AF Blog — Pro Tips

Bleached hair is the ultimate canvas for creating literally whatever the f*** you want. Split dyes? Money pieces? Dreamy pastels? Bleach, Please can do it all! And YES, she’s totally DIY friendly! 💅

We’ve come prepared with not only 5 ways to bleach your hair yourself, but also some tips for using Bleach, Please, to provide you with the easiest DIY experience at home. Prior to bleaching, there’s just a couple of things to ask yourself. 

How does bleaching work?

And what is the goal I’m trying to achieve with bleaching?

So let’s talk about it! 💖

How does bleaching work? 👱‍♀️

Essentially, bleach has one job and that’s to open the hair cuticle and dissolve any color from the hair. We’ve formulated Bleach, Please to be as gentle as possible - but at the end of the day, all bleach has the potential to cause damage since it opens up the hair cuticle, which can leave hair feeling dry or rough. Keep this in mind and take care of your hair both before AND after you bleach it! Every Bleach, Please kit comes with full instructions, but the basics of bleaching will always apply. Prior to bleaching, you'll want to give your hair PLENTY of TLC and conditioning! For step by step instructions + before/after care, head over to our blog on How to Bleach Your Hair Using Bleach, Please!

What is the goal I’m trying to achieve with bleaching? 👀

Maybe you’re trying to go for a pop of color, an all over bleach, a root touch up or just something fun and unique, we want you to feel confident in doing so! With that, let’s jump into the 5 ways to bleach your hair at home, like a pro! 

1. Prepping for Pastels 💓

@cheylist in Virgin Pink and Arctic Mist Diluter

No matter your hair level (brunette OR blondes), you’re going to need to bleach your hair to a level 10 in order for pastel hair dye to show up the most vividly. Make sure you’re in a well-ventilated room when you’re applying the bleach, and always wear gloves to protect your hands 🤚 All of your hair should be fully saturated for an even lift, and you’ll want to work as quickly as you can to ensure it all lightens to the same level! We also recommend that you stay ⅛ of an inch away from your scalp when using Bleach, Please for best results and to prevent any possible irritation. 

Since this is an all-over bleach job, we suggest sectioning your hair however is most efficient for you! Need to use mirrors to see the back of your head? DO IT!🪞Just be certain to save the roots for last as they tend to lift the fastest and should be applied AFTER you’ve applied the bleach to the ends of the hair already. Be sure to also check your hair every 5 minutes to avoid over processing ⏳

✨ AF Pro Tip: You don’t want to let the bleach sit any longer than 45 minutes regardless of the level of lift, to prevent any serious damage from occurring. Bleach, Please is formulated with some of the best ingredients to prevent damage but remember… it’s still bleach, bestie!

After bleaching, be sure to take note that your hair may have a yellow hue to it and may need to be toned before applying color or else you may not achieve the pastel shade you’re going for. As your bestie, we can’t allow that to happen! Sooo here is how to create a DIY toner using Periwinkle + Arctic Mist 💛⏩🤍

After you’ve rinsed the bleach out, allow the hair to dry 65% of the way. While your hair is still damp, mix a few drops of Periwinkle in a bowl of Arctic Mist Diluter, apply this mixture on your hair, let sit for 45 minutes, and rinse. From there, you’re all set to color your hair with the perfect pastel… Just in time for Spring! 🌸🌿🫧

@mystiquemadeline in Frosé

2. Money Pieces 💰🤑

@glittersailor in Sunset Orange

Looking for a low maintenance way to achieve a pop of color? 💥 Money Pieces are the first thing that comes to be mind because of how easy and it is to do with Bleach, Please plus it’s pretty low commitment! 

All you need to do in order to achieve the perfect money piece at home is evenly separate your face-framing pieces of hair from the front and section them off. Once you’ve got this section secure, tie the rest of your hair back! 

From here, simply follow the directions included in each Bleach, Please Kit to lighten those front pieces! Apply a stunning color over it and you just created a work of art! 😍

@lizblendz in Purple AF, Virgin Pink, Arctic Mist Diluter

Pssst… You can also do just your bangs using the same method! 👇

@__panterra_yoga__ in Cosmic Sunshine and Sunset Orange

3. Root Touch Up 🖌️

If you just wanted to touch up your pastel or you’re going for a Billie Eilish vibe with vivid dyed roots, we got you! 

