Should I Dye My hair at Home or Go to a Salon? Find Out.

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Deciding between paying $100+ at a salon to dye your hair or doing it at home? Learn why I prefer to dye my hair at home.

My hair is naturally strawberry blonde. A pretty dark strawberry blonde.

When I was 5 years old, I was blonde, but it's gotten darker with age. Now I'm kind of a dark, dark blonde naturally.

I’ve tried dying my hair at home and at a salon. After many tries, the verdict is final: no more hair salons! Dying hair at a salon equals mediocre hair color at best.

The biggest reason is the before and after pictures of going to a salon – versus what I get when I do my hair at home. The hair at home looks better. Even Sun In does a better job at making my hair blonde.

However, if just want to have highlights added to your hair, I recommend going to go to a salon. If you want to color or dye your hair one color, I recommend doing it at home.

Before and After Pictures of Dying Hair Blonde at Home vs. a Salon

Here are a few before and after pics to help you decide!

After Pic of Paying $200 to go Blonde at a Salon

Before and After Pictures of Going Darker at Home vs. a 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!

After Pic of Brown Hair from a Salon (YUCK!!)

After Pic of Going Darker with John Frieda Brilliant Brunette

After Pic of Going Darker at Home with John Frieda Brilliant Brunette

View John Frieda Brilliant Brunette

Benefits of Dying Your Hair at Home – Reasons to Dye Your Hair at Home

Here's why I prefer to dye my hair blonde at home (and go darker at home!).

1. It looks better (in my opinion)

See the before and after pictures below. I like my hair done by me more than by a stylist.

2. It's faster

You can color your hair in less than two hours.

3. Less damaging/can be gentler on your hair

The semi-permanent dyes work great. They are less damaging than permanent color and last more than eight weeks.

4. You get what you want

When shopping for toners or semi-permanent dyes, you can choose the exact color you want.

5. It's cheap

You can do your own color for $10-$20. Much less than any salon visit!

6. It's easy to change

Don’t love the color? Use a semi-permanent color or a toner, and change it up in one or two months.

7. No appointment is needed

No need to make an appointment and plan. Dye your hair whenever you have time. I prefer rainy or cold days. 🙂

8. Convenient

You can color your hair whenever you have 1-2 hours to spare.

When You May Want to Go to a Salon – Reasons It’s Better to Go to a Salon

You may want to go to a salon if any of the following are true.

1. You have time

You have 3-4 hours to spare.

2. You know an amazing stylist

You’ve done your research, and have a stylist recommended by both a friend AND with good online reviews.

3. You want highlights only

You want highlights only. (Hard to do yourself).

4. You want to go significantly lighter in color

If you are changing more than three color levels, it’s likely best to go to a salon. For example, if you are going from a dark brown to a medium blonde, go to a salon.

5. You have the money

If you have the money to spare (at least $150), go ahead and go to a salon.

6. You like your stylist

If you love your stylish, go and see her!

I recently found a GREAT stylist for highlights and a haircut. She's cheaper than a therapist. 🤣

7. You find the experience relaxing

If you like the experience of getting your hair colored and cut, go ahead and do it!

8. You don't want to buy the supplies

You have to buy supplies to color your hair at home.

Don't want to worry about it? Then just go to a salon. It's easier!

9. You don't want to mess up your kitchen sink

Coloring your hair at home can be messy.

10. You want highlights or a balayage

can be a bit tricky to do at home. A balayage or an ombre are pretty hard to do yourself.

Alternatives to Dying Your Hair (at Home or at a Salon)

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)

Cute Blonde with Strawberry Blonde Hair — Strawberry Blonde Hair from College

Results from Sun-In + John Freida Go Blonder Lightening Shampoo

More Creative and Fun Ways to Change Your Hair Color at Home

1. 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.