How to Touch Up Your Hair Color

by Adina Gewirtz

You got a beautiful dye job at a salon, but now the roots are showing. You could pay a professional for a touch-up, or you could do it yourself, with one of the many easy-to-use hair color kits available at your local drugstore. You'll save money and time, and keep your hair color looking fresh longer. Here’s how:

1. Because hair color products can cause allergic reactions, follow package instructions for allergy testing a few days before you plan to color your hair. If you have any allergic reaction, such as a rash, don't use the hair color product.
2. Don’t shampoo the day you plan to color your roots; the oils protect your scalp. Your hair should be dry and free of hair product when you color it.
3. Put on an old button-up shirt and place an old towel on your shoulders. Put on the rubber gloves provided in the kit.
4. Snip off a strand of hair at the roots from an inconspicuous spot. Mix a small portion of the hair color and apply it to the strand. Set your timer for the time indicated in the kit — 10 to 15 minutes is standard. Rinse the strand, dry it and then check the color. If the hair color is too dark or too light, plan to adjust the coloring time accordingly.
5. When you're ready to apply the hair color, mix the rest of the product. Don't mix it more than one hour before you plan to apply it, because the coloring loses strength over time.
6. Separate freshly combed hair into sections, using clips. Apply petroleum jelly to your hairline, ears and nape of your neck to protect your skin from the dye.
7. Using the applicator provided, apply the hair color to the each section of hair, to the underside as well as the top.
8. Leave the hair color on for the time indicated on the kit. Then comb your hair through once, to blend the coloring.
9. Rinse with warm water until the water runs clear. Towel dry your hair and wipe off the petroleum jelly. Don't shampoo for 24 hours so the hair color can set.

Adina Gewirtz is a freelance writer in the Washington, D.C. area.