@caitlyn_calupad in Poison

It’s good to know that we have generally thicker hair in the back of the head and thin and more delicate hair in the front, causing the back of the head to take a tad longer to lighten. 

To best approach this, we recommend separating the hair into 2 different sections… The front face-framing pieces and the back of your head. However, if you’re just looking for color on the top of the head and not necessarily all of your roots, you’d just section off that spot and work at the roots where you’d like to apply the color 🥰

For all-over root bleaching, the steps are as follows: 

Starting with the back of your head, you’ll want to clip the majority of your hair up and leave only the very bottom pieces of the hair in the back. Using a dye brush, you’ll apply the bleach to just the roots and continue working your way all the way up the back of your head, until the upper and under sides of each section have been covered in the bleach mixture ☑️

🏃‍♀️ Quickly and steadily, you’ll now proceed with the front face-framing section that we had separated earlier. Cover all of the roots until you’ve coated them in bleach and as mentioned before, check on your roots every 5 minutes to be certain you don’t leave the bleach on any longer than necessary. Rinse … and you’re ready to go in with your favorite pastel or even bold red! The world is your oyster, babe! 🌈

 4. Split Dye 🧑‍🎤👩‍🎤

One of the easiest methods to bleach + dye your hair and one of our personal favorites… the split dye! 🤩 I’m sure you’re thinking that you’re just going to section the hair into 2 sections based on where the split dye is going to be (down the middle, split dye on the bangs, horizontally, etc) and you’re absolutely right! … See! You’re a DIY pro already 😜

Section the hair, follow the instructions provided and save the roots for last. We even love to see one side of the split left uncolored and only bleached. Yep, that’s it! Now for the fun part… the inspo! 

✨ AF Pro Tip: You can even just bleach one half of your hair and leave the other half your natural color. This look is such a stylish yet effective way to add some color to your hair and still give the illusion of a multi-colored look!

@hadar_kawaii_hair in Violet Dream, Poseidon, Aquamarine, Neon Moon, Iris Green

@jeks951_ in Poseidon, Blue Jean Baby

@selinamirza in Electric Paradise, Virgin Pink, Space Cowgirl 

@neg4tive_creep in Electric Paradise, Sunset Orange, and Virgin Pink

5. Bleach Bath

This method is actually most commonly used to remove a stubborn hair color but this also can help you achieve a blank canvas yet again, to pursue your new hue 😘

What you’ll need: 

- Water

- Dandruff shampoo

- Bleach, Please Kit

To start, you’ll want to first attempt a color remover meant for semi-permanent color. If there is still color remaining, go ahead and get started with your bleach bath. Mixing your bleach and developer first, you’ll add in one good squeeze of anti dandruff shampoo (can be a cheap dollar store shampoo or whatever you can get your hands on) and then add in about ⅓ a cup of water or until the mixture appears smooth and not too runny. 

Applying this mixture to the middle and ends of your hair (avoiding the scalp and roots completely) go ahead and cover only the color-treated hair and let it sit for no more than 5-7 minutes before you rinse. While you’re rinsing, we recommend using a purple shampoo to tone the hair at the same time. This gives you an even outcome and a perfect canvas to begin your new masterpiece! 

@stjohnnnn in Bleach, Please

Now that we’ve gone over 5 ways you can bleach your hair at home using our Bleach, Please Lightening Kit, which one will you be trying? Whichever you choose, be sure to tag us! 🤳

Need more inspo pics before making a decision? Check out our Instagram for endless amounts of inspiration! And of course, if you ever have any questions or need help mixing up the perfect custom shade, send us an email at support@arcticfoxusa.com. We’re always here to help 🫶 

 Happy coloring, Fox Fam! 🎨 

Ever wondered what the deal is with "hair levels"? Like, how do you even figure out what level your hair is on? It might seem a bit puzzling, but it's just a fancy way of saying how light or dark your hair is. Knowing your level can really help level up your dye game 🌈✨

Let's break it down!  Each hair level corresponds to a different shade:

