Everything You Need to Know About At-Home Hair Color

As experts in at-home hair color, we’ve got loads of tips, hacks, and tutorials for achieving every style. Whether you’re new to hair coloring or a seasoned dyer, start your next hair coloring adventure with one of the most comprehensive guides on DIY dye: Everything You Need to Know About At-Home Hair Color. Then explore Garnier’s extensive range of hair coloring lines for every need from all-over color and root touch-ups to highlights, charcoal bleach and total gray coverage. We even help you choose your best shade with our exclusive Shade Selector and Virtual Hair Color Try-On Tool.
Garnier Nutrisse hair color box with contents laid out

Tips for Coloring Hair At Home

  • Be prepared: Gather all your supplies in one place before starting your hair coloring session.
  • Take the test: Before applying any at-home hair dye, always do a 48-hour patch test for allergies.
  • Protect your skin: Use the gloves in the box and rub some petroleum jelly along your hairline. If you get any dye on your face, use Micellar Cleansing Water to remove.

Permanent vs Semi-Permanent Hair Color

Permanent hair color penetrates into the hair's cortex thereby altering its structure and pigment. By contrast, semi-permanent hair color is formulated to only dye the outer layer of your strands, so it gradually fades and washes out. Most DIY dyers prefer the permanent solution because it provides rich lasting color, body, and nourishment – plus it offers 100% gray coverage. Garnier has one of the most extensive ranges of at-home permanent hair color brands and shades for achieving any look and style.

Model with medium skin tone and blue hair holding
Model with dark skin and curly balayage hair

Balayage vs Highlights

It’s easy to confuse balayage hair color with highlights, but there are subtle differences. Standard highlights are when you apply a light shade on a darker base color. They are done with or without foil in straight lines of varying thickness. Balayage is a type of highlights applied in a creative freehand style for a more natural look. Explore your options by choosing the best highlights for your hair or find out how to do balayage at home. Whether you opt for balayage or highlights, get stunning results with Olia Highlights and the Icing Swirl Balayage Kit.

Find Your Garnier Hair Color

Nutrisse Ultra Crème

Garnier Nutrisse Ultra Crème hair color collection

Radiant hair color with the power of fruit oils in a non-drip formula.

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Nutrisse Ultra Color

Garnier Nutrisse Ultra Color hair color collection

Ultra vibrant and fade-resistant color in one step, even on dark hair.

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Olia

Garnier Olia hair color collection

Brilliant ammonia-free hair color formulated with 60% flower oils.

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Olia Highlights

Garnier Olia Highlights hair color collection

Custom nourishing highlights with kaolin clay for silky-soft results.

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Color Retouch

Garnier Color Retouch hair color collection

The 10-minute hair color touchup solution for lasting root coverage.

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Discover Other Hair Color Tips

Gray Coverage

Garnier Gray Coverage Tips and How Tos

Rejuvenate with our pro tips on 100% at-home gray coverage.

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Root Touch-Up

Garnier Root Touch-up Tips and How Tos

Learn to touch up temporary and permanent hair color.

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Shade Selector Quiz

Shade Selector Quiz

Take our quiz to discover the perfect Garnier hair shades for you!

Frequently Asked Questions
  • With all the DIY hair coloring kits available today, you can achieve almost any look you want. While some styles might be more difficult than others, even the most basic can turn meh into wow! The most popular hair coloring technique – and one of the easiest to do at home – is highlights. Read up on all the different types of highlights, including ombre hair color, balayage, lowlights and babylights. Once you’ve chosen a hair coloring technique, find your best shade and DIY dye kit by taking our Shade Selector Quiz. Or instantly test out your future color with the Virtual Try-On Tool.
  • You’re in luck because the formulas for at-home bleaches and lighteners have seriously improved in the last few years. And Garnier has everything you need to lift any hair color many shades of blonde. Take a look at the different kinds of hair bleach and read about the differences between bleach and lightener. They’re both a cinch to do at home so don’t be afraid the take the plunge!

Garnier Commits to Greener Beauty