This article on brown hair dye will provide an extensive information trust me. We will not only discuss how to use a brown hair dye, we will also give natural alternatives to dye, as well as tips to maintain your brown hair. Stay with us!
How long does dyed brown hair last?
Brown Hair dye lasts about four to six weeks.
Hair dyes don’t stick to the hair forever, once the hair starts growing, the dye begins to lose effect. The black hair starts showing at the root and the brown hair dye stays above this. Sometimes, this is not a good sight to behold.
And this would be a good time to take a trip to your favorite salon to get it recolored or refreshed.
Is it Safe to Dye Dark Hair Brown at Home?
Yes, it is safe! You can dye dark hair brown at home although colorists stress the importance of seeking a professional stylist for any color services when ready for this process.
If your colorist is unavailable or you’re determined to do it yourself DIY, it is of utmost importance to utilize quality products in your at-home color quest.
If you follow the instructions and do your research, it is safe to dye your hair brown at home.
Additionally, it is said by many colorists that one of the safest, error-proof products aside from dyes are root touch up sprays. They are a great option for a change or grey coverage. It is temporary and will wash out after the first time but this is a product that most women should keep one or two shades in their hair.
Read: How to deal with lice in blonde hair
How can I dye my hair brown at home?
Relax and see the exact ways and things to dye your hair brown at home.
Equipment for Dyeing Hair
Remember we are talking DIY, therefore, in order to learn how to dye your hair brown and get professional looking results, you need to use the tools that salons use.
By using the right tools, you can apply hair dye with more finesse and achieve much better results.
Hairdressing tools also make it easier to mix and apply brown dyes, this simplifies the process dramatically.
Make sure you have the following equipment:
- Tinting bowl and brush
- Sectioning clips
- Gloves
- Tail-comb
- Gown
The most important tool to dye your hair brown and any other colour is a tinting bowl and brush. Tinting bowls are plastic bowls that usually have measurements and are perfectly shaped and sized to allow you to mix and apply color with a brush.
The brush is usually flat with plastic bristles and a tailed end to allow you to easily work with sections and apply hair dye smoothly. You’ll need at least one set to be able to dye your own hair properly. However, it is preferable to own a second set if you’ll be using more than one color at a time, such as when applying highlights and lowlights.
If you have a tinting bowl and brush, you can dye your hair with a glove. The process is easier when you have sectioning clips, combs, and a hairdressing gown to protect your clothes.
Use a tail comb since it will allow for easy parting of hair and will be handy for any highlights.
Vinyl or nitrate gloves give the best results of ease and prevents the latex from clinging to the hair while you work with the brown hair dye. Gloves that extend further up your wrist will also better protect you from hair dye and bleach.
Before You Dye
You’ve chosen the brown hair dye, now is the time to prepare and apply it.
Bear in mind if your hair has been previously dyed that adding more hair dye cannot lighten it. You can dye it darker with a new color, but you can’t lighten dye with dye. If you want to go lighter after dyeing your hair with dark shades, you will need to bleach it first.
Hair dyes can be measured effectively by volume when you put in a tinting bowl, but you can purchase an electronic scale.
Don’t attempt to dye your hair more than 3 levels lighter than it already is. Hair dye can lift a maximum of about 3 levels, or more in the case of high lift dyes. To lighten your hair more than this, you will need to pre-lighten it with bleach first for reliable results.
You can go as dark as you want with a dye, but your ability to go lighter is limited.
Read: 15 Style Tips to Achieve More Volume With a Flat Hair
Preparing to Dye Hair
To get the best result, be ready before you actually apply the brown hair dye. Have all your equipment set up, and the dye ready to be mixed. Your hair needs to be sectioned out properly to begin.
Sectioning
To section your hair in preparation for a dye, divide it into four separate quadrants.
When you apply the dye, you’ll be working with one quadrant at a time, applying the color from top to bottom of each quadrant. Once you’ve sectioned out your hair in order to be able to do this, you can mix up the hair dye and begin applying it.
Peroxide Volumes and Uses
| Volume | Use |
| 5 vol | Tone on tone color – demi-permanent dyes |
| 10 vol | Up to 1 level of lightening – dyeing darker – tone on tone color |
| 20 vol | Up to 2 levels of lightening – also used on resistant gray hair |
| 30 vol | Up to 3 levels of lightening |
| 40 vol | Generally only used in high lift dyes |
Mixing Hair Dye
Hair dye needs to be mixed with a developer in order to work.
The developer is hydrogen peroxide, and this is what gives the lightening of the dye when you dye your hair lighter, but it is also what makes the dye permanent by oxidizing the dye molecules. The quantity to use has been tabulated above.
When you mix a dye up, the developer needs to match your intended action.
Demi-permanent dyes are mixed with 5–7 vol peroxide depending on manufacturer. To convert the volume of peroxide to a percentage, should you require it, each 3 percent hydrogen peroxide is equivalent to 10 vol.
This means that 10 vol developer is 3 percent, and 40 vol developer is 12 percent.