1: Dark black 🖤

2: Black 🕶️

3: Deep dark brown ☕

4: Dark brown 🍫

5: Medium brown 🍂

6: Light brown 🌰

7: Dark blonde 🍯

8: Medium blonde 🌼

9: Light blonde 🌟

10+ and above: Platinum blonde to platinum white ❄️

Levels 1-5

These are the darker shades in town. Level 1 is like the deepest, darkest black you can imagine, no brown in sight! Semi-permanent hair colors won't even make a dent on level 1 hair because it's just too dark for any pigment to show through. As you climb up the levels, your hair gets lighter, with level 5 hitting those medium to lighter brown hues. If your hair falls in this range, opt for darker, more pigmented colors like Purple AF, Wrath, or Aquamarine hair dyes for that rich hue! 💜💥

Purple AF hair dye on light brown 

Levels 6-7

Now we're stepping into that light brown/dark blonde zone. Most of our deeper and highly pigmented colors work like a charm on hair at levels 6 and 7, giving you a shade or two darker than they would on a pre-lightened base. Get ready to rock shades like Violet Dream (my current favorite purple hair dye right now!), Sunset Orange, Phantom Green, Poison, and Ginger Flare hair dye for those bold vibes! 🌈🔥

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A post shared by REMM! (@remmiegustaa)

Level 8

If you're sitting pretty at level 8, you're in that sweet spot where Arctic Fox semi-permanent hair colors really come to life! Most of our AF hair dyes will pop vibrantly on a level 8 base, so go ahead and experiment with Electric Paradise - our UV reactive electric pink hair dye, or Iris Green - the *perfect* grassy green shade, for some serious wow factor! 🎨💚 

Level 9

Not quite platinum, but still light enough to show off vibrancy, level 9 hair can handle almost any semi-permanent color. Think Porange (pink-orange and UV reactive hair color), Cosmic Sunshine (our true yellow hair dye), or Neon Moon (the most electric yellow UV hair shade you could imagine!)  for those radiant looks! Just be mindful of those yellow tones in blonde hair – they can give lighter blue shades a greenish tinge. Combat that with a touch of Purple AF, since purple cancels out yellow tones to add some balance! 💛💙

Cosmic Sunshine hair dye on Level 9

Level 10 + above

Welcome to the land of platinum blonde! With almost no yellow tones to worry about, you can rock any color under the sun! Have fun and play around with some Arctic Mist Diluter, and see how some of your favorite colors look as pastels. Pastel hair colors shine brightest on a level 10 base or lighter, so feel free to mix and match those shades to create your own unique style! Whether it's Poseidon, Periwinkle, or Sterling, your hair is gonna be poppin'! 🌈✨

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A post shared by 🌱Alyssa Nicole🌱 (@alyssa.nicoleyt)

Natural Blonde Hair?

If you're blessed with naturally blonde locks, figuring out how semi permanent hair colors will turn out is a bit trickier. Bleached hair tends to hold onto pigment better, so unbleached hair might need a little extra love to achieve those vibrant results. Stick to darker and highly pigmented colors like Purple AF, Aquamarine, and Wrath hair colors. For the best outcome, always do some test strands first! 💁‍♀️💖

Natural Red Hair?

GINGER FLARE GINGER FLARE GINGER FLARE! Ginger Flare dye on a natural redhead is STUNNING! It enhances your already enchanting locks, and takes your red hair to the next level. When in doubt, flare it out! If you want to try some new colors, use the color wheel to find colors that will compliment your red hair, like Purple AF. Avoid green hair dye or colors opposite of your specific shade of red. Always do a strand test to see how your red hair reacts to our semi-permanent dyes. But for real - why are you waiting to try Ginger Flare!

https://www.tiktok.com/@angelboobz/video/7231982665635859755?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

How Light Can You Go?

