Avoid using too many hair products 3 to 4 days before you dye your hair. This includes mousse, gel, and cream.

Don’t lighten your hair more than 3 levels at once. If you want to go lighter, go to a trained stylist, and be prepared for multiple sessions. You can tell how many levels you’re lifting your hair based on the developer volume you use, from 10 to 40. A 30 volume developer typically lifts 3 levels. Consider balayage. This way, you won’t have to retouch your hair as often because your roots will already be their natural color. [4] X Research source

If you have long hair, buy 2 to 3 boxes of hair dye in case you run out. [5] X Research source If your hair is short, 1 box of hair dye should be fine.

If the strand didn’t dye well, your hair is not porous. Do 2 dye sessions to avoid over-processing your hair. If the strand dyed faster than the recommended time, your hair is very porous. You should cut down the processing time. If the strand got the right color with the recommended time, your hair has medium porosity, and you are good to go!

You may also find a tube or bottle of conditioner in your kit. Save that for later. Add a packet of color corrector if you are going for a much lighter shade, such as blonde, to prevent it from turning too brassy. Read the instructions on the packet to find out how much you should add.

Be sure to tie or clip the sections as you finish them. Do not apply the dye to the roots just yet.

Again, don’t apply the dye to the roots just yet. Your roots will process much faster, so you want to save that for last. Comb your hair correctly: start combing from the ends, then work your way to just above the middle of the shaft.

When you get to the front, do the bottom-most layers first. Save your front hairline and center part for last.

Consider wrapping a larger piece of foil around your head, then a towel. This will trap the heat further. You can also use a plastic shower cap to achieve the same effect.

Do not use shampoo or hot water. Both of these can cause the dye to rinse out completely. If your kit did not come with conditioner, use any color-safe or sulfate-free conditioner instead.

Sodium chloride-free shampoos are also good options.

Keeping your hair moisturized is a big part of maintaining your color. The stronger your keep your hair cuticle, the better it’s going to be able to hold onto the color.

If you are using a store-bought mask, make sure that it does not contain sulfates.