Ombre take two

I have posted about dying my hair before, and I posted pictures of the results of my last attempt at an ombre where it was very hard to see any kind of color difference. That first attempt I honestly totally forgot to take pictures and regretted it after, but about 48 hours after that I really didn't mind. Take one was a disaster, the fade was just nonexistent and someone even asked me if I was in the awkward stage of growing out my hair color. I don't think I need to elaborate any further, so here goes:

This is what I was going for the first time around. 

Before. My hair has got a little style from the day before still in it but that has never been a problem. 

Ombre-ing is harder than dying all of your hair or coloring streaks! Keep that in mind before deciding to try this at home. The professionals not only know how to do this better, they also have a better angle and can see what they are doing directly and not via several mirrors.
Now that we have that out of the way, If you are still fixed on doing this at home i know what you mean. I don't want to spend the money either, and it's just hair (that will hopefully soon look super cool). Before you start with any kind of dying there are always a few prep things that you really do have to do and cannot underestimate.

If you want to try this yourself and use this method, please read the entire post before you get anywhere close to starting. You want to have an idea of what you have to do before you start and not be reading the step for the first time just before it is time to start.

1. Pick out your color and buy it. weather you are using bleach for the "traditional" ombre blond look or a color like I am, pick out the one for your hair type and desired end result. If you are saving the money on a stylist pick out all the components or the kit that really is the best for you! Don't skimp on that if you do not have to. I have a set from the drugstore that I have had several times at like far better than a professional combo that I tried and hated, but I wouldn't go for the cheapest bleach from the drugstore.

Once you are back home, Read the instructions thoroughly and follow them! Every coloring kit has different times and recommendations for different results and hair types etc. The developers should know the product better than anyone.

When you are ready to die your hair gather everything you need. Make a checklist if you have to. I cannot tell you how many times I have started mixing my color or even applying it and realized I forgot something. So gather up an old towel, some kitchen paper, hair clips, a bowl and tinting brush, a comb (fine tooth or rat tail comb are best), the entire hair dying kit and foil strips(cut into proper pieces, not just a roll of foil). If they are not included in your kit, you may also want some gloves. (if you are not using gloves for whatever reason think about painting your nails with a clear coat because hair die is particularly hard to get off of nails.) And make sure you are wearing some old clothes, the kind you would paint in. And not just the top and then your favorite pj pants. Hair die has a magical way of defying physics and getting everywhere, especially if you are coloring your own hair.

Also a buddy! this is not a must, I color my hair all by myself but it does make it easier. Also, I used to die my hair at sleepovers because my best friend and I always both really wanted crazy colorful hair so we would plan sleepovers with the intention of coloring each others' hair. But now that I have a little practice I am actually pretty reluctant to let anyone help me because I would rather mess it up myself then get mad at someone else for not doing a good job.

Then figure out how much of your hair you want to ombre. No joke: visualize the result you are aiming for! Picturing how much you want really saturated and how far up the faded/streaked/highlighted part should go will help you go about the actual applying of hair color with more confidence. and then section the hair accordingly

If this is your first time dying your own hair at home double check all of the above because this next bit is where it starts to become time sensitive and it will make the next hour or so of your life that much less stressful.

Sections for efficiency. note that I sectioned off the bang bit because I have kept the big streak and am letting it grow out very slowly.

2. Mix the hair color components as instructed by the manufacturer. Simple enough, really. Just decide now if you will be applying to color from the squirt bottle that comes with the kit, or that you have on hand because you are prepared for anything, or with a brush or even with your comb. I use a squirt bottle and a comb, but I will explain that later

3. This is where the magic happens! The simple formulation would be: Apply the hair color. I'm pretty sure a post about ombring at home that had such a simple formulation would be very disappointing, so I will do my best to describe my method.

Before I start I want to mention two things. First, I don't have all to many pictures and none at this stage because I wanted to work as efficiently as possible so that the sections do not have large spans of time between the application of the color since that can cause for a very uneven color once everything is finished and I did this when my roommate was not home so I couldn't ask her to help me out. Secondly, This is the method I found that worked best for me and I am sure there are plenty of other ones. If you have a different one that works for you of any tips how to do this even better please let me know in the comments. I am by no means an expert or trying to claim that this is the way to die an ombre.

This is where the visualization I was talking about earlier comes in. Starting at the bottom sections of hair I grab relatively flat sections without too much structure. Preferably angular, not at all neat sections so that they then fall over one another adding even more layers to the finish. Then I start at the ends and really saturate them with color by combing through the ends with a fine tooth comb perpendicular to the hair shaft. Then I take the comb and essentially rotate it 90° so that I am combing very fine sections with the comb parallel to the hair shaft which should be relatively flat as even most curls should stick to the foil. I continue to comb thought the fade section with this method to coat some hairs and leave others out. I also try to do the first few just above where the hair is fully saturated and then slowly move up, always combing to the ends. This is how I get a gradual fade and not a harsh line.
I repeat this on sections of hair always moving up a layer and then from the back towards my face in smaller sections than I originally sectioned off. I like a little more color around the front sections because I have kept the big section of red at the very front and because I think I have better control of those sections since I can see what I am doing much better. At the back I have to rely on my gut and the finger feeling, but that does not mean I am any less careful.

4. This takes a little patience but I recommend setting an alarm for the time the manufacturer says the hair color should stay in. If they give a range, then for the smallest amount of time as you have to check how the color is developing. You should check up on your hair and see how the color is developing, but don't fuss with it too much. If you have set an alarm you can even do something completely different for that time.

Color is on the hair and working it's magic. 

5. Once the time is up check that your hair color is really ready. Very thick dark hair often takes longer than thin light hair. Then wash the hair color or bleach out. Some kits will come with shampoo and conditioner in which case you can use those, otherwise use what you have (ideally, something for color treated hair).
What the instructions often do not mention but I have found to work best is to wash your hair with warm water. Rinse very well. Then condition (my hair is so short that I rarely condition my hair, but I always use a deep conditioner after I color my hair) and rinse the conditioner out with cold water. Rinsing with cold water helps to seal the follicle and keep everything inside as well as provide great shine.

6. Style as usual. And don't forget the selfies for social media ;)
This is my hair without any crazy styling. Just some heat protectant spray and a tiny bit of blow drying to dry it completely and give a little extra volume. I'm also not wearing any makeup because I colored my hair at night, like I usually do, and thought it far too silly to apply makeup for these pictures and then take it right off since I was going to bed after.

Et Viola!

Aftercare and general hair routine / care are coming soon.
XX Eva