Diy-Dye Made Easy

Be your own colourist with the next generation of at-home formulas – and a little help from the salon pros.

- Jess Beech

Whilst a drastic colour change is best left to the professionals, tweaking and maintaining colour at home has never been easier. Gone are harsh block colour, straw-dry hair and telltale dye stains around your ears. With our expert-approved guide, creating a glossy, multi-tonal mane at home is a cinch.

How to… LIGHTEN UP

✢ Few high-street highlight kits boast rave reviews for the simple reason that hairdressers train for years to master this technique. But if you’re short on the time and money needed for a new set of highlights or want to maintain them at home, let us guide you in the direction of eSalon. Holding your hand through the process, the online service asks you to fill in a profile, upload a photo and speak with a professional colourist before delivering your customised colour blend, complete with step-by-step instructions and access to online application tutorials. Their Light Set, £33, is inspired by balayage, mimicking the way the sun naturally lightens hair. It caters for all shades from light blonde to dark brunette. And pro guidance means you won’t need to worry about over-bleaching (the most common cause of snapped, stressed locks), as they understand achieving your ‘goal’ shade without breakage is a marathon, not a sprint.

How to… TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT