How Do You Use Bulk Hair Dye Instead of the Drugstore Dye Kits?

[Redstone5]

Anyone have good instructions on how to buy and use bulk hair dye from a beauty supply store?

We have a Sally's Beauty Supply here and I know I can buy the dye for cheaper than the drugstore box brands I'm used to using, but I'm not sure how to select the right colour or if there are special things to think about when mixing it, etc. All the online information I can find is about dying hair extensions instead of hair that's already on your head.

[Igelfreundin]

I haven't tried that before, but when you do get some suggestions, I'd save the hair from your brush and use it to test whatever concoction you come up with. This helped me verify that I'd like the color and texture of my hair with the new die before committing what was on my head.

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[LaineyAZ]

Redstone 5,
I'm also interested in this.  I just need a basic light brown color so it should be simple.  I hate buying the individual boxes every 6-8 weeks that each include tiny plastic bottles or tubes, a plastic brush, plastic gloves, etc.  It's so wasteful. 

[AnnaGrowsAMustache]

I buy the drugstore variety but I split the colour and developer into two lots, so each drugstore pack does two root touchups. First I just used a small glass jar with a lid but now I have multiples of those applicator bottles. That's one way to cut down on costs. If I was going to mix and dye my hair with bulk dye, I'd probably ask my hairdresser to sell me some of the right colours and give me a recipe for the combo. Then you could buy wholesale next time, when you've tried it out.

[Metalcat]

You mix your colour and developer generally 1:1, it's pretty easy.

If you like the effect of drugstore box colour, then use a 20 volume developer, as that's usually what's in box colour. From there, pick a shade you like and try it out on a strand of hair.

If you are looking for a colour that isn't too far off of your natural colour, then a demi-permanent will probably be better for you, and a lot shinier.

If you are going for a bolder change, then a 30 volume developer will give you that, but will also cause more damage, possibly more fading, and probably more obvious root growth.

The people at the store should be able to help you.

[Sugaree]

This may be state-dependent, but here a cosmetologist license is required to buy professional color.
 


Nevermind, you're talking about buying larger quantities of the stuff you can get at Sally's.  Not sure about that.  My hair dye is one thing I splurge on, though I've lengthened the time between touchups to save a little money every year.

[Endersmom]

are you going lighter or darker? covering gray? I was a hairdresser in another life before mom lol

[Frankies Girl]

Youtube videos. Search for specific names of the products, like the colors and/or developers, and you should land on some channels of a young, beautiful 20-something who is an expert and they will walk you through the whole process. Make sure to watch several different people so you can get a feel for whether the one that you end up liking is giving you good info (especially if lightener/bleach is involved!).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfTi9501U_o
A few basic tips, and she's a trained cosmetologist. If you like her voice/style, check her other videos, but she's mostly "lifestyle" stuff not direct walk-through.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2801Y3Ljp0
another trained cosmetologist showing dark root touchup/lightener.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCKe9L1iMRA
She seemed okay? Going darker is MUCH easier by the way. She's got things like protein filler if you've dyed blond a while it might be a good idea.

Basically just check out the vids, find someone that you like, and read up about what they show in their vids to confirm that they gave the right instructions. As long as you're just doing a basic color a few shades lighter or darker than your hair or even better, doing just root touchup every few months, this is absolutely possible to do well at home with decent results and look better than any boxed dye. And since you're not mixing the boxed dye and can customize the amounts, a bottle of color and developer will last MONTHS unless you have super long hair (last even longer if all you're doing is touching up roots).

Don't try to do anything super extreme like going from a dark brown to platinum blond unless you have gotten REALLY good at dye and understand the dangers to your hair.

[Redstone5]

I buy the drugstore variety but I split the colour and developer into two lots, so each drugstore pack does two root touchups. First I just used a small glass jar with a lid but now I have multiples of those applicator bottles. That's one way to cut down on costs. If I was going to mix and dye my hair with bulk dye, I'd probably ask my hairdresser to sell me some of the right colours and give me a recipe for the combo. Then you could buy wholesale next time, when you've tried it out.

This is a genius idea! My hair is super short. Like Mohawk and side buzz short, so I'm going to start doing that right away since I've been throwing away more than 50% of the product up until now :( Never thought to only mix half.

[Redstone5]

I haven't tried that before, but when you do get some suggestions, I'd save the hair from your brush and use it to test whatever concoction you come up with. This helped me verify that I'd like the color and texture of my hair with the new die before committing what was on my head.