Listen up, folks – take it slow with the lightning process! Going from dark to light takes time and patience, so don't rush it. Gradually lighten your hair using quality products to keep it healthy and happy, starting with the crowd pleaser Bleach, Please. Don’t forget the pre-bleach and post bleach hair care, like Money Hunny hair repair serum, Resurrected shampoo and conditioner, and a luscious hair care mask like Pool Party (you and your hair deserve a little treat!). Don’t forget to protect your bleach hair from the sun with OG Hair Perfume and UV protectant.  And if you're ever feeling unsure, shoot us an email at support@arcticfoxusa.com or consult a pro stylist. Your hair deserves the royal treatment! 💇‍♀️💕

@norelle.k in Bleach, Please

Thinking about bleaching that hair? 👀 We’re about to dive into our essential guide for using AF’s At-Home Bleaching Kit: Bleach, Please! Since launching, Bleach, Please has become a staple in the Arctic Fox Hair Color Line with our 100% vegan and cruelty formula. And YES she’s totally DIY friendly. Let’s answer some FAQs and give all the newbies and Fox Fam veterans the best tips to achieve the platinum hair of your dreams!  

So, What in the AF is Bleach, Please?

Bleach, Please is a complete hair lightening kit that comes with a 3 oz tube of violet-toned cream bleach, a 6 oz bottle of 35-volume developer, and latex-free gloves. Like all other Arctic Fox and Foxology products, our best-selling Bleach Kit is 100% vegan and 100% cruelty-free. As far as bleach goes, our 35-volume developer is pretty high which means you can see up to 8 levels of lift! A perfect starting point if you’re looking for pastels this spring. 

Bleach, Please is also supplemented with tons of ingredients to help protect and repair your hair, such as Polycare® Split Therapy which helps prevent split ends. Other key ingredients include açaí, papaya fruit extract, castor oil, mango seed butter, cocoa seed butter, sunflower seed oil, and arginine. Unlike other bleach kits, we formulated Bleach, Please with key ingredients like açaí, papaya extract, mango seed butter, and cocoa seed butter to help prevent hair loss, reduce inflammation, and improve circulation. Castor oil is renowned for promoting hair growth, as well as improving the health of your hair by boosting keratin production. Sunflower seed oil keeps the locks hydrated, and arginine is an essential amino acid responsible for stimulating hair growth. All these ingredients work together to keep your hair as healthy and happy as possible, all while getting you to a clean, light base (and canvas for the most vibrant colors).

Quick tip before you bleach: Make sure you’ve got our custom bowls and brushes to mix up the bleach and developer. If not, any applicator brush and non-metal bowl should do the trick! 

Before you bleach!

We’ve formulated Bleach, Please to be as gentle as possible - but at the end of the day, all bleach has the potential to cause damage since it opens up the hair cuticle to remove pigment from the strand, which can leave hair feeling dry or rough. Keep this in mind and take care of your hair both before AND after you bleach it! Every Bleach, Please kit comes with full instructions, but the basics of bleaching will always apply. Always perform a strand test and a patch test prior to application to ensure you don’t have any kind of allergic reaction to the product!!

Leading up to bleaching you'll want to give your hair plenty of TLC and conditioning to give it the healthiest starting point!

How to Do It Yourself: Bleaching Your Hair at Home

Let’s break this down into steps, shall we!? 

1. Take all the Safety Precautions 

Make sure you’re in a well-ventilated room when you’re applying the bleach, and always wear gloves to protect your hands. Your hair should be fully saturated for an even lift, and you’ll want to work as quickly as you can to ensure it all lightens to the same level! 

1. Avoid Your Roots 

Our developer is so high that we recommend avoiding your roots when using Bleach, Please. Start ⅛ of an inch away from your roots for best results! 

1. Check and Rinse! 

Check your hair every 5 minutes or so to monitor the lightening progress and rinse the bleach out completely within 30-45 minutes. You don’t want to let the bleach sit any longer than 45 minutes regardless of the level of lift to prevent any serious damage from occurring. Bleach, Please is formulated with some of the best ingredients to prevent damage but remember… it’s still bleach. 

With our 35 Volume developer your hair can lift 3-4 shades per session! The darker your natural hair level, the more pigment it packs, meaning it might need a bit more sessions to lighten up, so be patient! Make sure to space out the processes at least a week apart - this will allow the natural oils in your hair to build back up and help protect it during the lightening process. The road to platinum is a marathon, not a sprint! 

