How to Dye Your Hair Without Your Mom Knowing

Co-authored by Gina Almona

Last Updated: February 26, 2023

Have you always wanted to dye your hair secretly without your mother knowing? Then read the following instructions to find out how to without your mom knowing!

Steps

1
Make enough cash to afford the hair dye. Realize that your mom wouldn't buy it for you or pitch in without knowing what you're doing. So, try doing extra chores around the house or get a part-time job to afford the hair dye.
2
Visit a store to buy the hair dye. Either walk to a store that sells hair dye, take a bus, or have a friend's mom drive you if you don't have a driver's license. If you only have a small amount of money, perhaps you should visit multiple stores to get the best deal. Also, look for coupons in the newspaper, for they will save you a couple of dollars at the most.

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3
Choose the color of hair dye you would like to purchase. Try to make it a couple of shades lighter or darker, if you want a more natural look. It isn't recommended to get a bold color, such as pink or red, for this will be more noticeable to your mom if she catches you off-guard. Ask around about the brand of the hair dye, for some brands are known to permanently damage hair. Try to get a type that you can still use normal shampoo on.
4
Bring the hair dye home. Hide it in your drawer, closet, or any other spot where you know your mom will not look. Keep it there until you are ready to actually do the hair dying. Try to avoid setting the hair dye directly under heavy items, for this may cause some damage. Also, avoid putting near the window or vent, for extreme temperatures may cause the hair dye to act up.
5
Choose a date on which you want to dye your hair. Call up a friend, and ask them if you can come to their house to dye your hair. Make sure the date is a day when both families aren't busy. Remember to call multiple friends if the first one you call won't let you come over. The goal is to avoid dying your hair at your own house, for it may leave an odor that your mom will most likely notice.
6
Go to your friend's house on the chosen date. Bring all of the hair dying supplies with you in a bag. Explain to your mom before you leave that you're just going over to a friend's house, if a reason is needed. Your mode of transportation doesn't matter, for your mom won't know you will be heading over to your friend's house to dye your hair.
- Make sure you have gloves, bowl, brush, enough product to cover the whole head, and time.
7
Dye your hair by following the instructions on the box. Read them at least three times before beginning so you will know exactly what to do. Have your friend help you out if you need some assistance. Once you believe you are finished, pack up your materials and head on home. However, be sure to spray an air-freshener in the bathroom of your friend's house, and thank your friend for allowing you to come over.
- Section properly, use a color barrier on the hairline, and pretreat hair if needed (porosity equalizer).
- Do not color hair that is previously damaged.
8
Wear a hat or scarf on your head. Don't let your mom see your hair once you return home. Cover it up it any way possible. Try to avoid your mom by going into a different room and not talking to her. Also, you may need to hide it from siblings if they are the type to snitch on you.

Community Q&A

Question

How do you hide your unique hair color?

Community Answer

You can't. Wearing a hat all the time isn't that sustainable; hair pokes out, summer comes, or your parents get suspicious (or you just get caught off guard without it on). The best philosophy here is to ask forgiveness, not permission, if you think that your parents wouldn't let you dye it an unnatural color. Unless you want to get a wig, just dye your hair and face the consequences, just so long as you think the consequences are worth it.
Question

How would I hide long hair and avoid suspicion?

Community Answer

Try keeping your hair tied up and under a hat or hoodie. Keeping your hair in a compact hairstyle, such as a bun, might also help, depending on how drastic the color change is.
Question

What if you're always wearing that hat so she's curious and asks you if you're hiding something?

Community Answer

Wear a hoodie instead and keep the hood up, possibly with your hair tied up. If you do wear a hat a lot and she asks, just say it's your new [insert subculture here] fashion and it's a part of the whole look, even indoors. If she pulls the hat off, just smile and say, "Wow, keeping my hair out of the sun wasn't such a good idea after all!".

Warnings

ALWAYS follow the directions and do an allergy test as per the instructions.

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Helpful 171 Not Helpful 23
Instead of taking a huge risk with dying your hair, try putting squeezed lemon juice on your hair before going out on a sunny day.

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Helpful 150 Not Helpful 29
Think twice before dying your hair. There is no going back after you put the dye on!

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Helpful 159 Not Helpful 32
If your parents say "your hair looks lighter" say, "I was outside and the sun must have bleached it out (only if it has been sunny for the last few days).

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Helpful 150 Not Helpful 32
The hair dye can burn your scalp.

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Helpful 137 Not Helpful 44
You can always use a hair spray, as it's removable.

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You can't keep this up forever. She will find out sooner or later. Expect a huge punishment.

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If you went swimming the past few days and have been in the sun, you can say, "The chlorine must have lightened my hair.".

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