How to achieve a natural look when dying your hair

March 30, 2022

When it comes to dyeing your hair, most people want the colour to look as natural as possible. However, this can be difficult to achieve with store-bought hair dye products. The colours are often too intense, and they can often leave your hair looking damaged. In this article, we will discuss some simple tips for dyeing your hair in a way that will make it look natural and healthy.

General tips for natural colour

Use good quality dye

This may seem like an obvious tip, but using a good quality hair dye is essential for achieving natural-looking colour. Cheap dyes often contain harsh chemicals that can damage your hair, leading to dryness, breakage and split ends. They can also cause your scalp to become irritated. When choosing a hair dye, look for one that is ammonia-free and contains natural ingredients. Buying a better dye means that you will get a more natural-looking colour that lasts longer and is kinder to your hair. 

Follow application guidelines

When you are ready to dye your hair, make sure you follow the application guidelines on the packet. This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s important to get the ratio of dye to developer right in order to avoid damaging your hair.

If you use too much dye or leave it on for too long, your hair can become dry, brittle and difficult to manage. You will also get a very strong block colour that doesn’t look natural. Every dye is different, so even if you have coloured your hair many times before, read the instructions all the way through before you get started.

You should also do a patch test when using a new product. This will help ensure that you are not allergic to any of the ingredients and that you don’t have a reaction to the dye. 

Blend different tones

Natural hair is never a single block colour. In fact, the reason that dyed hair looks unnatural, in a lot of cases, is that it is all a single colour. Even if you use a colour like brown or black, it still looks artificial because it’s all the same colour.

One way to make your hair colour look more natural is to blend different tones together. This can be done by using two different shades of the same colour or by mixing a light shade with a dark shade. Experiment with blending your own colours and highlighting small sections to get a more natural effect. Pay attention to people’s natural colour and try to emulate it when dyeing your hair. You’ll notice that this is what professionals will do when you get your hair coloured at a salon. It takes a bit of practice to get right but makes a massive difference.

Use a toner

If you have already dyed your hair and it doesn’t look quite right, don’t worry! There is a way to fix it. Using a toner is a great way to blend different colours together and achieve a more natural-looking result. A good quality toner can also stop your hair from looking brassy or overly shiny, giving it a more subtle, natural colour. You can find some great tips on using toner in this hair toner guide, so you can get the most out of it. People tend to use toners most when they are applying a blonde dye, but they’re actually effective for all colours, no matter how light or dark. So, don’t dye your hair without a toner if you want it to look natural.

Blonde hair

Different hair colours require a slightly different approach to get the right look. Blonde hair is the colour that people struggle with most and bleached hair can look very unnatural. However, with these simple tips, you can get the look you are after.

Create contrast

Creating contrast is especially important when dying your blonde hair because it helps to give the illusion of depth. If your hair is completely bleached all over, it looks very artificial. If you look at somebody with naturally blonde hair, they will have darker spots and a lot of contrast in the hair. This is something that you need to emulate by mixing dyes and using slightly darker shades in some areas.

Consider the impact of the sun

When trying to create contrast, think about how the sun affects people’s hair. Areas that get the most sun (around the top and back of the head) will be lighter, while other areas will be darker. This is a good guide to use when colouring your hair.

Avoid bleach

Bleach is one of the main reasons that hair can look so unnatural when it is dyed. It strips all of the natural colour from your hair, leaving it a very light, often yellowish. If you are going for a blonde look, bleach is not necessary and will only make your hair look worse. Try using a lightening dye or a toner to achieve the same effect.

Brown hair

Brown hair is a lot easier than blonde, but it can still look artificial if you get it wrong. Follow these tips for a natural finish.

Use an ombre effect

An ombre effect is a great way to get a natural-looking brown hair colour. It involves dyeing your hair in two different colours, with the lighter colour at the top and the darker colour at the bottom. This is a look that you can achieve yourself at home or go to a professional for.

Light and dark sections

If you don’t want to use an ombre effect, you can also create a natural look by dyeing your hair in light and dark sections. This is a more subtle approach that will give you a more blended colour.

Red hair

Red hair can look great when done properly, but it’s tough to get it looking real. You might decide that you want a bright red colour and you’re not worried about whether it looks natural, which is fine. But if you want it to look a bit more subtle, keep these tips in mind.

Avoid solid colours

A solid red color is often too bright and can look very unnatural. Try using a mix of different shades to get a more subtle look. This will also help create depth and contrast. Mixing in some auburn shades and a few different red tones will give you a far more natural look and stop the red from becoming too overpowering.

Use warm tones

Choosing the right type of red is crucial too. Warmer tones will look more natural than cool tones. So, if you’re going for a subtle red, try shades that have a warm undertone. Think autumn colours rather than a bold, bright red.

Getting the right hair colour can be a challenge, but with these simple tips, you can achieve a natural look that will still make you stand out from the crowd. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different colours and techniques – you might be surprised at what you can achieve. If you are particularly concerned about your colour and you don’t have much experience doing it at home, it may be best to go to a salon instead. They’ll give you the natural look that you want and you can pick up some tips so you can do it yourself next time!

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