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Skip the Salon With This Hair Color How-To

Follow these steps to keep your hair color on point -- without setting foot in the salon

by Mary Squillace | COMMENT

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Get Organized Once you've found your perfect color match (we used 5, a medium brown, here), take stock of everything that's in your Root Touch-Up box. Read the instructions so you're clear on the products, process and timing. Each package comes with permanent color creme (marked #1), a color-activating lotion (marked #2), a mixing tray, a precision brush for application and a pair of gloves -- which you'll need to wear anytime you're working with the hair color.

In addition, you'll want to have an old t-shirt or towel on hand to protect your clothing (even the neatest among us can get a little messy), plus petroleum jelly, a comb, plastic hair clips and a timer.

Keep in mind that 48 hours before coloring your hair, you'll need to do a patch test to be sure you don't have any allergies to the product. Then, you're ready to make your stubborn grays -- or overgrown roots -- disappear.

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