A scalp bleach is where the colour of the hair is changed all over, from the root right through to the ends. The hair will be one consistent colour all over, though it may be toned through the ends to create some variance. If you have hair that is darker and you want to go lighter, a scalp bleach is going to be the option for you.

You will have to have bleach applied throughout your hair, so make sure it is in good condition first. Use conditioning treatments and don’t overdo it with the straighteners ahead of your appointment. Your stylist may be able to use a more gentle colouring technique, but bleaching is always going to be quite harsh.

You will probably need your roots touching up every few weeks to keep your colour fresh. It’s important you do this to keep the colour looking good and to make the colour change worthwhile.

Colouring your hair yourself is never going to be easy. You will be beset with challenges from the very beginning – how do you reach the back? Have you sectioned your hair properly? Have you got an even covering? In short, it is not a great idea to colour your hair yourself. You should get a trained professional to do it in a hair salon.

Book into a salon that is going to be able to do a good colouring job for you. Choose one with a good reputation that is a hair colouring specialist. Book in for a consultation initially, to decide what you would like to have done.

If you do still decide to colour your own hair, make sure that you always do a skin test first. You can become allergic to hair dye at any point, so even if you have coloured your hair before, carry out a patch test.

1. You first need to decide if you’re going to bleach your hair. You’ll need to bleach your hair first, especially if you already have dark hair and want a more vibrant colour. I
2. Put a hair band on your hair a few centimetres above the area where you want the dip dye colour to start and begin applying the bleach with a tint brush. If you fan your hair out and do a small strand at a time you’ll get more even coverage, also try and feather where the bleach stops a little if you don’t want a straight line, this will make it look more professional.
3. Wash out the bleach and shampoo but make sure that you DON’T condition your hair. If you do condition then it may prevent the dye from sticking.
4. Blow dry your hair and once it’s dry you can add the dye. Put a hair band on your hair just above the area you wish to dye. Using a tint brush, apply the dye everywhere that the bleach has lightened. It’s best to go a little bit over the line and get some dye on the unbleached hair just to make sure the colour blends in.
5. Leave the dye on for the recommended amount of time and then rinse , shampoo and condition.
6. Blow dry for a perfect finish.

There are occasions where that perfect new hair colour means accidental hair dye on your skin. The stain may seem stubborn, but you just need to use the right ingredients to get rid. Below is our fool-proof way.

1. Soak a cotton ball with nail polish remover and dab onto the dye stain. Rub gently and the dye should begin to lift off your skin.
2. Use a non-gel toothpaste on an old toothbrush to scrub at the stain.
3. Lather up some Lava soap with water and scrub at the stain. This super-scouring soap is good on many stubborn stains, and usually does the trick on hair coloring.
4. Mix baking soda with enough dishwashing soap to make a paste. Rub this into the hair dye stain and work it in well. Rinse off the paste and your skin should be clean.