Enviado desde mi LM-V350 mediante Tapatalk

I don't have a hair brush since my hair is very short, but I could use a scrap from when I buzz it next. thanks!!

[Redstone5]

You mix your colour and developer generally 1:1, it's pretty easy.

If you like the effect of drugstore box colour, then use a 20 volume developer, as that's usually what's in box colour. From there, pick a shade you like and try it out on a strand of hair.

If you are looking for a colour that isn't too far off of your natural colour, then a demi-permanent will probably be better for you, and a lot shinier.

If you are going for a bolder change, then a 30 volume developer will give you that, but will also cause more damage, possibly more fading, and probably more obvious root growth.

The people at the store should be able to help you.

Thank you so much! This is super helpful. I'm going to buy the supplies this weekend. I'll update on how it works for me!

[Redstone5]

are you going lighter or darker? covering gray? I was a hairdresser in another life before mom lol

I'm covering grey (which is a very dark steel colour for me) and going lighter to blonde. I would say it's kind of a middle blonde, Loreal Preference brand middle blonde called California.

[Redstone5]

Youtube videos. Search for specific names of the products, like the colors and/or developers, and you should land on some channels of a young, beautiful 20-something who is an expert and they will walk you through the whole process. Make sure to watch several different people so you can get a feel for whether the one that you end up liking is giving you good info (especially if lightener/bleach is involved!).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfTi9501U_o
A few basic tips, and she's a trained cosmetologist. If you like her voice/style, check her other videos, but she's mostly "lifestyle" stuff not direct walk-through.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2801Y3Ljp0
another trained cosmetologist showing dark root touchup/lightener.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCKe9L1iMRA
She seemed okay? Going darker is MUCH easier by the way. She's got things like protein filler if you've dyed blond a while it might be a good idea.

Basically just check out the vids, find someone that you like, and read up about what they show in their vids to confirm that they gave the right instructions. As long as you're just doing a basic color a few shades lighter or darker than your hair or even better, doing just root touchup every few months, this is absolutely possible to do well at home with decent results and look better than any boxed dye. And since you're not mixing the boxed dye and can customize the amounts, a bottle of color and developer will last MONTHS unless you have super long hair (last even longer if all you're doing is touching up roots).

Don't try to do anything super extreme like going from a dark brown to platinum blond unless you have gotten REALLY good at dye and understand the dangers to your hair.

thanks! I'm going to check all of these out. The good news is, I don't have lots of hair. It's a mohawk of about 2 inches and the rest is shaved to 1. So if I ruin it, I can grow it back quick LOL

[Redstone5]

This may be state-dependent, but here a cosmetologist license is required to buy professional color.
 


Nevermind, you're talking about buying larger quantities of the stuff you can get at Sally's.  Not sure about that.  My hair dye is one thing I splurge on, though I've lengthened the time between touchups to save a little money every year.

Yeah, I'm mostly just trying to buy home box dye in a larger quantity for cheaper than the $14 per box I'm paying now.

[AnnaGrowsAMustache]

I buy the drugstore variety but I split the colour and developer into two lots, so each drugstore pack does two root touchups. First I just used a small glass jar with a lid but now I have multiples of those applicator bottles. That's one way to cut down on costs. If I was going to mix and dye my hair with bulk dye, I'd probably ask my hairdresser to sell me some of the right colours and give me a recipe for the combo. Then you could buy wholesale next time, when you've tried it out.

This is a genius idea! My hair is super short. Like Mohawk and side buzz short, so I'm going to start doing that right away since I've been throwing away more than 50% of the product up until now :( Never thought to only mix half.

NEITHER DID I :(
My hairdresser suggested it. She knows I like to save money. I go to her because she does genius cuts that still look fantastic as they grow out, and I can see her every 3-4 months for a medium length style rather than ever 6 weeks. And do my own colour.

[Redstone5]

I buy the drugstore variety but I split the colour and developer into two lots, so each drugstore pack does two root touchups. First I just used a small glass jar with a lid but now I have multiples of those applicator bottles. That's one way to cut down on costs. If I was going to mix and dye my hair with bulk dye, I'd probably ask my hairdresser to sell me some of the right colours and give me a recipe for the combo. Then you could buy wholesale next time, when you've tried it out.

This is a genius idea! My hair is super short. Like Mohawk and side buzz short, so I'm going to start doing that right away since I've been throwing away more than 50% of the product up until now :( Never thought to only mix half.

