Everything You Need to Know (and Buy) Before You Dye Your Hair

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So you're thinking of dyeing your hair. Good for you, man. It's about time. I didn't want to be the one to say it, but I was sort of wondering when you were finally going to bite the bullet. I mean, it's been how long since those first not-so subtle hints of gray started sprouting up by your sideburns?

Kidding! I'm kidding, man. Maybe you love your grays and don't want to part with them. All good. But maybe the general tumult of the last four years finally took its toll—hell, 2020 alone was enough to age even the most optimistic among us by at least a few decades—and you'd prefer a little more pepper than salt in the mix. Or maybe lockdown made you so damn bored you suddenly found yourself with nothing to do but ponder what you'd look like with a striking blonde mane. Regardless, you're here because you decided it's time to make a change. Men dye their hair for all sorts of different reasons, and each and every one of them is A-okay in my book.

Worried you'll fuck it all up? Well, sure. That's always a valid concern. (And if you're really stressing the final results, you might want to consult a professional colorist first.) But what's life without a little risk—at least when it comes to something as all-important as your hair?

Whether you're simply trying to cover up a few premature signs of aging or shock the living daylights out of your straight-laced colleagues with a fluorescent new 'do, here's everything you should consider before taking the plunge. Invest in any of these products and you, too, can *cue dramatic theme music* live to dye another day.

To DIY Dye or Not to DIY Dye?

If you're thinking about attempting a good ol' fashioned DIY operation you're in luck: Today, the best home-dye kits are specifically designed for easy use, leaving minimal room for serious color-related fiascos at any point during the process. And at-home hair dye tends to be thinner than its salon counterparts to allow for intuitive application sans any of the tools a professional colorist would typically have on-hand. (All you need is a few nimble fingers and a little bit of free time.)

Better yet, if you are about that DIY life and are looking to merely make a few errant gray hairs disappear, then—ding ding!—you happen to be the perfect candidate for an at-home hair dye attempt. Fair warning though, if your hair is more gray than any other color, it'd behoove you to find a colorist you trust who can work with you to ensure an even tone, helping you steer clear of any mortifying mistakes along the way.

Once Decided, Choose Your Dye Carefully

First things first: What color do you want your hair to be? If you're turning to hair dye as a means of staving off the inevitable march of time ever so slightly, you're going to need a concoction that blends in seamlessly with your natural hair color. Ditto that if you're looking to try out a different shade, but one that still resembles your original hair color. If that's the case, you should reach for a hair dye that’s about a shade or two darker than your natural hair color (or, alternatively a shade or two lighter). In other words, keep it relatively simple. If you're trying to replicate Jared Leto's lime-green Joker locks, a DIY job might not be the way to go.

(FYI: If you're interested in touching up those rapidly graying tresses, it's important to remember that gray hair tends to be less receptive to dye, so a product specially designed to target your salt-and-pepper temples is almost always going to be a better call than snagging a general-purpose alternative—no matter how alluringly packaged.)

Dye, Baby, Dye (and Stay Dyed)

As to how to actually, uh, do it? Simple. Now that you've figured out what type of dye you need (and have temporarily sworn off committing wholesale to some garish neon hue you'll only regret down the line), applying the dye itself is a pretty straightforward process. A few days before you plan on doing the deed, wash your hair and don't apply any styling products. The day of, try and gather any additional tools the dye you're using calls for—like gloves and brushes—so you're not making a mess of your makeshift TikTok studio (surprise: it's the bathroom!) while mud-colored goop slowly drips down your face a la Rudy Giuliani. Then apply the dye to fully dry hair and allow it to settle for however long the packaging advises. Finally, rinse it all out using a color-preserving shampoo for added vibrancy.

But wait, the fun doesn't stop there! Depending on how long your hair is, you might have to ready yourself to do the whole thing all over again within a month or so (you can hold off for slightly longer if your roots really take to their newfound color with gusto). To get your money's worth, try to reduce the amount of shampoo you use and always opt for col0r-safe shampoo when your hair is feeling too greasy to avoid lathering up.

