How to Colour Your Hair at Home with an Ammonia-Free Dye

Box colour at home is how most people in Nepal cover greys or warm up their shade between salon visits. Ammonia-free formulas smell gentler and tend to be kinder to the hair, but they still use a developer and they can still cause an allergic reaction. The steps below are the ones the instruction leaflet asks for and most people skip.

Before you mix anything

• Do a patch test 48 hours before every colouring, even with a brand you have used before. A small dab behind the ear, left uncovered.
• Do a strand test on a hidden lock to see the real colour and timing on your hair.
• Skip colouring if your scalp is scratched, sunburnt or irritated, or within two weeks of a perm or straightening.

On the day

1. Wear the gloves in the box and an old towel. Apply a little petroleum jelly along the hairline and ears to avoid stains.
2. Start where you need colour most, usually the roots and greys, then the lengths for the last part of the time.
3. Time it with a clock, not by look. Leaving it longer does not make it last longer.
4. Rinse until the water runs clear, then use the conditioner from the box.

Keeping the colour in hard water

Mineral-heavy water in much of the Valley dulls colour and makes brown tones turn brassy faster. Wash with lukewarm water, use a colour-care shampoo once or twice a week, and keep a leave-in or serum on the ends.