✨AF Pro Tip✨ We only recommend using Bleach, Please on un-dyed hair, and it shouldn’t be used to try and remove dye from the hair, whether Arctic Fox Hair Color or others - doing so can cause unexpected color results or permanent staining of the hair! If you do need to remove color, please use a color remover formulated for the type of hair color in your hair! 

After care!

Bleach, Please makes the process simple, but lightening your hair at home can get tricky! If after using Bleach, Please, your hair turned out brassy or uneven, there are steps you can take to color correct. 

A little bit of brassiness won’t affect most Arctic Fox colors applied on top, especially if you’re using a darker or more highly pigmented color. But if you do want a light, cool-toned blonde, a toner will help remove any unwanted brassy tones! You can get a light toning effect on brassy hair by using Periwinkle or Girl’s Night, or a VERY diluted Purple AF, either applied alone or added to your shampoo and conditioner like a purple shampoo! 

An uneven lift can be trickier to troubleshoot, though, especially if you’ve got a significant difference in color. There are many different reasons that your hair might have lifted unevenly - so here’s some Q’s to take into consideration!

• Had some parts of your hair already been lightened while others were natural? 
• Could there have been any lingering pigment in your hair from a previous color, particularly a permanent dye? 
• Did some parts of your hair process under the bleach longer than others? 
• Sometimes just going back over the darkest parts of your hair for a shorter processing time after a few days will do the trick to even everything out, but if there’s a major difference or you’re not sure where the unevenness is coming from, consulting a professional for color correction is the safest bet. The health of your hair is always worth it!

Other Uses for Bleach, Please

Bleach Baths 

Arctic Fox Hair Colors are known for their customizability, but bleach is different and can’t really be customized the way dyes can. But you can still use the kit for more than just all-over lighting! You can use Bleach, Please as part of a bleach bath by adding shampoo to your mix. A bleach bath is a bit gentler than a full on bleaching session, so if you’re afraid to go full force, this might be the way to get started! 

Tone, Tone, Tone! 

If the provided 35-volume developer is a bit strong for your hair type, you can cut it with a lower-volume developer or substitute it entirely for a different developer while keeping our violet-based cream bleach for that extra toning effect. Just make sure the 2:1 ratio of developer to bleach stays the same to ensure you get the most effective lightening possible!

The Best AF Hair Dyes for Bleached Hair

So what AF shades are best to use after bleaching? Look no further than our pastel hair dyes of the AF rainbow! From pastel purples, pink, green, yellow, and orange, these hair dyes STUN on a bleached base. Because pastel hair dye is so light, the pigment will not show up on hair levels 1-6. Your best bet for pastels is to start at 9 close to 10 hair level for that true pastel shade. And when you nail it, OMG, does it look pretty!

@chris0712 in Frosé

@colorgeek__maureennaudts in Periwinkle, Neverland, and Aquamarine

@tejamaechele in Electric Paradise over Periwinkle

@salemmooncosmetics in Iris Green and Neverland    

You can always opt for another darker shade after bleaching, but most darker hues don’t require a lightening process. Although, darker shades will still show up very pigmented on lightened hair. It all depends on the look you’re going for!

@paintedbyzach Purple AF

We can’t wait to hear what you think of Bleach, Please, Fox Fam! Let us know when you give it a try, and of course, feel free to reach out to us via email at support@arcticfoxusa.com if you have any questions or concerns. We’re always happy to help!

@Hairwaytoheavennn in Poison and Phantom Green

1. Winter Wonderland Blues ❄️☃️ and Holiday Greens 🎄 for Your Hair

Embrace the winter wonderland with our rich blues like Poseidon and jewel-toned greens like Phantom Green. Create a mesmerizing teal by mixing Poseidon and Aquamarine, perfect for capturing the essence of the season. Consider balayage or ombre techniques using different shades of blues turning your locks into a captivating icy landscape, or create dimension with a green color melt, Iris Green melted into Phantom Green with some red hair accessories!? It’s giving Christmas tree🎄. If you want to really make a statement, try mixing some Space Cowgirl with a little Ginger Flare to get the perfect ‘Grinch’ Green. If you want to keep your signature blue but make it more festive, try styling your hair with holiday accessories, like @xomerlissa does here:

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A post shared by Melissa Ann (@xomerlissa)

@xomerlissa’s styles are always a sleigh! 🛷

@Sighmmaya used Periwinkle and Poseidon for this wintery balayage

2. Ice Queen Blonde Mix: Achieve Frosty Royalty  👑

Channel your inner ice queen ❄️👸 with a frosty blonde mix. Lighten your hair with Bleach, Please - which is perfect for a wintery blonde on its own - or add a dab of Periwinkle after you’ve rinsed your bleach to tone it to be the perfect icy-toned blonde. This ethereal shade is perfect for those who want to stand out while embracing the winter chill 🥶.

