When dyeing your hair, especially at home, it’s important to choose a color that is realistic to achieve. Depending on your starting point, the type of dye you’re using, and the result you want, the color must be chosen carefully.
In this guide, you’ll learn how many levels you can lighten or darken your hair, what conditions need to be met, and how to dye your hair for the best results.
What is my starting color?
To know which color you can achieve, it's important to first determine your starting point.
Is your hair blonde or light brown? Then your options are wide, as darkening your hair is always easier than lightening it—and lighter shades are possible too.
Is your hair dark brown or black? It can be more difficult to lighten your hair significantly. If you want to go several shades lighter, you’ll either need a powerful hair dye or the help of an experienced hairdresser.
Should I dye my hair at home or go to a hairdresser?
Choosing whether to dye your hair at home or at a salon is a big decision that affects the outcome. Both options have their pros and cons.
Dyeing your hair at a salon usually guarantees a safe, great result. Do you trust your hairdresser and know they handle colors well? Then this is a great option. However, going to a salon is much more expensive and time-consuming than doing it at home.
If you’re unsure about which hairdresser to choose, we recommend finding a salon that uses high-quality dye products. These not only give you perfect results but also take care of your hair.
If you want to dye your hair at home, make sure the dye you choose is suitable for your hair type and starting color. The result always depends on your base color; if you try to dye black hair a light blonde, you could easily end up with a reddish tone.
With the right color and starting point, dyeing your hair at home can give you the perfect result with minimal effort and at a lower cost. Check out our guide for first-time hair dyeing.
What type of dye should I choose?
When choosing hair dye for home use, it’s important to keep a few things in mind.
If you’re looking for a big color change—like much lighter hair—you’ll need a dye with strong ingredients. These types of dyes often contain harsh chemicals like SLS, ammonia, and a lot of hydrogen peroxide to lift your hair several shades lighter.
However, these chemicals can damage your hair, often leading to dry hair and an irritated scalp after dyeing.
A gentler dye with natural ingredients will protect and nourish your hair, leaving it feeling soft and smooth after coloring, without irritating your scalp. But with these gentler dyes, it’s not possible to lighten your hair dramatically. We recommend only going two shades lighter than your current color with these products.
Should I lighten or darken my hair?
As a general rule, it’s easier to darken your hair than to lighten it. Most home hair dyes can darken your hair without a problem. Lightening, on the other hand, is more challenging and often requires strong chemicals or multiple sessions. Both can damage your hair.
If you want to significantly lighten your hair while keeping it soft and healthy, the best option is to visit a salon.
The result isn’t perfect - how can I fix it?
If the result of your home dye job isn’t what you hoped for, there are several ways to fix it.
Depending on the outcome, you can dye your hair again, cover it with a slightly darker color, or have it corrected by a professional hairdresser. For more details, check out our guide on how to correct a bad dye job.