Ultimately, though, whether you're a budding silver fox not yet ready to accept your AARP card or just a relative young'un looking to mix things up a little bit, the only way to find out what you'll look like post dye job is to have at it yourself.

To paraphrase the great Amy Winehouse: Even if you dye a hundred times, you can always go back to black. (Or brown. Or blonde.)

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So you're thinking of dyeing your hair. Good for you, man. It's about time. I didn't want to be the one to say it, but I was sort of wondering when you were finally going to bite the bullet. I mean, it's been how long since those first not-so subtle hints of gray started sprouting up by your sideburns?

Kidding! I'm just kidding, dude. Maybe you love your grays and don't want to part with them. All good. But maybe the general tumult of the 2020s finally took its toll and you'd prefer a little more pepper than salt in the mix. Regardless, you're here because you decided it's time to make a change. Men dye their hair for all sorts of different reasons, and each and every one of them is A-okay in my book.

Worried you'll fuck it all up? Well, sure. That's always a valid concern. (And if you're really stressing the final results, you might want to consult a professional colorist first.) But what's life without a little risk—at least when it comes to something as all-important as your hair?

Whether you're simply trying to cover up a few premature signs of aging or shock the living daylights out of your straight-laced colleagues with a fluorescent new 'do, here's everything you should consider before taking the plunge. Invest in any of these products and you, too, can *cue dramatic theme music* live to dye another day.

Choosing Between an At-Home Hair Dye or a Trip to the Salon

If you're thinking about attempting a good ol' fashioned DIY operation you're in luck: Today, the best home-dye kits are specifically designed for easy use, leaving minimal room for serious color-related fiascos at any point during the process. And at-home hair dye tends to be thinner than its salon counterparts to allow for intuitive application sans any of the tools a professional colorist would typically have on-hand. (All you need is a few nimble fingers and a little bit of free time.)

Better yet, if you are about that DIY life and are looking to merely make a few errant gray hairs disappear, then—ding ding!—you happen to be the perfect candidate for an at-home hair dye attempt. Fair warning though, if your hair is more gray than any other color, it'd behoove you to find a colorist you trust who can work with you to ensure an even tone, helping you steer clear of any mortifying mistakes along the way.

Selecting the Right Dye for Your Hair Color

First things first: What color do you want your hair to be? If you're turning to hair dye as a means of staving off the inevitable march of time ever so slightly, you're going to need a concoction that blends in seamlessly with your natural hair color. Ditto that if you're looking to try out a different shade, but one that still resembles your original hair color. If that's the case, you should reach for a hair dye that’s about a shade or two darker than your natural hair color (or, alternatively a shade or two lighter). In other words, keep it relatively simple. If you're trying to replicate Jared Leto's lime-green Joker locks, a DIY job might not be the way to go.

FYI: If you're interested in touching up those rapidly graying tresses, it's important to remember that gray hair tends to be less receptive to dye, so a product specially designed to target your salt-and-pepper temples is almost always going to be a better call than snagging a general-purpose alternative—no matter how alluringly packaged. If you want up your hair's receptivity you might need to start with a developer, a formula specifically designed to open up the cuticle, helping the dye stick. (Many kits come with a developer of some kind already included so be sure to read through the instructions thoroughly before applying.)

Dyeing Your Hair at Home (and Then Not Screwing It Up)

As to how to actually, uh, do it? Simple. Now that you've figured out what type of dye you need (and have temporarily sworn off committing wholesale to some garish neon hue you'll only regret down the line), applying the dye itself is a pretty straightforward process. A few days before you plan on doing the deed, wash your hair and don't apply any styling products. The day of, try to gather any additional tools the dye you're using calls for—like gloves and brushes—so you're not making a mess of your makeshift TikTok studio (surprise: it's the bathroom!) while mud-colored goop slowly drips down your face a la Rudy Giuliani. Then apply the dye to fully dry hair and allow it to settle for however long the packaging advises. Finally, rinse it all out using a color-preserving shampoo for added vibrancy.

