A beauty editor’s tips for getting salon-level hair colour at home (2024)

Nothing puts a spring in your step like freshly coloured hair. You stride confidently, swishing your glossy mane in imaginary slo-mo as you step out of… your own front door. Yes, home hair colour really can deliver that salon feeling at a fraction of the cost, and I’m saying this as a beauty editor who frequently dyes her own hair. Forget everything you think you know about box dye; the latest formulas make it quick and easy to get flawless DIY results. My latest find is Clairol Professional Colour Studio, a three-step system that gives a natural-looking colour that lasts up to 10 weeks and leaves hair six times stronger. Sounds good, right? If you want healthy hair and a healthy bank balance, here’s what you need to know.

Pick the right shade

Already had permanent hair colour done at the salon? Rest assured, it’s perfectly compatible with a DIY job. There’s a universal colour-coding system across salon and home dye, so simply ask your hairdresser which shade you are (I switch seamlessly between Shade 5 at home and in the salon). Never dyed before? No problem. Whatever your starting point, hair dye brands offer extensive online advice, videos tutorials and even free live-chat consultations so you can colour with confidence. If you fancy an all-over change, I’d recommend staying within a shade or two of your current hair colour. The final result will depend on your existing shade, so look at the before/after colour guide on the back of any box dye to see what results you can expect. Once you’ve picked your shade, it’s vital to do a patch test 48 hours before you colour. Reactions are very rare but it’s important to play it safe.

Preparation is key

As with so many things in life, preparation is everything. Lay your kit out, brush your hair to detangle – and read the instructions! Sectioning clips are useful too, especially if you have thick hair. To take your prep to the next level, the Colour Studio system starts with a Prime Pre-Colour Serum, packed with Clairol’s breakthrough Metal Purifier technology, designed to neutralise the metals in water and protect hair while boosting colour uptake. Applied on mid-lengths and ends before colouring them, it’s the hair equivalent of using great skincare so make-up goes on smoothly.

Assemble the right tools

When I dye, I always have an old towel on hand, but the whole process is pleasingly non-messy. The days of runny, drippy formulas are gone; today’s are thick and easy to apply. Have wipes ready to remove hairline staining (but without accidentally taking the dye off the hair itself). Every colourist I know recommends using a bowl and brush to apply permanent dye. The Clairol system sells these separately, meaning you can get a pro-style result every time. The precision of a brush is handy if, like me, you’re covering your root regrowth and want to avoid overlapping your existing colour (using reusable tools wins sustainability points, too).

If you’re applying a full head of colour, work section by section and ensure the hair is saturated from roots to ends. If you’re colouring root regrowth and also want to boost your existing shade, just take the remaining dye to the lengths for the final five minutes. With Clairol’s system, you have the Metal Purifier tech built into the permanent colour itself, so hair is left both vibrant and strengthened. As someone whose greys definitely fit into the ‘stubborn’ category, I always like to leave dye on for an extra 10 minutes. As you can see from my photos, the coverage I get from Clairol’s new system is outstanding.

Salon results in 3 steps*

1. Apply Prime serum on dry hair and spread evenly through mid-lengths and ends
2. Mix developer bottle with the Colour cream and start application. After your shade has had time to develop, rinse hair and apply the nourishing mask
3. Wash regularly with the Revitalise shampoo and conditioner to help maintain the colour and vibrancy of your hair

Keep up the good work

Treat coloured hair like cashmere, using products designed to protect its condition and vibrancy. Clairol’s colour kit includes a Nourishing Treatment mask to use straight after colouring, which leaves my hair super soft. If you use hair electricals, never skimp on protection spray, as heat causes colour to fade faster. To keep up the good work, I’m a fan of Colour Studio’s specialist shampoo and conditioner (step 3 of the Colour Studio system), to prolong colour and leave hair smoother and shinier. Simply wash, style and await the compliments – and don’t be surprised if ‘Wow, give me the number of your colourist’ is one of them.

Get salon results at home with Clairol Professional Colour Studio

*each sold separately