Dipping into some gold

NOTE- If you have ever had a bad reaction to hair dyes- do not use this product. (Goes without saying, but these things matter!)

Last summer, I spent a ridiculous £80 in the hairdressers getting my hair dip-dyed. The process consisted of toners, semi-permanent root touch-ups, permanent highlighter cream and bleach- all in the name of lighter ends.

A mere 6 months later, L’Oreal released a home-dip-dye kit, costing a tenth of the price I paid. WHAT A WASTE. So,  A year after my costly trip to the hairdressers, I gathered the courage to try this home-dye kit, after my sudden urge to go a bit blonde… the sun has clearly been messing with my head, as there’s no way I’d suit blonde seeing as my hair and eyebrows are dark brown, but this is the beauty of dip-dye- it allows you to maintain your natural locks with just a touch of a lighter colour, so you get the best of both worlds!

My first attempt. seemed to go really well. My friend helped me to brush the colour on so we got a nice even coating, but I forgot to time how long we had left the dye on, so naturally I panicked after what seemed like 45 minutes, and washed it all off- only to realise that I could have left it on a bit longer… However, it gave the lengths of my hair a nice golden colour, which blended perfectly with natural colour.

I prefer to call this 24 carat ends…

• TOP TIPS
• It seems obvious, but you really need to follow the instructions carefully. This kit contains bleach, which requires care. Also, keep a timer with you so you know how long the dye has been left on for. DO NOT LEAVE IT ON FOR LONGER THAN THE GIVEN TIME.
• This kit also lets off a very strong smell. If you dye your hair often, you know what I mean. It was strong, ammonia-type smell, so we advise doing this over the bath with the window open. This will also keep you safe from spilling any of the mix on the floor/carpet.
• The idea of dip-dye is to create a graduated look- not block colour. This kit includes a brush so you can spread the dye evenly through the ends of your hair. Gently back-comb your hair before brushing the dye on, to make sure that you don’t end up with a straight line of colour. Leave the dye on the tips of your hair for the first ten minutes, and then spread the rest through the lengths, starting about two or three inches below your ear. (The higher the colour, the less natural the look and you MUST make sure the dye doesn’t go on your roots or skin.)

I was so happy with my first attempt with this kit that I’m giving it another go before the summer really begins. Summer is the perfect time to try dip-dye, as it’s a fun look for festivals and endless days in the sun! Happy dipping! 🙂