end up damaging your hair if you’re not careful. So, to avoid that, to remove the colors safely, we suggest you do a bleach bath or bleach wash for your hair instead of simply bleaching

  • Bring Your Faded Hair Color Back To Life Without Dye!

    by Nalin Apurva September 01, 2021
    So you dyed your hair earlier this month, and just this morning, you were greeted with dulled-out hair color. Sounds harsh; we understand your pain! Faded hair color can be a nuisance, as the blondes turn yellow and the red in your head simply fades away.

  • Blonde Colour Correction With Toners

    by Nalin Apurva July 21, 2021
    The Blonding Issue… So, the decision to go blond is usually a drastic one! And not a decision that should be taken lightly! When you are blonding at home, there is something to be said about not having the expert knowledge to hand to make sure that you get the desired result, and let’s face it, we want to do our own hair colour creations at home so we can save money and stay safe!

  • Blonding Techniques To Get A Fabulous Blonde At Home!

    by Nalin Apurva July 19, 2021
    So you want to go Blonde? Of course you do, that’s why you are here reading this! It's also likely that your desire to have sun-kissed hair is also leaving you a bit confused about how you actually get the desired effect! Having no knowledge of how to lighten your hair to a level that is brand new to you is nothing to be ashamed of! 
Back to How to Colour Your Hair