Dying to be a redhead

I've been colouring my hair for about 10 years, so much so that I reckon even my own strands of hair don't know what colour they're supposed to be! Not surprising as they've gone from black to brunette, redhead, caramel brown and even purple! I used to pay a ridiculous amount to get highlights and colour done from the hairdresser, but I must prefer doing it myself at home. It's much more convenient, cheaper and you can change your colour as often as you change your mind! So I was tres excited when Schwarzkopf sent me a sample from their new XXL Hot Reds collection to try out. The new collection contains 3 vibrant red shades - Hot Connamon, Cool Scarlet and Dark Spice. I've used various Live colour XXL shades in the past as the colours are really bright and they take well. They don't dry my hair out as much as other home dyes I've used in the past, and the conditioner is yummy. 

I'm actually sitting here now waiting eagerly for the colour to develop, and thought I would write some tips home hair-dying for all those who have never tried it before.

Choosing the dye: Firstly, there are two main types of hair dye, temporary and permanent. My mantra is 'in for a penny in for a pound' so I always go for permanent, but if you're a bit unsure, try temporary as it will wash out in a few weeks. I've found that they don't really make a difference to my hair though. Next, you have to settle on a colour. I don't really rely on the colour at the front of the box and only use it as a vague indication. My hair's really dark so it never turns out as light/bright/coloured. Likewise, someone with pale blonde hair will have a much more vibrant result. There's usually a colour guide on the side of the box.

Equipment: Pretty much everything you need will be in the box, however, make sure you have an old top, lots of old dark towels, a comb, vaseline and some clips or hairbands handy. I might just be extra messy, but I find hair dye gets everywhere so I cover my shoulders with a towel and most of the bathroom floor too. Apply vaseline to your hairline before you begin so you don't accidentally dye your face too...it's easily done! Always follow the application instructions in the box. Schwartzkopt should be used on dry, unwashed hair and left to develop for half an hour. Some dyes require you to wet your hair first which is a bit of hassle! I always comb the dye through my hair to make sure the dye has distributed evenly then I clip it up and wait for it to develop.

Washing it out: In the shower, I apply a little water then massage the colour out. Usually it takes ages to rinse clear. Always, always use the conditioner in the box. They're really intensive and leave your hair shiny and silky.

Maintenance: Dying your hair obviously dries it out, so you have to really look after it. Shampoos and conditioners specifically for coloured hair help, as they don't strip the colour and the conditioners tend to be more intensive. I swear by Aussie 3 minute miracle for keeping my hair soft. As part of the Aussie Colour Tribe, I received a fantastic goodie bag especially for coloured hair. It contained Colour Mate Shampoo, Colour Mate Conditioner and Colour Mate 3 Minute Miracle Treatment, all have their special conditioning ingredient, Wild Peach extract to protect your precious tresses. 

Here's how my hair looked after :)

Cardi - H&M, tee - H&M, skirt - New Look, lippe - MAC (thanks LJ!)