YOUR HAIR AT HOME

YOU'LL NEED:

• Shampoo and conditioner
• Hair elastic
• Round brush
• Heat protecting product
• Hair dryer
• Shine spray 

Spray tissue with hairspray and run it over the top of your head to get rid of any little fly aways.

1. Start by using the right shampoo and conditioner for your hair type. Towel dry hair thoroughly by rubbing your head lightly. Try not to twist your hair to remove excess water as this can damage it. 
2. Spray hair with a heat-protecting spray, concentrating on the length of your hair, away from the root. Brush the product and make your usual parting. Separate the top half section of your hair and pull it into a bun. Secure it with an elastic to keep it out of the way.
   
3. Using a wide-barrelled brush and hair dryer, dry 5 cm pieces of hair at a time. Starting from the root, point the hot air in the direction of growth from root to tip. To add bounce to your locks you can roll the hair around the brush as you dry it. Repeat this throughout bottom section of hair. 
4. When the bottom section is done, let the top section down and use the same drying process again, with 5 cm pieces. Try to avoid re-drying hair from the bottom section. When your hair is dry, run your fingers lightly through it. Mist with shine spray and voila, sleek hair done in the comfort of your home.
   

CHOOSE YOUR TONG

These days you're not short on options of what tong to buy, so how do you know which one is right for you? Well, if you can wrap the length of your hair around its barrel at least two and a half times, it's the one for you.

1. Shampoo and condition your hair and gently towel dry. Apply a light mousse that will help to create movement and volume. Blast your locks with a hairdryer. Make sure that the hair around your hairline is smooth.
   
2. Now, separate your hair into four sections starting from the top of your head, working down. Let out 5 cm lengths of hair at a time, starting at the nape of your neck. Any tangles must be brushed out before you start using the tongs.
   
3. Grab your tongs, wrap the section of hair around it once and roll the tongs upwards towards your head. Hold the hair in the tong for three to four seconds, then gently unwind the hair from the tongs.
   
4. Spray each section with hairspray after you've curled it. Repeat this process from the nape, working your way up to the top of your head.
   

DIY RULE ONE:

Don't look for extreme changes when colouring hair at home. Stay close to your natural colour and choose a hue that is one shade lighter than you think you are naturally. That way, if you make mistake, you can fix it by going darker much easier than taking a dark colour lighter.

DIY RULE TWO:

Make sure your hair is healthy to begin with. The end result will look much better an healthy hair. If your hair is porous or damaged, then feed it with conditioning products.

DIY RULE THREE:

Know what product to use on your hair and choose a quality brand. You're young and will have no grey hair that you want to cover, so a semi permanent colour is probably best.

DIY RULE FOUR:

Always make sure to match your colour to your skin tone. If you have a complexion that tends towards redness, avoid red shades, as they will enhance the redness of your skin. Stick with cool or ash  tones of blonde or brown. Pale and olive skin tones can go for warm red or gold tones, as they will warm up the colour in your skin. If you have dark eyes, don't go too light with your colour, as it will make eyes look much darker.

DIY RULE FIVE:

Always read the instructions on the box and follow them exactly. Leave the product on for the exact time specified and not a second longer, or less.

DIY RULE SIX:

After you've coloured, always use the shampoo and conditioner provided in the pack. They're special formulas to help maintain your colour and keep it fresh for longer. Invest in special colour care products too.

The formula you choose will be determined by the type of shade you're after. Here's pick of the best DIY hair colour formulas:

GLOSS YOUR LOCKS

If your hair is looking a little lifeless, try a semi permanent gloss. These are designed to amp up shine and intensify the colour pigment in your hair. Glosses are great for when your hair is looking dull, or when you can't get to the colourist for refreshment foils. The only downside is your colour will wash out in a few washes rather than grow out, as it the case with permanent colour.

SEMI - PERMANENT SHINE

Semi permanent shades help to re condition your hair while intensifying colour pigment and vibrancy. They usually last up to eight washes, so you may need to apply them once a month.

PERMANENT

For a more longer lasting hue choose a permanent shade. Make sure you choose the right shade because permanents don't rinse out, instead you'll have to wait for your hair to grow out.

WHAT IF I MAKE A MISTAKE?

If you've followed the golden rules above and you still make a mistake, you should be able to fix it. If you found you're too light, you can then apply a darker colour. If you're too red, you can take a natural or ash colour from the same range. If you think you're too dark, go straight to a salon to fix it.