3. Radiant Reds: Ignite the Night with Fire Hair 🔥 

Make a bold statement with radiant reds, capturing the warmth of the holiday season. Our Poison and Wrath shades are ideal for a fiery, festive look, no custom mixing required. Experiment with placement techniques like highlights or peekaboos, adding a touch of drama to your holiday hairstyle. I love a Ginger Flare and Violet Dream blend for the perfect cranberry hair color that looks great on multiple hair levels. It's the perfect way to have festive hair without needing to bleach.

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A post shared by Arctic Fox Hair Color (@arcticfoxhaircolor)

If you want to take it one step further, a spicy split dye with a custom ginger mix with Ginger Flare and a drop of Purple AF on one side, and the other side dyed with Phantom Green. The ultimate holiday mix! Two-toned hair is one of my favorite ways to stand out, especially something as bold as a green and red hair combo.

@Hairwaytoheavennn used Poison and Phantom Green for this two-toned Christmas look.

4. Sterling Winter Magic: A Metallic Touch for Winter Hair ❄️☃️

Sterling silver isn't just for jewelry; it's also a stunning hair color choice for winter. Showcase the versatility of Sterling with different color placements. Whether it's an all-over silver hue, strategically placed highlights, or a custom silver mix, Sterling adds a touch of elegance to almost any winter look. Mix 50/50 Sterling and Periwinkle for a stormy winter’s night vibe 🌨️. 

Equal parts Sterling and Periwinkle

Or if you think you might be on the naughty list, Blue Jean Baby and Sterling creates a smokey-toned dark blue, making your hair resemble the coal you’ll be getting in your stocking this year.

Base of Sterling with Blue Jean Baby

5. Foxology Finishes: Polishing Your Festive Look 💅🎅🎁🕎

Let's talk about the finishing touches that can take your holiday look from ‘deck the halls’ to completely decked out! Our Foxology line offers a range of polishes that add the perfect finishing touch. Highlight your icy blonde with Snowflake it til you Make It or add a pop of color to your red locks with Crimson Claus. Or, be especially bold and do a holiday nail design like Sigourney Nuñez did with this adorable holiday wrapping-paper inspired look:

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A post shared by Sigourney Nuñez (@nailartbysig)

Sigourney used: 

✨Goldie Fox

☃️Foxy the Snowman

🎄Perfectly Pine

🎅🏽Crimson Claus 

💚Phantom Green

To create these holiday plaid nails!

Foxology’s Polish line is honestly the best nail polish I have ever used. When I am feeling fancy and want a more elegant design, I will take it with me when I get my nails professionally done - because it lasts SO much longer than most nail polish AND truly doesn’t chip (plus it’s free of 15 common harsh chemicals and vegan, which most professional polish is not!). It’s also a quick-drying polish, unlike other traditional nail polish. If you are anything like me, I always ruin at least one nail every time I am waiting for my nails to fully dry (why does it take forever!?!), but never with Foxology! The brushes are also designed in a way that I can actually paint my nails at home and not get polish on my fingers. I was so excited for this collection to launch and it did not disappoint. I dare you to really stand out this season with a holiday-look, head to toe!

This holiday season, let your hair steal the spotlight. With Arctic Fox Hair Color's bold and vibrant shades, you can start your own holiday hair trends, and with our Foxology Holiday Collection, you can complete your look to really embrace the season. Spread holiday cheer and stand out with Arctic Fox! 🦊

@sophiaxnova in Purple AF

Is TikTok making you want to dye your hair? Welcome to the club! If you’re thinking about pulling the trigger on that new color but have no idea where to start, you’re in the right place. We’re about to dish all our tips for your first time so that you can get that flawless color you’ve been dreaming of. 

