How to Dye Black Hair Red

If you have black hair and wish to dye it red, you can do it yourself at home. Redheads make up only 2% of the population, so you'll surely stand out with vibrant red locks. However, black hair requires special attention when dyeing. By choosing a dye that complements your skin tone, applying it correctly, and taking care of your hair afterward, you'll end up with stunning red hair to flaunt.

Choose a permanent hair dye. There are two types of hair dye: temporary and permanent. Permanent hair dye penetrates the hair cuticle and lasts for several months. Temporary dye only coats the hair's outer layer, lasting from a few days to a few weeks. Since you're dyeing black hair red, you'll need a permanent dye. Look for a product with a red tone that suits you and is labeled 'permanent.'

Assess the condition of your hair. Honestly evaluate whether your hair is in good enough condition to be dyed. Bleaching and hair dye can damage your hair, so it's risky to dye already damaged hair or hair that's been dyed too many times.

• If your hair has been dyed black previously, you won't be able to lighten it just by dyeing it again. Only the new growth will take color. This means you’ll need to bleach your hair before applying a red dye, which could be too harsh for weakened hair.
• Virgin hair (hair that has never been dyed) usually absorbs color more accurately.
• Let your stylist know whether your hair has been dyed before or not.

Gather all necessary materials and products. Don’t rush into dyeing your hair without first listing all the essentials and purchasing the necessary items from beauty stores. Besides the hair dye, you’ll need other products such as dye boosters and bleach. You’ll also need a dye brush, a plastic mixing bowl, plastic clips, a shower cap, and possibly other items.

• Dye boosters for sensitive skin will work best for those with skin prone to irritation.

Choose a color that complements your skin tone. Hair dyes come in various shades of red, such as reddish brown, strawberry red, brick red, mahogany red, and more. Try a red shade that enhances your skin tone, whether it’s cool, warm, or neutral.

• Hold a sample of the dyed hair close to your face to see if it suits your skin tone.
• If you have a pink, red, or blue undertone, you have a cool skin tone. If you have a peach, golden, or yellow undertone, you have a warm skin tone. If your undertone combines both, you likely have a neutral skin tone.
• If you have a warm undertone, consider shades like true red, dark auburn, or burgundy.
• If you have a cool undertone, try colors like red velvet, aubergine red, or mahogany.
• If you have fair skin, dark reds can make you look pale. Try copper or strawberry blonde instead.
• Bright colors like fire engine red, blackberry, violet red, or burnt orange look stunning on darker skin tones.

Bleach your hair. If your hair is resistant to color or has been dyed before, you’ll need to bleach it before dyeing to achieve the desired red shade. Mix bleach with a 10 or 20 volume booster in a plastic bowl until the mixture reaches a yogurt-like consistency. Wear plastic gloves and a cape to prevent skin burns or clothing damage. Use the tail of a comb to part your hair and apply the bleach from roots to ends. Continue parting and applying bleach until your entire head is covered. Wait for the bleach to take effect until your hair reaches the desired lightness, then rinse out the bleach with shampoo and condition your hair.

• If you want a bright or vibrant red, you may need to wait a few weeks and repeat the bleaching process until your hair reaches a pale yellow shade. However, bleaching a second time may cause hair breakage.
• Gradually dyeing your hair over a few weeks is the safest way to achieve the desired lightness without damaging your hair too much.
• Don’t bleach your virgin hair. Products like L'Oreal Excellence HiColor Reds for Dark Hair Only in H8 can give you red hair without bleaching the black dye first.
• Over-bleaching can severely damage your hair and cause breakage, so minimize the amount of time the bleach stays in your hair and limit the number of bleaching sessions.

Brush and Section Hair. Start by thoroughly brushing your hair to avoid tangles, then use plastic clips to divide it into four equal sections.

• At this stage, you can apply Vaseline along the hairline to prevent the dye from staining your skin with an orange hue.

Mix the Ingredients. Squeeze the 10-volume developer into a mixing bowl. Use a measuring cup to follow the product instructions for other ingredients, and stir the dye mixture with a brush until smooth. The mixture should have a uniform consistency and not be too watery.

Apply the Dye to Hair. Start by unpinning a section of hair. Use a brush to apply the dye, keeping it about 2.5 to 5 cm away from the roots. Ensure the dye saturates the hair from roots to ends. Repeat this process for each section of hair.

• Wear plastic gloves to avoid staining your hands with the dye.
• Focus on applying dye to the hair strands, leaving the roots untouched. The hair at the roots is usually virgin hair, so applying dye to the roots first can result in uneven color.
• If you have long and/or thick hair, consider using a squeeze bottle for easier application of the dye.
• Don't forget to apply dye to the fine hairs near your ears. You can use your fingers to massage the dye into these strands.

Wait for the Dye to Set, Then Apply to the Roots. Cover your hair with a shower cap to help the dye develop. After half the recommended processing time, remove the cap and apply the dye to the roots. Re-cover your hair and wait for the dye to set for the full duration as directed on the product packaging.

Shampoo and Condition Your Hair. Once the dye has developed, rinse it out with shampoo designed for colored hair. Follow with a conditioner meant for colored hair, then rinse thoroughly.

• Use lukewarm or cool water, as hot water can cause the color to fade more quickly.
• Avoid shampoos containing sulfate, as these can speed up color fading.

Gội đầu 2-3 lần mỗi tuần. Màu tóc đỏ thường nhanh phai vì các phân tử tạo màu nhuộm có kích thước lớn. Để làm chậm quá trình phai màu thuốc nhuộm tóc, hãy cố gắng đừng gội đầu quá thường xuyên.

• Không gội đầu nhiều hơn 2 ngày một lần.
• Nếu tóc của bạn nhanh đổ dầu, hãy thử dùng dầu gội khô để giữ sạch tóc.
• Không gội đầu bằng nước nóng. Nước nóng sẽ khiến màu nhuộm nhanh phai.

Dặm lại màu cho tóc. Thuốc nhuộm tóc đỏ thường dễ bị phai. Thỉnh thoảng bạn có thể nhuộm lại tóc bằng thuốc nhuộm bán tạm thời hoặc bán vĩnh viễn để giữ màu sắc của tóc. Nếu cần dặm lại chân tóc, bạn hãy dùng thuốc nhuộm tóc vĩnh viễn.

Dưỡng tóc chuyên sâu. Nhuộm tóc cũng có nghĩa là gây hư tổn cho tóc. Do đó, thỉnh thoảng bạn cần phải dưỡng tóc chuyên sâu, đặc biệt là sau khi nhuộm.

• Ngoài ra, bạn cũng đừng quên dùng dầu xả sau mỗi lần gội đầu.

• Prepare for the potential mess during the dyeing process. Wear clothes you don't mind getting stained, and try to prevent the dye from touching tiles or carpets.
• If your skin is sensitive to chemicals, it may be best to consult a professional for advice.
• Do a patch test on a small, less visible area to check if the color turns out as you expect.
• Turn on a fan or open a window while dyeing your hair to ventilate the room, ensuring you don't inhale the chemical fumes.

• Plastic mixing bowl
• Dyeing brush
• Hair dye
• 30 and/or 40 volume developer
• Shampoo and conditioner for colored hair
• Plastic gloves
• Measuring cup
• Plastic shower cap
• Old clothes
• Plastic hair clips
• Comb