Mixing Ratio
Mix the hair dye in a 1 to 1 ratio of hair dye to developer. High lift dyes require a 1 to 2 ratio of high lift dye to 40 vol developer. Very rarely, the manufacturer may vary this ratio, in which case you should check the ratio on the color’s instructions to be sure.
To achieve the best hair dye results, always use a high quality salon brand when you dye your hair. Avoid Drug store and supermarket box dyes.
Applying Hair Dye
After mixing your brown hair dye together with developer, you should begin applying it right away. The developer starts a reaction once it is mixed, so you will achieve the best color results when it is applied quickly and allowed to work in your hair.
Begin by applying hair dye to one quadrant of your sectioned hair. Start with the top layers and slowly work your way to the bottom with a brush. Follow this pattern until you have completely covered your hair.
After covering the whole hair with the brown dye, allow the dye some time to work usually about 20-45 minutes. High lift dyes can be left a little longer to lighten your hair more, while demi-permanent dyes can be washed out when the desired tone is reached.
Bear in mind that different brands have their processing time, check the brand you’re using and work with the time they suggest.
When it has finished developing, you can rinse it out.
Are there any non-chemical ways to colour my air brown in place of dye?
Absolutely! You can use some ingredients to colour your hair brown naturally.
1. Using Coffee to Color
If you’re looking to have a dark shade of brown and cover some gray hair, coffee works perfectly.
Simply brew a strong coffee (espresso works well), let it cool, and then mix one cup with cups of leave-in conditioner and 2 tablespoons of coffee grounds.
Apply on clean hair and allow to sit for about an hour. If you use apple cider vinegar to rinse, it will help the color last longer. You may need to repeat the process a couple times to see noticeable results.
2. Darker Hair Color with Black Tea
Like coffee, black tea can help you go darker, and can also help cover gray hairs. If you have lighter hair, though, there are other types of tea you can use.
For example, Chamomile is recommended for blondes, while rooibos may work for redheads.
Do keep in mind that tea works best with your natural color. This means that your hair has to be dyed already or have the desired colour for this process to work.
You won’t be able to turn blonde hair to brunette or black hair. But black tea can darken blonde hair and chamomile can lighten it—especially if you sit in the sun while you have it in.
The longer you leave the tea on the hair, the more noticeable the color will be. You can also try repeated applications.
Make the tea highly concentrated. Use 3-5 teabags for two cups of water. You can apply the cooled tea to hair alone, or mix with a conditioner (as in the coffee recipe). If you want to cover gray hair, mix with some fresh or dried sage, which helps open up the hair follicles.
Leave this herbal mixture on hair for at least an hour—more if you want more color. Some people even put on a cap and wear the tea overnight, then rinse the following morning. Check your color to determine what intensity you need.
3. How to Use Walnut Shells for Hair Dye
If you want a dark brown color, this is the natural way to dye the hair.
Crush the walnut shells and boil for about half an hour. Cool, strain, and apply to hair. If you want to cover gray hair, you can use a cotton ball to apply only to those areas where it’s needed. Again, be careful as this dye will stain everything, so take precautions.
To create a more intense dye, return the strained juice to the heat and boil until it’s reduced to about a quarter of the original volume. Allow to cool in the refrigerator, strain if needed, and pour through hair.
To save time, use walnut powder instead of the shells.
Apply this and let it sit on the hair for at least an hour (more if you want more color), and rinse. Try to avoid really hot water as it can take the color away. Wash in lukewarm to make the color last longer.
What are the different shades of brown dye and which dye colour can be used to achieve them?
Without further ado, we will give a diagrammatic representation of what you need to know.
| Desired Brown Shade | Dye to Use |
| Ash brown | Natural brown |
| Natural brown | Golden brown |
| Golden brown | Mix golden and natural |
| Caramel brown | Mix caramel and natural |
| Red brown | Mix auburn and natural |
| Mahogany | Mahogany* |
| Burgundy | Burgundy* |
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Hair Care and Fading in Dyed Brown Hair
We believe that you have achieved the perfect hair color, but there are a few things you need to do to take care of the brown dye hair.
Here are a few key tips to maintain your new brown dye hair and keep it healthy after dyeing.
- Don’t wash your hair too often.
- Use color-safe shampoo and conditioner (except in oily hair types).
- Focus on shampooing your roots rather than the middle and ends of your hair.
- Wash and rinse with cool water only.
- Be gentle with towel-drying and the use of combs and brushes while your hair is wet. Your hair is weakest when it’s wet.
- If hot tools are necessary for your look, use hair protectant products or hair serums to reduce damage.
- Use a deep conditioner or hot oil treatment once a week for softness, and a protein treatment for strength.
You will likely need to retouch your hair in 4–6 weeks to deal with any fading and regrowth. However, more fading will occur the first time you dye your hair dark compared to after a retouch since more pigment will build up within your hair with each dye.
Conclusion
Hair dye is a personal decision, and the color you choose should be a reflection of yourself.
The best part of learning how to dye your hair of course, is that you can have fun and be yourself. Life’s too short to have boring hair.
Hope you enjoyed reading about brown hair dyes? Leave us a comment in the section below.
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