Dyeing Hair at Home vs. Salon: Why I Switched to At-Home Hair Color (With Before & After Photos)
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Salon vs. DIY at Home
Thinking about whether you should dye your hair at home or spend $150+ at a salon? I’ve done both many times — blonde, brunette, strawberry blonde — and after years of trial and error, the winner is clear.
✅ I prefer dyeing my hair at home — and I consistently get better results than at a salon.
This guide shares:
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Real before & after photos
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The exact toners and dyes I use
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Pros & cons of dyeing hair at home vs. salon
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When you should go to a salon (because sometimes it really is worth it!)
My Natural Hair Color
My natural hair is a dark strawberry blonde — lighter when I was young, darker as I got older. I’ve gone through phases of wanting:
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Bright platinum blonde
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Golden blonde
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Rich brunette with shine
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Dark strawberry blonde again
And after many salon visits and DIY experiments, I can confidently say…
💡 Salon color gave me mediocre results — but at-home hair color gives me brighter, prettier, and more flattering tones.
Even Sun-In made my hair look better than most salon blonde jobs! 😅
Before & After Photos: Salon vs. At-Home Hair Color
Here are a few before and after pics to help you decide!
Wella T18 Toner Results (at home)
✨ I use Wella T18 to get a bright ash blonde finish.
Wella T27 Toner Results (at home)
🥰 T27 gives a warmer, honey-blonde tone.
Sun-In Lightening Spray Results
Shockingly good — especially paired with a blow dryer.
Blonde Salon Results (and why I stopped)
I once paid $200+ for blonde balayage. The result is below:
Brunette Results at Home vs. Salon
And here are pics of me going from blonde to brown at home with John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Treatment vs. paying a lot at a salon!
Salon brunette result:
⚠️ Too dark, muddy, and lifeless.
John Frieda Brilliant Brunette (at home):
😍 Soft, shiny, and dimensional.
View John Frieda Brilliant Brunette
Why I Prefer Dyeing My Hair at Home
1. Better Results (for me!)
The color looks fresh, bright, and exactly how I want it.
2. Huge Money Savings
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Salon color: $150–$300+
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At-home color: $10–$20
3. Faster
Most dye jobs at home take 1–2 hours, vs. 3+ hours at a salon.
4. Less Damaging
Toners & semi-permanent dyes = gentler and glossier hair.
5. Full Control Over Color
You choose:
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The exact shade
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Tone (cool, warm, neutral)
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Brand & formula
6. Easy to Switch Shades
Don’t love it?
Change it in a few weeks — no appointment needed.
7. More Convenient
Perfect for rainy days or late-night color emergencies 😉
When You Should Go to a Salon
At-home color is amazing — but not always the best choice. Go to a salon if:
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✅ You want highlights or balayage
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✅ You’re going more than 3 shades lighter
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✅ You need color correction
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✅ You love the salon pampering experience
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✅ You trust your stylist (gold!)
Otherwise? DIY it.
Pro Tip: If you only want highlights, a salon balayage + toner beats DIY every time.
Best Products for At-Home Hair Dye
| Goal | Product I Recommend |
|---|---|
| Go Blonde Ashy | Wella T18 Toner |
| Warmer Honey Blonde | Wella T27 Toner |
| Gradual Lightening | John Frieda Go Blonder Shampoo |
| Non-Permanent Blonde Boost | Sun-In Spray |
| Rich Shiny Brown | John Frieda Brilliant Brunette |
Alternatives to Dyeing Your Hair
Not sure about dying your hair at home? Here are alternatives to dying your hair.
1. Go pink with L’Oreal
Want something fun? Give the L’Oreal Paris Colorista Semi-Permanent Hair Color a try. It stays on for 4-10 shampoos.
2. Use Sun In to go lighter
I swore by Sun-In for six years. It worked GREAT for me. Whenever I felt like being blonder, I simply sprayed this into my hair and then used a blow-dryer.
A similar product is Sun Bum Blonde. I haven’t used it before, but it’s similar to Sun-In for about twice the price.
3. Use a lightening shampoo to go blonder
If you have a base blonde, use a lightening shampoo that lightens your hair over time.
I used the John Frieda Sheer Blonde shampoo in combination with Sun-In and got great results. See pictures below.
Natural Hair Color (from College)
Results from Sun-In + John Freida Go Blonder Lightening Shampoo
4. Color your hair with Kool-Aid
As a kid, my mom let us dye our hair. Want a cheap trick? Add Kool-Aid to water in the sink, dip your hair in, massage it, and POOF! I had red hair in fourth grade.
5. Henna
You can use henna to dye your hair if you want to go dark. Like REALLY dark. My mom used to do this in college. It works!
6. Wigs
Want a low-risk color change? Wear a wig, like the one below. You can buy quality ones at many cancer centers.
Final Verdict: At-Home Dyeing Wins (for me!)
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Color Accuracy | At Home |
| Price | At Home |
| Time | At Home |
| Best for Highlights | Salon |
| Best for Lightening Dark Hair | Salon |
At-home color = better results for blonde toning and soft brunettes.
But if you want highlights or major lifting? Go to a pro.
FAQs About Dyeing Hair at Home
Is it safe to dye your hair at home?
Yes — especially with toner and semi-permanent dyes.
Can you go blonde from dark at home?
It’s possible, but not recommended unless you’re experienced.
Best blonde toner for orange hair?
Wella T18 or purple toning shampoo.
What’s the easiest at-home hair color for beginners?
Semi-permanent glosses and toners.
