What to Know Before Dyeing Your Own Hair - Hair Dyeing Tips

There's no denying it: DIY hair dyes can be tricky. Theoretically, you should be able to pick a box hair color at Target and emerge out of your bathroom with a brand new (and flawless) hair color but make no mistake, there's definitely room for error. Not only do you have to follow the correct after-care regimen to actually maintain your look, sometimes the directions on the back of the hair dye box are confusing as hell.

To help you out, we asked a group of top celebrity hair colorists to give you their tips on how to dye your hair at home — the right way. Make sure to keep their expert tips in mind before heading to the drugstore, your local beauty supply store, or shopping online to pick up a box of at-home hair dye.

1. Ask Your Colorist for Advice on Color Levels

If you are preparing to color your own hair or if you need to color your hair in a pinch, celebrity hair colorist Patrice Vinci — of the eponymous Patrice Vinci Salon in Boston — recommends speaking with your colorist first to determine the color level they would recommend.

"This is valuable information that dedicated beauty supply stores, such as Sally's, will use to guide you to the proper color for your needs," Vinci says.

2. Assess Your Hair Growth

"Rather than going by the color on the box, or the ends of your hair, focus on your regrowth (roots) as the guide in selecting a color by the box," Vinci says. "How much gray do you need to cover? This is key for application, as you should only cover the gray area, leaving the remainder of your hair untouched until the final 10 minutes of the process time."

Vinci says this will also help avoid color build-up on hair and give a more professional look to your at-home color.