Food coloring is cheap, easy to use, and easy to find, and unlike normal dyes, it hardly penetrates the hair. Whether you want to dye all of your hair, or just a few strands, read the guide and choose one of the following methods.
Steps
Step 1. Prepare your workspace
If possible, work on a plastic or tile countertop, or cover the work area with newspaper or old towels. Stay away from carpets and delicate surfaces.
Step 2. Put on old clothes and a pair of gloves
Step 3. Take a bowl and mix the food coloring with an adequate amount of a clear or clear gel hair product
Choose an aloe vera shampoo, conditioner, or gel. Add the food coloring a little at a time until you get the desired tone. About 5 drops per tablespoon of gel is a good proportion to start with.
If you prefer, create a mixture of colors. For example, mix blue with red to get purple
Step 4. Apply the tint using one of the methods listed below
Do this on dry hair.
Step 5. Let the product act on the hair
If you are blond it will take about 30 minutes to get a low intensity color, if your hair is brown it could take about 3 hours. If you are not in a hurry, and if you want a more intense color, increase the time frame to 5 hours or let it go all night.
Step 6. Rinse your hair in the shower with lukewarm water
Don't use shampoo or conditioner, your dye will run off right away!
Step 7. Dry your hair using a low speed and heat
Step 8. If you can not wash your hair in the following days (one or two days)
The color will adhere better to the hair.
Method 1 of 2: Color all the hair
Step 1. Spread the dye all over your hair evenly
Massage the roots and lengths if necessary, but remember that if you are using a shampoo as a base for your dye, creating lather may decrease the intensity of the color.
Step 2. Avoid coloring the skin of the neck and face as well
Try to be precise and, if a little color escapes, clean it with damp paper.
Step 3. Cover your hair with a shower cap or plastic bag
If necessary, hold them in place with hair clips.
Method 2 of 2: Coloring some hair strands
Step 1. Separate the strands you want to dye from the rest of the hair
Make a ponytail or hold the rest of your hair in place with rubber bands and barrettes.
Step 2. Cover your hair with a shower cap or plastic bag
If necessary, hold them in place with hair clips.
Step 3. Make small holes through the cap in the areas where the strands to be colored are located
It is not important that the holes are perfect and it is better to create them using your hands, rather than scissors, to avoid accidental cuts. Just make sure they are big enough to allow the coloring strand to come out.
If you accidentally make a hole that is too large, reduce it with duct tape
Step 4. Pull the strands through the holes
Step 5. Apply the coloring mixture to each strand with the help of a comb or toothbrush
Don't use the new toothbrush you just bought!
Step 6. Wrap the colored strands with foil and attach them to the plastic cap with adhesive tape
Try to be tidy, but don't worry if the final work isn't perfect.
Step 7. If necessary, put another cap or bag over the first one
Advice
- If your hair is very dark you will need to bleach it, or lighten it with special products, before you can color it.
- If this is the first time you decide to give your hair a new color, do a test on one strand first, make sure you like the final result!
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If you want your hair dye to last up to 3 weeks, soak your hair in vinegar for 30 seconds, let it dry, and then rinse it off with food coloring.
Vinegar rinse: 1/2 cup white wine vinegar 1/2 cup water
- Do not touch your hair until the process is finished if you don't want to color your fingers too.
- If you keep the colored mixture on your hair all night, protect your pillow, and your bed, adequately.
- Do not swim in the pool for the days following the dye.
- Protect your shoulders with an old towel.
Warnings
- Wiping the shampoo may make you itchy, try your best not to scratch.
- Food coloring stains the skin (not permanently).
