By Sam Escobar, Good Housekeeping
Rather than heading to the salon
for a color change, many women prefer to dye their hair themselves at
home. But while you can safely achieve great results with at-home hair
color (provided you do a patch test first,
of course), there's one telltale sign that you DIY'd your new do:
stains all over your face and neck. Want to avoid them or make them go
away fast? Try these tricks we've gathered from the pros.
[post_ads]Before
you start, apply a thick layer of petrolatum, like Vaseline or
Aquaphor, to the perimeter of your scalp including your hairline and
outer ears, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Margarita Lolis.
"This acts as a barrier and prevents your skin from soaking up the
dye," Dr. Lolis explains. "Hydrated skin doesn't absorb the dye as
quickly as a dry skin and can also break down the dye more easily." If
you want even more protection, try applying a cotton strip over the
petrolatum.
Another
tip: Skip your morning wash before you start your hair coloring process.
"Allowing your natural oils to accumulate on your scalp hydrates the
skin and deflects stains," Dr. Lolis adds. Score one for the no-poo team!
In
the event you do get stained with a bit of hair dye, Dr. Lolis
recommends taking a small amount of detergent and gently rubbing the
area. Have sensitive skin? "Try using oil, like olive oil or baby oil,
because it softens and hydrates the skin and
breaks up the color," she says. And if the stain is being a little too
stubborn and you need it to disappear quickly, apply a moisturizing
primer plus a medium-to-full coverage foundation to get your face looking back to normal.
But
really, the best way to avoid stains completely is to go to a pro. "In
salons, we use professional products to prevent staining that don't
affect color deposit if the product gets onto your hair prior to color,"
explains Michelle Lee, co-owner and master designer of Salon Eva Michelle in Boston.
