Are you wondering how to blend dark roots with blonde hair? Striking the perfect balance can be challenging. That doesn’t necessarily mean you can only get this look with help from a hairdresser. There are some hacks for how to blend dark roots with blonde hair at home that give you look-at-me-hair without the salon chair. Take a look at some simple tips for blending dark roots and blonde hair yourself!
Bleaching isn’t the Only Option for How to Blend Dark Roots With Blonde Hair
It’s tempting to think that reaching for a bottle of bleach will solve all your problems once dark roots begin showing up after a dye job. After all, this is the way that many salon professionals tackle roots. However, the bleach method can be a time-consuming, harsh option that isn’t actually necessary to achieve the look you want. One of the big downsides to bleaching your roots is that you’ll have to do the hard work of color matching your newly dyed roots to the rest of your hair. Let’s also not forget that bleaching can be damaging to hair. The frequency needed to touch up roots means that you’ll probably end up damaging your hair, burning your scalp, and inhaling tons of bleach fumes. That’s why so many people are using the brush method to blend dark roots with blonde hair at home. Here’s what you’ll need:
- A dye bowl
- An application brush
- Protective gloves
- Hair dye
When selecting dye for touching up your roots, the color should be slightly darker than the rest of your hair. You’ll also be using a method that creates a “messy” look that’s more in line with how roots naturally grow. If your application is too perfect, you’ll actually create an odd dividing line that separates the light and dark shades in an obvious way. The goal is to create a blended look.
Step 1: Choose the Right Shade
You can easily find dye kits for touching up roots that are perfect for doing a blending job. Yes, you can also use traditional “box” dye on your roots when blending them with the rest of your hair. However, it’s important to use a little bit of caution. The truth is that some box dyes contain chemicals that can be harsh on your scalp. Do your research to find products that are both gentle and effective when dyeing roots. Next, you can narrow down the right color for blending dark roots with blonde hair.
The default option with blending is to choose a dye color that’s close to your hair’s natural shade. However, this won’t work for everyone. The truth is that your natural shade may be too different from the blonde you currently have in your hair. Going with your natural hair color generally only works if your hair is in a range from a darker blonde to a brown. If your blonde hair is drastically different from your natural shade, the recommendation is to select a color that’s a full two-tones darker than your current shade. Keep in mind that the shade you use to blend now will be the shade you will need to continuously use to touch up your roots as they grow out if you like the results.
Step 2: Get Your Hair Ready
Try to go a few days without washing your hair in preparation for your blending operation. Your hair should be entirely free of products when you dye it. If you allow residue from hair masks, serums, gels, sprays, or dry shampoo to remain, this could actually interfere with the dye’s ability to stick to your hair. Next, make sure that your hair is fully brushed until it is free from all tangles. Many people also like to separate their hair into sections to make it easier to apply color to the roots.
Step 3: Get Your Dye Ready
Avoid one big rookie mistake for dyeing roots by putting the dye in a bowl instead of applying it directly from the tube. The dye should be mixed in a bowl using a brush to avoid any spotting during application. You’ll also have better control over how much dye you’re adding to the brush as you go.
Step 4: Apply the Dye to Your Roots
Once you’re happy with how the dye looks in the bowl, it’s time to start applying the color to your roots. Start by brushing the dye on a section of your hair that serves as a dividing line between your blonde hair and your original color. Use a sweeping motion to apply the color going toward the roots in the direction moving closer toward the blonde part. The best part about using the blending technique instead of trying to bleach your roots is that there’s no need to be overly precise and meticulous. In fact, you should avoid creating any straight lines that are going to have an artificial effect. Feel free to make irregular, natural-looking lines that “blend” the existing line between your blonde hair and darker hair. The final product will only look as good as your ability to create irregular lines that create a truly blended, melted look between the two colors. The only requirement is that you stay consistent with your blending technique while doing every part of your roots.
Step 5: Allow the Color to Sit
Set a timer if you need to! It’s very important to follow the directions that are included with the hair dye you select for blending your roots. Most brands will recommend keeping the dye sitting in your hair for 30 to 60 minutes. You’ll then be instructed to rinse the dye from your hair.
Step 6: Rinse Your Hair
It’s important to be thorough when rinsing dye from your hair. While you may fear that you’re “washing away” the color, the reality is that dye is designed to be completely rinsed from the hair. If you’ve kept the dye on your hair for the recommended amount of time, it’s already done its job. Of course, you should be gentle when rinsing your hair. Generally, cool to lukewarm water will be recommended during the rinsing process. Yes, it’s also fine to use shampoo and conditioner at this stage. Using shampoo and conditioner made specifically to protect and preserve dyed hair is smart!
Step 7: Dry Your Hair
While most stylists will use a hair dryer following a root job to create a dramatic final effect, there’s no rule that says you have to do this. However, you should use a low heat setting if you’ll be using a hair dryer to dry your hair after blending your roots.
The Natural Option: What’s the Best Way to Blend Dark Roots With Blonde Hair Naturally Without Dye?
The truth is that there’s simply no way to touch up your roots in a dramatic way without using hair dye. That doesn’t mean that little hacks don’t exist for touching up your roots naturally. One way to touch up your roots in a subtle way is to add some lemon juice to your shampoo and conditioner. Some people also swear by apple cider vinegar for lightening roots. While most people add lemon and apple cider vinegar while washing their hair, you can also consider creating a mask that sits on your hair before being rinsed out. Adding baking soda and lemon to form a paste that can be applied to your hair is one of the easiest “natural hacks” for dyeing roots.
Final Thoughts on How to Blend Dark Roots With Blonde Hair
One of the reasons why learning how to blend dark roots with blonde hair at home is such an attractive option is that keeping your roots in shape is a never-ending battle. How long can you expect your newly blended roots to last after using the technique covered above? Your newly blended roots should last between four and six weeks. You may be able to stretch your new look out to seven to eight weeks if you wash your hair very infrequently. Unfortunately, there’s no escaping the need to frequently fix your roots. Even using the bleach method can’t help you. Yes, you’ll be back to bleaching every three to six weeks even if you choose to bleach your roots instead of blending them. The beauty of blending is that you can simply leave the rest of your hair alone without exposing it to harsh bleach every few weeks.
The big takeaway is that a beautiful blending job always begins with a quality dye product. You also want to focus on using a natural, irregular blending technique that works with your existing color lines instead of creating a rigid, artificial line of demarcation between light and dark hair. The end result is a fresh, modern look that allows your roots to blend in instead of calling attention to the fact that your hair has some color variation.