Purple hair gives a great look, but a purple forehead doesn't! When you dye your hair at home, you can risk staining your fingers and hairline if you don't take proper precautions. While this is not a permanent problem, it is easier to prevent it from happening than to have to remove the dye. By using common household products, from towels to petroleum jelly, you can effortlessly avoid staining your skin with hair dye.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Protect the Hairline
Step 1. Dye your hair the day after washing it
The sebum and pores of the scalp naturally protect the skin; they are water repellent and, since the dyes are water based, they are your first defense against stains on the skin. Wait at least a day after the last shampoo before dyeing your hair; in addition, the dye adheres better to dirty hair than when it is clean.
Step 2. Protect the perimeter of the hairline
Use petroleum jelly, moisturizer, or thick lotion to create a protective layer along the entire hairline. You should apply a thick layer of it, but it doesn't need to extend far beyond the hair area: 1.5-2.5cm should be more than enough.
- Be careful that the protective cream does not come into contact with the hair; also do not neglect the tip and the back of the auricle.
- Do not use a moisturizer that can cause breakouts, or you risk developing acne around the hairline.
Step 3. Protect the perimeter more with cotton
To create an extra barrier, place slightly elongated cotton balls or a strip of cotton over the entire area where you applied the moisturizer. This way, if some dye runs past the hairline, it is still absorbed by the cotton.
If the moisturizer isn't thick enough to hold the cotton in place, don't worry - apply more and don't use cotton
Step 4. If you don't have much time, use masking tape
If you don't have a thick enough moisturizer to protect your skin, don't despair; you can replace it with lightly adhesive tape such as paper, painter's or electrical tape. Be careful not to stick it to your hair and don't use other types of ribbon (such as wrapping or silver)!
Part 2 of 2: Protect the Neck, Shoulders and Hands
Step 1. Put on plastic gloves
People often worry about keeping their hairline clean by forgetting about their hands; However, you can easily avoid getting blue fingers by wearing disposable gloves. Keep them for as long as you apply the color and even during the first few hair washes.
- Many home hair dye kits also contain gloves, to make the process easier.
- If you are allergic, don't use latex ones! There are a lot of alternatives that do not contain this material.
Step 2. Put on an old shirt
Theoretically, you should choose some long-sleeved, high-necked garments when dyeing your hair. Try to cover as much of the leather as possible to protect it from stains. After dyeing your hair a few times, you have probably found a "specific" shirt for this job.
Step 3. Cover your shoulders with an old towel
To protect the nape of the neck a little more, wrap it in a towel that you can stain without problems; make sure it fits snugly and secure it with a hair clip or document clamp. This way, you prevent the color from dripping onto the skin of the neck and staining it.
Step 4. Scrub every drop away
No matter how carefully you cover your skin, there is always a chance that it will get dirty; if a few drops of color reach your face or neck, dry them as soon as you notice them using a cotton ball soaked in denatured alcohol. Afterward, rinse with water.
- It is best to keep alcohol and cotton on hand when dyeing; it is very easy to run into some "accident".
- If a large lump of dye runs down your neck, wipe it off with a paper towel or toilet paper, then scrub the skin with a cotton swab dipped in denatured alcohol to remove any remaining residue.
Step 5. Collect your hair
If you have to train, go out on a rainy day or face any circumstance where dyed hair can get wet, put it in a ponytail or bun; if you don't pay attention, some of the color could melt and stain your neck or even your shirt. If you've already washed your hair a few times, you can avoid this.
Advice
- If you fail to notice a few drops in time and they cause stains, remember that there are many products on the market formulated precisely to get rid of the small "setbacks" due to a clumsy application of the dye; you can buy them in perfumeries and large supermarkets.
- If you have had your hair dyed at a beauty salon, the hairdresser certainly has a stain remover available; ask him!
Warnings
- Even with the best of protectors, you can't avoid small spots caused by the black tint; for this reason, if you are going to dye your hair black, be prepared to have it removed or wait for it to fade.
- Remember that semi-permanent dyes can "dump" some color after the first wash, thus staining the skin; in this case, you must use a product to eliminate the residual color.
- If you have to use a specific stain remover on the skin, be careful that it does not come into contact with the hair, so as not to risk it discolouring them.
- Don't use conditioner to define a protective barrier along the hairline, especially if you have sensitive skin. Prolonged facial exposure to this substance can cause severe acne breakouts.