NEITHER DID I :(
My hairdresser suggested it. She knows I like to save money. I go to her because she does genius cuts that still look fantastic as they grow out, and I can see her every 3-4 months for a medium length style rather than ever 6 weeks. And do my own colour.

Not having money for regular haircuts has definitely changed my life for the better, ironically. I got an amazing, change-your-life haircut about two years ago (after my divorce lol). I asked my hairdresser to give me the same Mohawk-type hairstyle that Pink has. It was a risk but it turned out great, if I do say so myself. Strangers stop me all the time to tell me how much they like it and how much it suits me, which feels great.

But even so, I was paying $20 a month to my barber because the hair grows so fast. So first I started just buzzing the sides with my own clippers and only paying to get the top cut every two months, and then last month I started experimenting with trimming the top all by myself thanks to YouTube videos.  I think I did an ok job and only cut myself with the scissors once LOL.

But the absolute best part of doing my own hair is not having to make small talk with the barber hahaha. I'm such an introvert. And I can do it whenever I feel like, instead of having to drive there and wait.

[Endersmom]

are you going lighter or darker? covering gray? I was a hairdresser in another life before mom lol

I'm covering grey (which is a very dark steel colour for me) and going lighter to blonde. I would say it's kind of a middle blonde, Loreal Preference brand middle blonde called California.

ok they will have colours that are meant to cover grey they are normally double NN and will say for grey hair these give the best coverage. looking at the loreal box i would suggest an 8NN this will give better coverage but will not have the warm/gold undertone to it, or you could try a 8NG which would have more warmth to the colour (the G stands for gold but some people see the gold as red tones) I would use a 20 volume developer with it.

[MsPeacock]

The stuff at Sally's really isn't any more complicated than the boxed hair color. You buy the tube of the color you want and type you want (e.g. permanent, semi-permanent, etc.). You can mix two colors if you want something in between the shades. You mix some of the tube of color w/ an equal amount of developer (usually "20 volume") and then smoosh it in your hair and wait the instructed amount of time (instruction in the tube of color will tell you). You can use part of a tube if you don't need the whole amount. Follow the same application process as you use w/ the drug store boxed stuff. Mix the hair color in a little plastic bowl, or save the applicator bottle from the drug store box.

[Redstone5]

The stuff at Sally's really isn't any more complicated than the boxed hair color. You buy the tube of the color you want and type you want (e.g. permanent, semi-permanent, etc.). You can mix two colors if you want something in between the shades. You mix some of the tube of color w/ an equal amount of developer (usually "20 volume") and then smoosh it in your hair and wait the instructed amount of time (instruction in the tube of color will tell you). You can use part of a tube if you don't need the whole amount. Follow the same application process as you use w/ the drug store boxed stuff. Mix the hair color in a little plastic bowl, or save the applicator bottle from the drug store box.

Thank you, I'm really looking forward to trying this out once I buy the stuff from Sally's. I did box dye my hair again last weekend and I split the colour and processor into two glass jars to save half for next time. It worked just fine and now I can wait another month before having to spend anymore money on my hair :)

[icemodeled]

I have been dying my hair using sally beauty supply products for several years now. This was after a horrible attempt at using box dyes at the box stores, never had any good experience using those honestly. I find the products at Sally’s to be much better quality(along with cheaper, I always buy with coupons to).

I use Ion Brilliance, I believe is the brand name. All the colors run darker, so keep that in mind. I currently use Medium Intense Blonde 7NN (with 10 developer) and I get a very pretty medium brunette color. I love how rich the color looks. I dye my hair about every 3 months(also cut it myself to) and it costs well under $5 each time. I was overwhelmed when first trying it, had no clue at all and was nervous about bad experience with multiple box dyes. I did ask lots of questions from the employees at Sally’s and they were quite knowledgeable and guided me along. Now it’s super simple to me and I can switch up and try new colors whenever I want. I’m so grateful I finally found something cheap, good quality and looks nice so I no longer have to go to a salon.

So pretty much it depends on the color your going for(brown, blonde, red, etc) and current hair color and that will help determine the developer you need(or if you need anything extra). Mine is simple, it’s equal parts. So I use entire 2oz tube of dye(Ion brand) and 2oz measured out of 10 developer. Mix and apply. Let sit 30 min, rinse. Again, times and everything depend on the color your going for.