But wait, the fun doesn't stop there! Depending on how long your hair is, you might have to ready yourself to do the whole thing all over again within a month or so (you can hold off for slightly longer if your roots really take to their newfound color with gusto). To get your money's worth, try to reduce the amount of shampoo you use and always opt for col0r-safe shampoo when your hair is feeling too greasy to avoid lathering up.

Ultimately, though, whether you're a budding silver fox not yet ready to accept your AARP card or just a relative young'un looking to mix things up a little bit, the only way to find out what you'll look like post dye job is to have at it yourself. To paraphrase the great Amy Winehouse: Even if you dye a hundred times, you can always go back to black. (Or brown. Or blonde.)

Hair Dye Foam

Convinced it's time to try an at-home dye but concerned you'll bungle it? True Sons' fan-favorite formula is probably the one for you. Sure, the brand's foolproof foam is a bit pricier than the other options included here, but if you're nervous about applying a hair dye for the first time, this sucker eliminates all that stress entirely. It's designed to lather on as smoothly as a shaving cream and is made for full-body use, so you can apply it with (relative) abandon anywhere you've got hair that needs a touch-up.

Easy Comb-In Color Kit

A comb applicator helps you apply this semi-permanent dye with ease, so you can touch-up specific areas prone to graying without dying your whole head. Crucially, a variety of natural-looking colors ensures you won't step back halfway through and suddenly see the spitting image of (gasp!) dear old dad staring back at you in the mirror.

Touch Of Gray Hair Coloring Kit (3-Pack)

Just For Men remains the standard-bearer for gray coverage when it comes to any and at all ad hoc at-home dye jobs. Invest in a kit (or a few!) if you're in the market for subtle gray coverage that'll look blended without coming across as overly dramatic.

Semi-Permanent Hair Color Kit

If you fancy yourself a bit of a grooming maverick, Good Dye Young's signature kit is ready-made for experimentation. The brand's vegan, easy-to-use formula calls for no mixing, and is semi-permanent, so its effects will only last about six weeks sans regular touch-ups if you wake up deeply regretting the color you choose.

Men Expert One Twist Hair Color

This hair color kit covers your grays for up to six weeks, so by the time you're ready for your next cut, it'll be about time to reapply. This was also designed specifically for men, so you're pretty much guaranteed natural-looking, easy results.

Hair Color for Men

For a gentle reduction of your grays, this is the dye for you. It doesn't completely eradicate and cover them, but instead, subtly blends them into the rest of your hair, for a cool, mature look. After all—grays are kinda stylish.

Dark & Natural Hair Color Kit

If you're a dude with dark, textured hair looking for full coverage, this might be the kit for you. SoftSheen-Carson's formula covers gray hairs effectively and won't leave your mane feeling dried out or looking remotely devoid of its natural sheen.

Flash Lightning Hair Bleach Kit

Manic Panic's bleaching kit makes an otherwise arduous process relatively straightforward. The brand's hard-to-beat concoction comes with all the tools you'll need to lighten your hair at home, and is specifically made with novices in mind so there's minimal room for serious mistakes.

Hair & Beard Color

This hair dye is completely unique to you, and works on your beard, too. Through an online quiz, Cleverman identifies the perfect custom products for your hair color, texture, and goals, then sends you a kit packed with everything you'll need to get the exact look you want.

Temporary Color Gel

With natural ingredients, this is how you get your grays covered without irritating your scalp. This semi-permanent gel requires no mixing, and easily blends into your hair to get rid of those salty and/or peppery bits. Easy as that.

Semi-Permanent Root Touch Up Color Blending Gel

If your grays are only coming in at the roots and you don't want to dye your entire head of hair for nothing: I hear you. I see you, and I understand, and I have the perfect solution in the form of a root touch-up gel. This one comes with semi-permanent dye already mixed and in the applicator, so there's no mess or hassle here. Simply brush it on your roots, give a light blend, and voila—color for the next 10 washes.

Blonding Brush

If you're naturally blonde, this one's for you. Sadly, blonde is one of the hardest colors to mimic naturally with dye, but this highlighting brush reinstates golden locks into your dull hair. This isn't intended for grays specifically, but can still work wonders in subtly adding some summer-kissed blondeness to your hair.

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