Many people say they do not have time or maybe the money to get their hair colored at a professional salon. If this is the case and you are going to attempt it at home, I wish you luck and want to give some advice. There are so many different brands and colors to choose from so really take your time and read the packaging to find the one that best suits you. All importantly, if you are covering gray make sure you see 100% gray coverage somewhere on that box. I would recommend selecting a well know brand such as Revlon or Clairol, these brands are linked with professional quality salon products.
If you are changing the color completely, I would suggest buying two boxes for the first application. When changing the color, you need as much product as you can get on every strand because you will be covering your entire head. If you are applying the same color and/or just a root touch-up, one box is plenty.
If it is just a root touch up, for instance you like your hair color but it has grown out, you will need to apply the color on the root only. If the ends look a little faded, take the left over product in the bottle and dilute it with some conditioner and water and run it through the ends for the last 10 minutes of the suggested processing time. This will brighten the color on the ends while making sure not to deposit too much color and have it look drastically different from the rest of your hair.
I of course would always recommend and prefer you go to a professional to get a perfect hair coloring. If that is not possible for whatever reason, give it a shot at home. At home hair colors have come such a long way and are healthier for the hair than ever before and even easier to use – if you must!