Vegan and Cruelty Free Formula

The biggest and most common concern with first-timers is worrying about hair damage. Especially if you have virgin hair. And we get it! All the hair dyes in the AF color range are formulated without any harsh chemicals and packed with so many deep conditioning properties they’re basically a colored conditioner! So not only can you leave it on as long as you want, you’ll also come out with soft locks full of color!  

Semi-permanent dyes are the perfect solution to trying out bold colors minus the fear of settling down with one shade forever. AF hair dyes start with our signature full throttle bold color and then naturally fade out slowly over time with no additional processes. AKA you can try out new colors with the confidence that they won’t damage your strands, and they’ll still look ah-mazing as they fade. Semi-permanent hair dyes definitely don’t have to be scary!

@eclipse.lunxr in Virgin Pink

Starting with Vivid Hair Dye

When you’re first starting out with vivids, you need to keep in mind how light or dark your natural hair is to ensure you get the best results. For example, if your hair is light brown, deeply pigmented shades like Wrath, or Purple AF were made for you, Fox! Avoid pastel colors or the lighter blues and greens, unless you bleach and lighten your natural hair base first.  

Need more inspo before you take the leap? We got a list of important questions you need to ask before you dye your hair, just to make sure you’re ready to jump into the world of color! 

@queenbcyn in Wrath

Picking your new hue

One way you can crack the color code is by considering your skin’s undertone to help narrow down your choice and lead you to a new shade that will accentuate your natural features. 

Your skin tone is the surface level color of your skin that can change due to the season or sun exposure, we all notice our skin tone change a bit in the summer months, right? 😎 Your undertone on the other hand, is the underlying tone of your skin that is ever-present and doesn’t alter with the seasons.

Knowing your undertone can help narrow down your choice of color (unless you want to rebel and go with whatever shade you’re feeling). Start by finding out which of the three categories of undertones you fall into: cool, warm, or neutral.

Cool undertones have a pink or bluish hue to their skin. Warm undertones have a yellow, golden, or peachy hue, while neutral undertones mirror the color of their surface skin.

To figure out your undertone, use the Vein Method, Jewelry Method, or White T-Shirt Method as all are proven ways to see how your skin tone compliments and reacts to colors - and yes you can totally do them right at home! 

The white t-shirt method is as simple as it sounds -  throw on a white t-shirt and go outside in natural light. Pay attention to how your skin contrasts with the white shirt. If your skin looks rosy or pink, you have cool undertones. If your skin looks golden or yellow, you have warm undertones. If you don’t really see a change, you have neutral undertones.

The vein method might be the easiest one! If your veins appear purple or blue, you have cool undertones. Green or love mean you have warm undertones, and a mix of blue and green are neutral undertones. If you can’t really tell, you likely have neutral undertones as well. 

The jewelry method is probably the most fun! It’s simply the way jewelry looks on your skin. If you prefer silver jewelry against your skin you have cool undertones. If you prefer the way yellow gold jewelry looks on your skin, you have warm undertones.If you look great in both or don’t have a preference, (lucky you) you likely have neutral undertones.

And of course, we wouldn’t be your hair bestie if we didn’t have a full rundown on picking colors that go with your undertone right here!

In short, all our cool toned babes look best in Aquamarine, Poseidon, Periwinkle, Neverland, Girls Night, Purple AF, and Ritual.

@tayreichel in Neverland, Aquamarine, Periwinkle, and Arctic Mist Diluter 

Warm undertones stun in reds, oranges, yellows, or colors with warmth like Electric Paradise, Wrath, Sunset Orange, Poison, and Virgin Pink.

@sophia.vog in Wrath, Poison

And for our neutral undertone Foxes..well, you can literally go for any AF color. 

@jingleheartart in Cosmic Sunshine and Neon Moon

Our second method for picking a hair color is by using color theory and the color wheel. The color wheel is a visual tool to explain and visualize the relationship between colors (That much was obvious, right?). The color wheel will help you better predict how specific colors will mix together and how to avoid results that just don’t hit the heights you want to scale with your new hairdo.

