How to Dye Hair Blonde at Home Without Going Green?

by Madison Reed October 31, 2023

Image by Madison Reed

How to Dye Your Hair Blonde at Home?

Do you dream of having the perfect blonde hair? Maybe you’re ready to switch things up a bit? No matter your motivation, we're here to help you learn how to dye your hair blonde at home so you can make your dreams a reality. Sound interesting? Keep reading!

How to dye your hair blonde – planning and preparations

Before you reach for that hair color, there are a few important things you’ll need to consider. Dyeing your hair blonde will almost always mean going lighter, and that’s a bit more complicated than coloring your hair black or dark brown.

First, find out if you need a bleach. The most important step is first understanding what your starting point is and what your desired end result of blonde is. Remember the rule: "Color can't lift color." If your hair is already color-treated, then that means it cannot be lightened using a blonde color on top. The only way to lighten it is to use bleach lightener or color removers.

Highlights may be the way to go in this case, which would require bleach. You can do subtle balayage highlights at home using our Light Works Balayage Highlighting Kit, or you should visit a salon if you need more drastic lightening done.

Palmi - Warm Honey

Another option to go gradually lighter and avoid bleach is to use Prime For Perfection. This is a gentler route to go than other harsh color removers or lighteners. This treatment gently shifts and removes artificial color pigments from the hair in an effort to reveal a lighter shade. It is not a drastic color change like bleach, but with repeated applications, you may start to see your hair color go one (sometimes two) shades lighter, which is a great, less-aggressive way to go lighter.

Prime

Next, if you determine you do not need bleach to create a blonde result, you are then ready to select the blonde shade to use. It is recommended to stay within two levels of your natural hair color. Permanent color can only lift the hair so much, so it is best to not attempt going too significantly lighter than your natural root color. For instance, if your hair is naturally a medium brown (level 6), it is best to stick with a dark blonde (level 8) hair color.

Another factor is to think about what tones you want to see in your blonde (cool ash, warm golden, strawberry, etc.). The natural hair will always expose warm tones when lifting/lightening. So, you’ll need to decide if you want to embrace the warmth or minimize the warmth. If you'd rather stay away from warm tones, then choose a shade that has cool or ash undertones. If you want to embrace the warmth, then choose something with golden tones.

Still don’t know which color to choose? Take our Color Advisor Quiz to get matched to the right level of blonde. You can also check out our Virtual Hair Color Changer and test various blonde shades virtually to see which tones look good on you.

Visit us for a free consultation

Go now

How to dye your hair blonde at home – a step-by-step guide

You’ve chosen your hair dye, so let’s get to the process. We know that it might be tricky, especially if it’s your first time, so we’ve prepared a guide for you – dyeing your hair blonde at home step by step.

Apply the hair color. There are going to be two ways to apply your color. The first is if your hair is already color-treated, and the second is if your hair is all-natural and not color-treated.

For hair that is already color-treated, you want to be careful that your ends don't go too dark since you will be applying color on hair that has already been chemically processed.

PREPARE:

Mix the color and activator solution – you want to shake your solution well to ensure the ingredients mix properly.

Divide your hair into four sections (quadrants) – two in the front on each side and two in the back on each side. This will make your color application so much easier and aid in a much more even color result.

APPLY THE COLOR TO YOUR ROOTS:

First, apply the color to your roots. Your roots need the most time to process since your ends are already color-treated. Take 1/4" rows working down each section from front to back. Saturation is key, so make sure you have enough product applied.

Once the color is on your roots, you can apply a semi-permanent Color Reviving Gloss to keep the ends light and refine the light tone. Another option is to massage any of the remaining permanent color through the lengths of the hair for the last 5-10 minutes.

Trio how to use it-2000X

If your hair is all-natural and not color-treated, follow these directions. (Tip: Since you need to fully saturate your hair all over, you may need more color. It might be a good idea to get two boxes of color just in case, especially if you have long or thick hair.)

MIX AND PREPARE:

Mix your color and activator solution to ensure it is thoroughly mixed. If you purchased two boxes of color, just mix one to start and mix the second one once you need it. You want the color fresh.

Section your hair as mentioned above: four quadrants, two in the front and two in the back. Since you are coloring your hair all over from roots to ends with the permanent color, you don't want to get lost in the hair, so it’s best to work in sections at a time.

sectioning hair slide hair human person

APPLY COLOR TO THE LENGTHS AND ENDS FIRST:

This is important! The lengths of the hair need more time to process, whereas the roots have the heat from the scalp which help it to process easier and faster. Start applying the color about 2” away from the scalp. Take thin enough sections that you can easily saturate the hair. Saturation is everything! Make sure the hair is evenly coated with color and there are no dry spots. After the color is applied to the lengths, go ahead and apply color to the roots.

Get tips and tricks from licensed colorists

Visit us

HOW TO APPLY BALAYAGE HIGHLIGHTS AT HOME USING BLEACH

If you plan to use a permanent color as listed above, then it is best to apply that first and then apply your highlights after. This way, your base color is all done and you have a fresh canvas to work from.

When applying the bleach, focus the product on your mid-lengths and ends. This is where you want the majority of the lightness for a natural effect. Use sweeping motions as if you are painting on top of the hair to create blended highlights without harsh lines. Our Light Works Balayage Kit comes with a unique wishbone applicator to provide foolproof salon-quality highlights.

How to keep your hair looking healthy with a toner

Now that your hair is blonde, toners and glosses are your new best friend. These are a must to keep your tones looking refined and brass-free. They are semi- or demi-permanent products that are used when your highlights are looking dull, or you need to eliminate any unwanted yellow or orange tones. Color Reviving Gloss in Crema is a violet shade that will help counteract brassiness.

Crema-with-smear

Is dyeing your hair blonde at home always a good option?

Generally, if you are staying within the recommended range that we've shared, then you should feel confident in coloring at home.

If you want more of a drastic change or if your hair is significantly darker than your desired level of blonde, it may be best to visit a professional colorist. After that initial coloring session, you may be able to maintain the color yourself at home. If you are unsure which route is best for you, contact our Color Crew to speak to a professional colorist who can guide you in your journey to being blonde.

The takeaway

We've covered all the essentials for achieving beautiful blonde hair at home. If you think that it’s too much to handle solo and you’d rather have it done by professionals in a salon, visit one of our Hair Color Bars. Our licensed colorists will make your fresh locks shine!

Do you have any additional questions? Feel free to ask them in the comments section below. And remember to check our other articles, for example: How to Care for Your Hair When Coloring.

Find your perfect shade

Go Now

Tags:

Blog > Hair Color