Coloring your hair at home can be a game-changer, saving you time, money, and even your sanity. But when stubborn grays, dry strands or a DIY dye disaster strike, it can leave you second-guessing your skills. The good news? With the right know-how, you can conquer common coloring woes and get salon-worthy results without leaving your bathroom. From masking grays to reviving brittle or dull locks, these color-treated hair tips will help you restore vibrancy, shine, and confidence—no pro required.
Pro tips for coloring hair at home
Keep scrolling for expert tips for dyeing your hair that will revive your strands and confidence without having to go to the salon.
If you have grays that resist hair color
Gray hair has extremely compact, hard-to-open cuticles that make it difficult for hair color to absorb. That’s why George Papanikolas, a celebrity colorist for Matrix, suggests a “long sitting” technique that involves applying a permanent dye and letting it process for up to 1 hour. This ensures the ammonia is able to fully open the grays’ cuticles so the pigments can be deposited into each strand for a rich, vivid color.
Tip: You can also try pre-softening gray hairs before dyeing your hair at home. Just apply a 20 volume developer onto grays using a hair-coloring brush and let sit for 5 minutes; rinse and immediately apply hair color. Celebrity colorist Gregory Patterson says, “developer softens grays and opens hair’s cuticle so dye that’s applied afterward can absorb better.”
If you have thinning hair
While adding highlights is a great way to brighten up your look and create the illusion of thick hair, it’s best not to go overboard, especially if you have thinner tresses. Why? Over-highlighting not only damages your hair but also zaps dimension and bleach can thin out already-fine hair, cautions celebrity colorist Jill Crosby. To achieve a more voluminous look, she advises adding lowlights instead, which give hair depth and redeposit pigments to plump strands.
To do: Paint 1″ sections throughout (similar to applying highlights) using a permanent color two shades darker than your natural color (or current color).
If you have chemically treated hair
Permed, relaxed and chemically straightened hair tends to be very porous and quickly absorbs bleach and ammonia, which can lead to dryness or a brassy tinge over time. To nourish hair, restore shine and give hair a refresh, opt for a semi-permanent dye formula that’s 2-3 shades darker than your current hair color. These ammonia-free dyes only last 6 to 12 washes, and the pigments coat the cuticle (rather than being absorbed), so the color can be applied more often without drying out the hair.
Tip: Because the ends are significantly more porous (especially when hair is chemically treated) apply dye to the roots only at first and let it process for half the directed time. Then, pull it through to the ends for an even color.
If you have a hair color mishap
Argh! We’ve all bought a hair color that looked lovely on the box, but then turned out more brassy than beautiful after applying it. The fix? Instead of using another all-over color to correct it (which can lead to an even bigger oops), simply weave in thick highlights, advises Papanikolas. “This trick softens the color, brightens the skin and frames the face.”
To do: Use a highlighting kit, like Clairol Frost & Tip, to paint the bleach on various ¼” sections of hair throughout.
If your gray hair looks discolored
Embracing silver strands has become a flattering trend among many of Hollywood’s leading ladies—and we’re all for it! But the key to ensuring your most beautiful gray is using home dye to create a more uniform look, reveals Papanikolas. “Dark grays mixed with white can give hair a ‘dirty’ look,” he explains. But applying a permanent light blond hue on top brightens the slate grays so they blend beautifully, resulting in luminous hair and skin.
Tip: Apply the color in small segments, brushing upward (from ends to roots) with a tint brush. This helps open the cuticles so the color absorbs fully.
If your hair is dry and dull
The environment, hair care products you use and more can all sap the life and luster from your hair color—and leave the skin tone looking just as dull. To bring back shine, Papanikolas advises using a color with golden tones, which reflects warm light onto the skin and blurs imperfections.
Plus, to add extra hydration, try an oil-based formula, like Garnier Olia, that uses monoethanolamine (MEA), rather than ammonia, to deliver color. MEA is much less drying because it opens the cuticle just enough to let the pigments in, while oils (like sunflower and castor) moisturize the cortex and seal the cuticle. The payoff? Super-soft and shiny hair.
Tip: Deep condition hair once a week to ensure hair stays looking shiny and healthy. Great ingredients to look for in a hair mask include shea butter, hyaluronic acid and glycerin—all are humectants that lock in moisture. Also, be sure to use heat protectants before using hot tools on hair to help lock in and protect hair dye.
If you have subtle grays that you want to blend
While highlights are generally great for masking grays, highlighting heavily at the roots can lead to a darker “band” around the crown when you have new growth, which makes those silver strands stand out even more.
What can help: Instead of going through a lengthy highlighting process every time you need to cover grays, Papanikolas suggests a “sombré” (or soft ombré) effect, achieved by applying a deeper color at the roots while keeping the ends lighter. “You can cover new grays more often, and only have to highlight every six months,” he says.
To do: Apply a demi-permanent color halfway down the hair, starting at the roots. Then, in the last 3 minutes of the processing time, comb the color through to the ends.
If your hair is damaged or brittle
After years of coloring, the cuticle can become damaged and no longer close properly, which allows moisture to escape. The result: brittle, weak strands. The secret to rich color and healthier hair? Try a nutrient-rich gloss, like dpHUE Gloss+, suggests colorist Mike Petrizzi. “Gloss is ammonia-free and its acids seal the cuticle while it adds a veil of color to conceal damaged ends.” Another great at-home hair gloss option we love is Glaze Supergloss. They have 16 shades available, including options for highlights. It gives hair not only lasting shine, but also a refresh on its color—and it’s just $18.
Tip: Continue using a gloss once every other week to prolong the results. There are also clear versions that give the same shine-boosting results without altering dyed hair.