How Many Ounces Of Hair Dye Do You Require 2

How Many Ounces Of Hair Dye Do You Need | For Short, Long and Medium Length Hair

Before you start dyeing your hair at home, make sure you know exactly how many ounces of hair dye you need to prevent any mishaps. 

As a hair stylist, the best tip I can give you is that it’s always better to know how many ounces of hair dye you need before you start applying it on your locks.

Also, you’d need to get the ratio of the developer to the cream or lotion right. Otherwise, you might end up with a very different color than what you wanted. And application also becomes difficult. Here’s the quantity you need:

Hair LengthQuantity of Hair Color
Shorth Outgowth (Up To 2 Cm)40 ml hair dye (20 g colour cream with 20 g activator)
Very Short Hair40 ml hair dye (20 g colour cream with 20 g activator)
Medium-Short Length Hair (2-5cm above the nape of your neck)60 ml hair dye (30 g colour cream with 30 g activator)
Short Hair60 ml hair dye (30 g colour cream with 30 g activator)
Normal Hair Till Shoulder Length120 ml hair dye (one complete package)
Mid Back (Bra Strap Length)180 ml hair dye (one and a half tube hair dye and activator)
Lower Mid Back240 ml hair dye (two complete packages)
Longer Hair500ml (more than 2 packages)

How Many Ounces Of Hair Dye Do You Need

The ounces of hair dye you need depend on the length and thickness of your hair. On average, people require about 3 to 4oz of hair dye to cover their heads. But if you have shorter hair like bobs or pixies or long hair that reaches the middle or below your waist you might need anywhere from 2oz to 8oz. 

For Long Hair

how many boxes of hair dye do i need for long hair

The trickiest thing is to get the ounces of hair dye right for long hair as “long” is subjective. 

It can mean you have hair that falls a few inches below your shoulders (usually called the “bra-strap length”), waist-length hair, or even hair that reaches below your waist.

So whenever I’m growing out my hair and looking to color it at home, I bring three 2oz boxes of hair dye, just in case.

My philosophy is that it’s okay if there’s a bit leftover as you can distribute it over your hair for a more intense shade.

But you should never fall short of hair dye as the consequences can be very irritating.

If you want an exact estimate on the ounces of hair dye you need, here goes:

  • For long hair that reaches 2-4 inches below your shoulder, use about 4oz of hair dye
  • For hair that reaches 5-8 inches below your shoulder (waist length and more), use 8oz of hair dye just to be on the safer side. 

For Short Hair

how much hair dye do i need for roots

If you have short hair, you might need only 2oz to 3oz of hair dye. Even if you’re planning to cover your entire head.

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Unless you have really thick hair, in which case you’d need a bit more.

However, 2oz – 3oz has always been enough for me when I had a lob that reached a few inches below my chin.

Sometimes, there was hair dye left over. So I suggest you use only a single box dye to avoid wastage. 

Short-haired folks can go for a single 2.5oz hair coloring kit if they want to use semi-permanent or permanent hair dye. That should be enough to cover their hair.

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For Medium Length Hair

should i use the whole bottle of hair dye

I always consider hair that is shoulder length or 1-2 inches longer to be “medium-length”. 

This length of hair is tricky because you always get the amount of hair dye wrong. 

Either you think your hair is on the shorter side and think a single box is going to be enough. Or you go overboard and buy two boxes only to be left with plenty of hair dye in the bowl.

I suggest using 3 to 4oz of hair dye for this hair length. 

You can buy 2 smaller boxes of hair dye to reach 4oz if your hair is on the thicker side. Or you can buy a large box of 3oz and use it to cover your entire hair. 

Based On Hair Thickness:

A lot of people don’t factor in hair thickness when they consider the ounces of hair dye they need. But this is an important factor as the thickness affects the hair’s ability to absorb dye well.

If you want to determine whether you have thick hair, thin hair, or medium thickness strands, you can use a regular hair tie to check.

Tie your hair with the scrunchie or tie after gathering your locks into a ponytail. If you can wrap the hair tie around your locks multiple times, it means you have thin hair.

However, if the hair tie doesn’t go beyond a single tie or feels uncomfortably tight after two, you have thick hair.

Able to wrap the hair tie twice comfortably? Your hair has a medium thickness to it. 

For Thick Hair

how many boxes of hair dye do i need for long thick hair

Thick hair is difficult to color simply because of its volume. But other than that, it poses a lot of challenges as well. 

Selecting the right amount of hair dye for thick hair can be difficult because you might not really know if your hair is that thick or not. 

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Thick hair on short hair is very deceptive as you might end up buying only a 2oz hair dye bottle and realize it’s not at all enough to cover your thick locks.

