If you’re wondering how to dye your hair, you’ll find lots of good information here.

Although this website focuses on blue hair dye, the process is the same for all hair colors – extreme and otherwise. So if you’ve got a brand new carton of blue hair dye (or any other color) and are wondering what to do next, read on!

Important Note: This page will assume you’re using a one-step dye that doesn’t require developers or additional chemicals, such as Manic Panic. If you’re unsure if your particular product requires these, contact the manufacturer or read the directions… which leads me to…

How To Dye Your Hair: Step One – Read The Directions.

Seems simple, right? You’d be surprised at how many people pass over this step. Most common problems can be avoided simply by reading the packaging. Any good, reputable manufacturer will include detailed instructions somewhere on the product. Read through them, they’re important.

If you have any questions regarding the instructions, contact the company’s customer service department. I’m willing to bet that every reputable hair dye company prints either a customer service phone number or a company website on the package. If it’s not there, Google search the company name.

How To Dye Your Hair: Step Two – Gather Your Supplies.

Now that you’re ready to start, be sure you’ve got the following on hand and readily available:

• The hair dye itself
• A couple of towels (make sure they’re one’s you won’t mind getting dye on)
• Plastic gloves

The hair dye is self explanatory, but here’s why the others are important: You’ll need a couple of towels, one to go around your neck to catch any dye drips before they ruin your clothes or your flooring, another for any mess you make (such as stray dye on your skin or neck). You can use one of these later on after you wash your hair after letting it sit, but more about that later.

The Gloves are important for keeping the dye off your skin. Blue hair dye (or any hair dye for that matter) will eventually come off your skin, though it will take considerable time and effort. It’s best to take every step possible to avoid contact in the first place.

Those are the main supplies, though you might want to consider the following as well:

• Vaseline or similar petroleium-based jelly
• Hair bleach
• A comb (one you don’t mind getting dye all over)
• Vinegar
• Plastic hair cap(s)

The Vaseline is useful for rubbing over your face and neck; if any dye runs to these areas, it won’t penetrate the Vaseline and you can easily rub it off. If you’ve got darker hair, or if you want a really rich, vibrant shade of your dye color, it might be a good idea to bleach your hair before applying the dye (I’ll cover this in the next step). A cheap comb is handy to make sure the dye is applied evenly throughout your hair. The hair net will avoid messes while the dye develops.

Vinegar is one of those “some people swear by it, others don’t” things. Many people say that rubbing vinegar through your hair immediately after dying it keeps the color stronger for a longer time. I personally have never tried it, but I’m mentioning it for those who are interested.

If you’re wondering where to get these supplies, they are readily available anywhere you find hair dye. For more information, read this post: Buy Blue Hair Dye.

How To Dye Your Hair: Step Three – Bleach Your Hair.

You might not need or want to do this step, but the best color results usually come after the hair has been bleached. Again, read the directions on the bleach bottle for best results.

Before bleaching your hair, cut out a few strands and bleach them separately. Bleaching is tough on your hair (and once it’s bleached, it won’t go back), so it’s best to try it on a couple of sample strands first.

Follow the instructions on the bleach packet, and be sure to use towels and plastic gloves. Unlike hair dye, which can stain clothes, flooring and skin, bleach is actually a chemical stripper that can ruin what it touches, so wipe up any spills immediately and keep the bleach contained to your hair.

If you plan on dying your entire head, you’ll want to bleach your entire head. If you’re only planning on adding blue hair dye (or other color of dye) in streaks, you only need to bleach streaks. Again, follow the directions on the packet for optimum results.

You’ll want to bleach your hair until it’s at least yellow (like a banana), though the most vibrant colors are later achieved when you bleach it to white.

How To Dye Your Hair: Step Four – Apply Hair Dye.

This is the fun part. After you’ve washed the bleach out, ruffle your hair with a towel to get most of the moisture out (you’ll want to leave it damp, so don’t dry it completely or use a blow dryer). Then apply the hair dye directly to your roots, parting your hair as necessary to get it there.

Make sure you work the dye out to the tips of your hairs, too. I personally find it’s easiest to use a comb at this stage to make sure I’m getting even coverage. Just make sure it’s a cheap comb or one you won’t mind having permanent color on!

Once you’ve got the dye on your hair, let it sit. The longer it sits, the stronger the color. Most hair dye companies recommend letting hair sit for about 15 to 30 minutes, but I’ve had better results by doubling the recommended time. I’m not advocating it, I’m just saying what works for me.

I know some people who keep the dye in their hair over night, the just throw on a plastic hair cap (or even wrap their hair in plastic wrap) and go to sleep. That’s pretty extreme.

How To Dye Your Hair: Step Five – Rinse and Enjoy.

Once the dye has sat on long enough, rinse out your hair with straight water. If you want to try the vinegar trick, this is when you’d do it; just rub it through your hair liberally, let it sit for a minute or two, then rinse it out.

Follow the instructions on your dye. Some companies suggest washing your hair with shampoo and conditioner instantly, others don’t. Follow the directions and you’ll be set.