You’ve decided to take the plunge and dye your hair. Awesome choice! But before you get on with changing your hair color, it’s important to consider the costs associated with it.
And how much does it cost to dye your hair, you ask? Well, it depends on a number of factors, so we can’t really give you an exact figure. That being said, most people in the US end up spending around $80 to color their hair.
In general, hair coloring can cost as little as $30 and go all the way up to more than $300. That’s a huge difference, right? So, what gives? Well, that’s because it’s much cheaper to color your hair yourself at home than have a colorist do it for you at a salon.
The cost also varies from salon to salon. Some salons charge much higher than the others. It also depends on the process, the length of your hair, and the technique used. There are a lot of things at play here, right?
Don’t worry — we’ll discuss everything in detail. Without further ado, let’s get started.
How Much Does It Cost To Dye Your Hair At Home?
If you plan on taking the DIY approach, you’ll definitely save a lot of money. On average, coloring your hair at home can cost somewhere around $40 to $50. That’s taking into account the cost of a bleaching kit, a hair dye kit, and a toner kit.
At-home hair dyes can set you back around $5 to $35 depending on the brand you choose. If you want to save money, you can go with quality drugstore brands such as Clairol as they cost very little and deliver promising results.
The cost of hair bleaching kits usually ranges from $7 to $30. This also varies from brand to brand. Of course, you’ll save this money if you’re not going to bleach your tresses before coloring them.
Finally, you’re also gonna need a toner. A toner removes brassiness from your hair and keeps the color healthy, shiny, vibrant, and beautiful. You’ll pay somewhere between $10 and $30 for a toner. However, some brands can cost more than that.
Now, $40 is what an average person spends on coloring their hair at home. Depending on your needs and the brands you choose, you may end up spending less or even more than that.
How Much Does It Cost To Dye Your Hair At A Salon?
Typically, salons charge around $60 to $70 for a single process hair color. What’s a single process hair color anyway? Well, it’s a coloring process that can be done in just one step. Please note that this is just the average cost.
Some high-end salons can charge upwards of $100 for single process hair color while there are also chain salons where you can get the job done for as little as $40.
For a double process hair color, the cost is usually higher. It’s used when you have dark hair and you’re shooting for a lighter color. So, the colorist will have to lighten your hair first and then they apply the new color.
And the extra step and product add up to the total cost. On average, double-process can cost you anywhere from $90 to $175+.
Again, this will depend on the location, length of your hair, and the salon. And you may end up paying more or less depending upon the factors we discussed above.
For root touch-ups, the total cost is even lower. You can get the job done for as little as $30. But it can go up to $60.
And if you’re lusting after complex hair coloring trends such as balayage and babylights, expect to pay upwards of $110 because it’s a double process and requires a skillful stylist.
Also Read: How Much Does It Cost To Bleach Your Hair?
How Long Does It Take To Dye Your Hair?
So, now we know how much it takes to color your hair. The next question is: how long does it take to dye your hair? Before we answer that, it’s important to understand why you’re coloring your hair in the first place.
Each hair dye job has a different objective. For example, you’re coloring your hair because you want to hide your grays. Or it could be that you want to try a new hair color because you like experimenting. Or maybe you want to add dimension to your hair.
Now, the time it takes depends upon the nature of the job. If you want a complete color change, then the stylist may have to bleach your hair first. And bleaching alone can take up to 90 minutes considering there’s a preparation phase involved as well.
After bleaching, the colorist will apply the new color. And again, there’s preparation time and processing time that you have to take into account. In short, you can expect to spend 3 or more hours at a salon if you’re looking for a complete color change.
If there’s no bleaching involved, then the total time it takes will reduce to a great extent.
Similarly, adding simple highlights can be done in 40 to 50 minutes, but if you’re looking for balayage, you can expect to spend up to 3 hours.
If you’re coloring your hair at home, you’ll probably spend less time but the end result may not be what you were expecting. Sure, if you know what you’re doing, then you can color your hair at home, no problem. That’ll save both time and money.
Conclusion
Okay, so the cost of getting your hair colored can vary a lot. And it can also take a lot of time. But it’s totally worth it. If you’re all about saving money, then you can choose to color your hair at home.
If you don’t have much experience, then heading to a salon would be your best bet. But keep in mind, salon visits can cost a lot of money.
Where do you plan to color your hair? Do let us know in the comments below.
Also Read: How Long Should You Wait To Bleach Your Hair Again?