For example, complementary colors are two shades that live opposite each other on the color wheel such as, violet and yellow, red and green, orange and blue. When you are coloring for the first time it is best to pick a hue that is opposite your natural hair color on the wheel in order to get an optimum result! Consult the AF color wheel here to find your inspo!

@imperial.hairstudio in Aquamarine, Virgin Pink, Violet Dream, Sunset Orange, Cosmic Sunshine

For unbleached hair, you can also check a prediction of how deep the color will show up based on your natural hair base.

If you want to go lighter and even work up to a pastel shade, you’ll need to lighten your hair up with a little bleach. You can look at the hair level charts on the AF product pages for a guide to how light you’d need to be to get your desired shade. Lightening it up gradually over time is the best way to go about it, especially if you are starting with really dark hair that borders on or around black tones. Our lightening kit, Bleach, Please is a safe option for healthy at-home lightening if you are going down this route. Before you know it you’ll be setting off sirens with your new delicious hair color.

@sheaella in Girls Night and Periwinkle 

So now you have done your research and found a complimentary hue and got your hair to the right base level, it's time to dive right in and get that new color on, right!? Erm... not quite!

The Strand Test, Your BFF

We always, ALWAYS recommend doing a strand test to see exactly how your shade will show up on your beautiful head of hair. 

Strand tests are SUPER important tools to help you see how the color will show up on your hair.

Even if you are blonde and have light hair, the natural tone of your hair will affect how color shows up so it's important to test it first. Everyone’s hair is different, and the Strand Test gives real world results of the color application. (The strand test never lies).

To start testing, shampoo and fully dry your hair, without conditioning. Find a 1 inch strand of hair in a hidden area and apply some of your chosen AF hue. Wrap the test strands in foil and let them process for at least 30 minutes before rinsing in cool water, drying your hair, and checking the outcome. You can always repeat the test as needed, if the shade was not what you were looking for.

Once you are happy and all set with your color, it's time to apply the shade to your locks. Naturally, we have some great tips and tools to help you get this process right!

The Hair Dyeing Process

Get ready to apply that delicious new color by either shampooing and drying your hair first, or even applying the color to hair that has not been washed for a day or two. This will allow natural oils to remain in the hair and can help the hair dye absorb into the strands better. We love to see that new vivacious color soak in.

While dyeing your hair use our alligator clips to separate your hair into sections to allow the color to be applied thoroughly and evenly. Ohh snap! 

@onedreamparis in Virgin Pink

If you are applying multiple colors the sectioning clips can be a lifesaver! For mixes, you can also use AF mixing bowls to measure out and mix up a perfect storm of color. It just makes it a little easier to get the exact ratios you need.

Before you apply the color and allow it to process for at least 30 minutes, you should take a couple of precautions to prevent staining your skin. 

First, apply vaseline around your hairline to prevent staining on your face or neck, because, well, that’s not a great look.  And finally, wear our reusable gloves while you apply your color and rinse it off, to prevent the hair dye from staining your hands and making it look like you have been in art class.

Whoop! 30 minutes later and you’re done! Your gorgeous new color can be unleashed into the world.

Hair Color Maintenance

Keeping your new hair color looking fresh can be done in more than one way! Remember, our dyes will still look super pretty as they fade - BUT the less you wash your hair the slower the fading process is. Opt for our Vacay Volumizing dry shampoo in between wash days to stretch your clean hair as long as possible, and don’t forget to throw in a few drops of your chosen hair color to your conditioner to keep that color looking fresh! Our 4 oz bottles are perfect for that touch ups!

Of course, a big part of success with hair dye is not only choosing the right hair dye color, but maintaining your new color afterwards. Throw in a color safe shampoo and conditioner into your wash day routine (like our Resurrected Duo) to keep that color alive and long-lasting. You can also grab an extra 4 oz bottle of your chosen color and add a few drops into your conditioner as needed for that extra oomph if you see your color starting to fade. 

✨AF Pro Tip✨ Pool Party is your pre or post shower bestie when it comes to deep hair hydration for the softest, most luscious locks. She can even double as a styling cream for that coveted wet hair look. Did we mention she smells absolutely delicious?

Want to share your new hair color and make us green with envy? Tag us @arcticfoxhaircolor and show us and the Fox Fam what you and your new color are made of.