Also, thick hair strands do not let dye pigments penetrate them too easily. So you might require more hair dye to get the right shade of color as well.

If you have thick hair but have a short hairstyle, take 2.5oz or 3 oz of hair dye just to be careful.

For Medium Thick Hair

is one box of hair dye enough for medium hair

Most women have this type of hair thickness. Sometimes hair tends to become thin due to reasons like hair damage, pregnancy, postpartum issues, or overprocessing. 

But most hair dyes are created keeping this average hair thickness in mind. 

If your hair is of medium thickness, you can go ahead and buy the ounces of hair dye suggested for your hair length. No modifications necessary!

For Fine, Thin Hair

how much hair does one box of dye cover

Fine and thin hair can easily absorb hair dye pigments. So you don’t need to worry about using a lot of dye to cover this hair type.

Also, fine hair tends to be fragile and can actually endure damage due to the coloring process.

So it’s best to reduce the amount of hair dye you’re using, especially if the hair dye contains ammonia or hydrogen peroxide. (Seo, Jung-A et al. “Hydrogen peroxide and monoethanolamine are the key causative ingredients for hair dye-induced dermatitis and hair loss.” Journal of dermatological science vol. 66,1 (2012): 12-9. doi:10.1016/j.jdermsci.2011.12.015)

If you have short fine hair just a small box of 2oz hair dye would be sufficient.

how many ounces of hair dye do you need

How Many Ounces Of Cream Do I Mix With Developer

So, you’ve decided to dye your hair yourself and you’re ready to dive in. But, wait! Before you grab that box of dye and start slathering it on, there’s an important step you need to consider first: mixing the hair dye.

One of the most common questions people ask when it comes to mixing their own hair dye is “how much cream do I mix with developer?” Well, the answer is not as straightforward as you might think.

The amount of cream you mix with developer depends on a few factors: the amount of hair you have, the shade of the hair dye you’re using, and the desired level of lift.

Generally, a 1:1 ratio is the most common and the safest choice. However, if you’re using a high-lift dye or going for a more dramatic change, you might need to adjust the ratio to 1:2. Another important factor to consider is the strength of the developer you’re using.

The higher the volume of developer, the more lift you’ll get, but also the more damage to your hair. Stick to lower volume developers if you’re looking to go darker or cover grays, while higher volume developers are best for lifting hair several shades.

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To avoid any mistakes, always read the instructions on the hair dye box carefully and follow the recommended mixing ratios.

Remember, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and mix a little less dye than too much. Trust us, you don’t want to end up with a head full of hair that’s too dark or too light.

How Much Toner Do I Need After Dyeing Hair

If you’ve recently dyed your hair, you may be wondering how much toner you need to use to achieve your desired result. Toner is an essential step in the hair dye process as it helps to neutralize any unwanted brassiness or yellow tones in the hair.

However, the amount of toner you need to use is dependent on a few factors. Firstly, the length and thickness of your hair will affect how much toner you need. The longer and thicker your hair is, the more toner you will need to use.

Secondly, the level of lightness or darkness of your hair will also determine how much toner for lightened hair is required. If you have very light hair, you may only need a small amount of toner to achieve the perfect shade.

However, if your hair is darker, you may need to use more toner to combat any orange or red tones. It’s important to follow the instructions on the toner product carefully to ensure you’re using the correct amount for your hair. As a general rule, start with a small amount of toner and work your way up if necessary.

You can always add more toner, but it’s much harder to remove it once it’s been applied. In conclusion, there is no set amount of toner to use after dyeing your hair, as it varies depending on your hair type, colour, and desired result.

The best approach is to start with a small amount and gradually add more if needed. Remember to read the instructions carefully and always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.

I hope my article helped you in finding out exactly how many ounces of hair dye you need for your tresses.

The information given here can vary according to the type of hair color you use, you’re previous applications, etc.

For example, if you want to add a few highlights to your hair, you might not require a lot of hair dye even if your tresses are very long.

Also, you might need a lot of dye to cover your hair if it’s short but very thick. So there are many factors to consider when choosing the amount of hair dye. 

Why You Should Trust Haireveryday?

The author of this article, Leah Marie Priest has a degree in Cosmetology with years of experience in dealing with hair care, scalp care, and hairstyling. As someone who extensively deals with all kinds of hair textures, products, styling methods and more, hair Leah Marie knows what kind of products and procedures suit each hair type and person. We have also tested these hair products and processes ourselves to provide you an unbiased review about every product. Each of our articles are also reviewed by a team of medical professionals so that you get the most accurate and expert-reviewed information.

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