Master Class: How to Dye Your Hair

"Properly sectioning off your hair before dye application is crucial for getting allover coverage," says Pastor. If you have bangs or really thick hair, create a separate section at the front to ensure color is saturated in this crucial spot.

MC TIP: Before applying dye, smooth lavender oil on the ends of your hair to mask the scent of the hair dye later.

Divide hair into four even quadrants and secure the sections with large alligator clips.

Using a mixing bowl and brush instead of prepackaged wands and bottles gives you more control when applying color," explains Pastor. Focus on one quadrant of hair at a time and paint the front and back of small sections of hair. Pay extra attention to the hair around the face, and don't dye your ends when doing touch-ups—you always want your roots a little darker than your tips.

MC TIP: When covering grays, wear a shower cap as you wait for the dye to set. The heat from your head will naturally expedite color processing.

"Damaged hair grabs on to color and creates uneven patches," warns Pastor. When possible, stick to gentler demi-permanent formulas. Pamper processed strands with a weekly hydrating hair mask, and shampoo as little as possible. "The thicker your hair is, the more you can skip washings—dry shampoo is your color's best friend," adds Pastor.

MC TIP: To fade a color that's too dark or too bright, create a paste with one part shampoo, one part powder bleach from a highlighting kit. Comb it through wet hair and rinse out when you start to see the color changing.