Get your work space organized. Make sure you prepare your hair and yourself prior to touching up your roots. Make certain that you have on old clothes that you do not mind getting stained (consider doing like so many others do and keep an old t-shirt just for the day you get your hair dyed.). Next, get a pair of latex disposable gloves. Hair dye will also leave stains on your hands and fingers, so these are an absolute must. Also will make it pretty obvious you have been doing your own roots if your fingers are stained.



Divide your hair into portions. It really is as easy as separating your hair, starting at each ear and making four different sections. Each section is then held in place with pins or elastic. So as not to dye your skin, apply some petroleum jelly to the hair edges.

Get the color ready. Read the box, and depending on the directions, prepare the hair dye mix. Be sure that the color matches your existing dyed hair color.

To begin, touch up your roots. Take a single section, and evenly along the base of the roots of the hair, apply the hair color. Let the colors run together, just enough so as not to see a defined line. Also, ensure that the root color application does not touch your scalp too heavily - you will just end up with a stained scalp. Once you apply the necessary areas with hair dye, use the nozzle tip of the dye bottle, grasping small, 1-inch sections of your hair. To do this in an orderly way, flip the hair and apply dye to all parts moving upwards. Make sure that you use clips to secure each section of the hair as you go along.

Wait for the dye to develop on the hair. When you have applied dye to your dark roots, put the timer on for the suggested amount of time (most of the time it can take anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes). You can cover your hair in a plastic bag and go about your work, as long as the timer is set.

Combing should help dye the roots. When the timer stops, take a comb and bring the color up from the roots. The idea is to make certain that your touch ups are not obvious to anyone. The best way to make sure that you've covered your dark roots is to leave the solution on for a couple of extra minutes.

Hair should then be rinsed thoroughly. The hair can be rinsed soon after the waiting period. In the shower use only tepid water so you don't risk breathing in the hair dye. Make sure that you wash all of the dye out of your hair, rinse it till you notice the water is clear that is going down the drain.

Apply the conditioner that has been provided. Once that is done, use the conditioning treatment that came in the dye package. Pay close attention to the directions that are included. Your hair can then be styled as usual.