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How Long Does it Take to Dye Hair At a Salon & Home?

How Long Does it Take to Dye Hair At a Salon & Home?

I prefer dying my hair in a salon because I lack experience in this field. However, some of you probably prefer doing the job on your own in order to save money and test your skills.

I’m not willing to take that risk, so I always visit my hairstylist when I want to make a change in color and let the pros do their thing.

How Long Does it Take to Dye Hair? Dyeing your hair in a salon will take you around 2 hours minimum. However, sometimes, it can go up to 4 hours. This depends on the color that you have at the moment and what color you want to have.

If you want to dye your hair at home, keep in mind that it will take you less time but at a bigger risk. Now, let’s learn all that you need to know about dyeing your hair in the salon or at home, so you’re well-prepared.

Does Hair Dye Get Darker the Longer You Leave it in?

This depends on the chemicals of the color that you used. Ammonia-based colors, for example, will go darker the longer you leave them on your hair.

Not only will they go darker but also degrade and cause great damage to your hair, eventually. Semi-permanent dyes also get darker the longer you leave them.

How Long Does it Take to Dye Hair Ombre?

If you do it at home, it will take you around 25 to 45 minutes. However, this depends on the level of the ombre contrast you want to get.

Check the dye’s recommendations on how long to leave the dye and do not leave it longer. Otherwise, the color can degrade and cause greater damage to your hair, eventually.

How Long Does it Take to Dye Hair Blue?

This mostly depends on the type of dye you’re using. Some brands allow you to leave your dye on your hair for one hour, while others may only take around 15 to 20 minutes to get the job done.

However, it is NOT suggested that you leave the dye on your hair longer than it is suggested on the dye’s packaging.

How Long Should I Leave my Hair Dye in?

The answer to your question is simple and pretty obvious. You should leave the dye on your hair for as long as it says on the dye’s packaging. It is usually around 40 to 60 minutes but certainly not any longer.

How Long Does a Root Touch Up Take at a Salon?

If by ‘root touch up’, you mean a flat tint (not foiled) it will take around 30 to 45 minutes to apply. But that is just the time calculated for the application process. It takes an extra 45 minutes for processing.

How Long Does a Color Retouch Take?

Usually, people go between 3-5 weeks for a color retouch because their new hair (the one growing from the roots) has reached a noticeable length. Highlights last 6 to 8 weeks between the next appointments.

How Soon Can I Recolor my Hair if I Don’t Like the Color?

Experts suggest that you wait at least 4 weeks before coloring your hair again. That is the minimum that you have to wait to traumatize your hair if you care about it and want it to be healthier.

However, if you want to avoid any damage or you’re just too scared to make another change, wait around 6 or 7 weeks.

How Long Does it Take to Bleach and Dye Hair at a Salon?

Dyeing your hair in a hair salon may take around 2 to 4 hours, depending on the color that you already have. And the color that you want to get. If you decide to take the matter into your hands and do it at home, it will take you less time.

However, you’re exposing yourself to greater risk because of your lack of knowledge. I know that we all want to think we know it all, but getting that perfect color takes skills.

If you want to change your color completely, saying from super dark to super light, then you will need to bleach it first. This will take you at least an hour and a half for both the preparation of the materials and the process itself.

If let a professional bleach your hair, they will use a product with special technology to protect the internal structure of the hair during the process. However, that is not all. This is how it goes.

First, you combine the bleaching mixture and the second product with the dye.

After the bleaching, you have another hour and a half preparing the materials and applying the final hair color that you want to get but that is not where it all ends. There is still the processing time that takes around 25 to 45 minutes.

So, to get things straight, if you want to change your color from dark to light, you should bleach it before applying the dye. Otherwise, it will not work as you expected.

This will take professionals around three to four hours. It will take you less but you’re risking your hair’s health and getting non-satisfying results.

If this seems like a long time, don’t make extreme changes in your hair color. Instead of going from black to blonde, choose something that will take you less time to accomplish and avoid possible damage such as covering your gray hair.

This will take you about an hour and a half in a hair salon. Yes, it will take one or two hours to finish the process but at least, you will get better results than doing it yourself at home.

Hairdresser

How Much Does it Cost to Get Your Hair Dyed at a Salon?

Getting your hair dyed at a salon will cost you between $50 and $70 with toner costing around $20-$40 per each extra shade of color applied.

But the price depends on your location, the price of hair color and highlights.  Also, hair service prices vary depending on the qualifications and reputation of the hairstylist.

How Long Does it Take to Bleach and Dye Your Hair at Home?

If you want to change your dark color to a lighter one, you’ll have to lighten your hair over three times before you bleach it.

However, since bleaching is a complex chemical process, you’re probably not going to get there in a single day but let’s say that you have spare time and you want to do it yourself anyway.

First, I suggest that you protect your hair with organic coconut oil. This will prevent damage and burning and will take you around 20 minutes.

After, you will need to make the bleaching mixture which will take you an additional 40 minutes. Preparing the dye and your hair for dyeing will take you about 15 minutes.

Finally, applying the dye and let it work on your hair will take you less than one hour (between 45 and 50 minutes). If you want to bleach your hair after dyeing, it will take you an extra hour.

However, refreshing your hair or dyeing gray hairs takes an hour. The benefits of dyeing your hair at home by yourself include doing whatever you want while the dye is processing. You can make dinner or clean up your apartment.

Is it Better to Wash Your Hair Before You Dye it?

Yes and the reason why is next. Dye not only sticks better to unwashed hair but also protects itself from the dye or bleach with natural oils.

If you wash your hair, it will become too slippery. And have no natural oils to protect it from the chemicals. If you want to learn how to dye your hair alone, watch this tutorial.

Final Thoughts

I have concluded that dyeing your hair in a salon will take you longer but give you better results.

Doing it at home takes less time but exposes your hair to possible damage. So, if you ask me if spending 3 or 4 hours in a salon for a color change is worth it, I would say yes, it is.

I know that there are millions of YouTube tutorials showing how it is done. And guiding viewers through the whole process, step-by-step.

However, most times, people who follow those tutorials, don’t get the exact color that they wanted. And burn their hair for nothing. Not to mention the cost.

They’ve spent money on materials not knowing that they’re going to spend again, trying to revive their hair. And get the damaged fixed by a real professional.

Hopefully, this article will help you understand the pros and cons of dyeing your hair at a salon and at home. Also, I hope that it will help decide which path to take. Let me know what your choice is in the comments.

I would personally choose to dye my hair in a hair salon and save myself the headache, and extra money.