Hair Color Mistake: You Don't Read the Instructions
Any time you use boxed hair color you should read the directions -- or else your hair may end up like your lopsided Ikea dresser. Even if you've used a particular hair color before, check the insert -- you never know if the formula or processing time has been updated. "When in doubt, pay attention to the manufacturer's instructions," urges Corbett.
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Hair Color Mistake: You Color All Your Hair the Same Way (Roots to Ends)
If your roots are full-on gray and the rest of your hair is chocolate brown, you're going to need to treat the roots and ends differently. "When your hair has been colored previously, it's important to focus your touch-up on regrowth only," says Corbett. This is the time to turn to a root touch-up kit -- not a regular box of color. Corbett recommends Clairol Root Touch-Up, $6.99, which covers regrowth and grays for up to three weeks. Anderson's pick is dpHue At-Home Root Touch Up Kit, $30, which he says provides multidimentional color and is extremely gentle on the hair.
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Hair Color Mistake: You Leave the Color on Too Long
"Hair color, Netflix and chill" is not the ideal combination. You want to be careful to rinse when the time is up (which is different for different types of color -- remember what we said about reading the directions?). So set a timer, and pay attention. If you leave the hair color on too long, you'll end up with flat, over-processed color and fried hair warns Anderson.
