Hair DIY: 5 Ideas for Green Hair and How to Do Them at Home
Tori is a 28-year-old, three-time animal mom and DIYer living in Northern Atlanta with her boyfriend.
1. Bright Green All-Over
For a bold start to the list, I offer up this gorgeous lime green all-over color. For a color like this to show up exactly like this on your hair, I highly recommend lightening up to a level 8 or higher. For a tutorial on lightening your hair, click here. I really like to use Ion Color Brilliance Bright White Creme Lightener and 20 volume developer when lightening my hair.
Once you have gotten your hair to the appropriate shade of blonde, you can achieve this color green with a couple of different haircolors. My number one pick to achieve this color would be Pravana Chromasilk Vivids in Neon Green. You can also try Manic Panic in Electric Lizard mixed with a little bit of Green Envy.
The easiest way to apply this one would be to section your hair, and apply the product with gloved hands. When using semi- or demi- permanent dyes, the longer you leave the product in, the better. Unlike permanent dyes, they don't have ammonia or other things that can damage your hair so it's totally okay to leave them in for a little longer. I recommend 45 minutes to an hour for this shade of green.
2. A Shock of Green
One chunky highlight of green that is partially hidden by your hair is such a cool look that is both subtle and outspoken at the same time. This shock of color is perfect for someone who wants to experiment with their whole head but doesn't want to commit to a whole head or a more vibrant ombre.
To achieve this look, all you need to do is lighten just the strand you want to a level 7 blonde or higher. Make sure you pin the rest of your hair back while lightening and also applying the haircolor, so you don't accidentally dye the other parts of your hair. For the green in the picture, I recommend applying One N Only Argan Oil in Emerald Green mixed with a squirt of Electric Teal. Leave the mixture on for 30 minutes to an hour before washing out.
Because this color doesn't take up a lot of space, upkeep will be pretty easy. Every couple of weeks as you notice the color start to fade just section the hair back out again and redye it, following the same process.
3. Emerald Green All Over
Hands down, this is my number one favorite color in the world and when you put it on hair it just becomes that much more magical. Your hair doesn't need to be super blonde, I would say level 7 or higher, in order to execute this look - but I will say that you should remove as much orange as you can before applying, otherwise it might look a little funky. To remove brassiness you may consider using a purple shampoo or a toner prior to dying.
As far as hair dyes that you could use to get this color of green - there are a couple on the market. One N Only Argan Oil Dye in Emerald Green, which I've used before and love, or Lime Crime Jello would be great colors to use for this. You may need to purchase multiple tubes if your hair is as long and thick as in the picture - typically when I dye my hair I need two to three tubes to cover it all!
The best way to apply this dye would be to section your hair and apply it with a gloved hand. To get all the way to your roots, use a tint brush. Leave the dye in for 30 minutes to an hour before washing out. To upkeep, mix green dye with colorless conditioner and let it sit in your hair for 20 minutes as a hair mask. Doing it this way will help keep your hair shiny and radiant and also keep the color from going dull.
4. Ombre Emerald to Lime Green
Another great way to wear green in your hair is to apply with other colors for super multidimensional effect. This example is vibrant and gorgeous with colors that don't clash at all!
To achieve this look, you'll need a couple of different dyes. I would recommend starting out with choosing a shadow root (or if your hair is naturally dark, you won't have to do anything to your roots!) A good shadow root color is going to be a dark brown or black demi or semi permanent dye.
For the darker green I recommend Lime Crime Jello or One N Only Argan Oil Emerald Green, and for the lighter green I recommend Manic Panic in Electric Lizard. You could even go a step further and add in a highlighter yellow color at the very end of your roots, such as Manic Panic in Electric Banana.
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Section your hair off and apply the shadow root first since it is the darkest color. Use a tint brush to apply the color from your roots to about 2 inches down. After you've applied your shadow root, apply the emerald green color of your choice, making sure to blend the emerald with the shadow root to get a nice gradient, while also leaving enough room at the bottom for you to apply your lime green color.
Apply the lime green from the end of the emerald down to the tips of your hair, ensuring to blend with the emerald as well so that you don't have a crazy line where the hair dye stops.
As with all ammonia-free semi and demi permanent dye, I recommend leaving the mixture on for 30 minutes to an hour or longer, because the longer you leave the color in the longer the color will stay in your hair.
5. Mint Green Hair
If you really love pastels, then this mint green hair is the perfect choice for you! Your hair will need to be level 10 blonde or higher to achieve this look, and you'll probably need to use a toner to bring it to an icy blonde before you apply your color. If your hair is too yellow when you apply the dye, it may not turn out the way you want it to!
My recommendation for dye to achieve this look is Pravana Chromasilk Pastels in Mystical Mint. You could also try Lime Crime Unicorn Hair in Salad. For either color, if your hair is longer than your chin you will need to purchase more than one container to get full coverage on your hair.
Apply the dye generously throughout your hair, taking care not to miss any spots. For light colors like this, I recommend leaving the dye in for an hour or more. You may also want to apply warm air (not hot) to the hair to help it sink in more, that way it lasts a little longer.
This color can be difficult to maintain, so I recommend following up your color job by mixing a tube of a darker green, such as Joico Color Intensity in Kelly Green with a colorless conditioner in a 10 oz or more size bottle. After you wash your hair and apply the conditioner, let it sit in your hair for 5-10 minutes. Alternatively you could also apply as a mask to dry hair, then rinse it out. It will look super bright in the mirror when you're applying it, but I promise—when you wash it out it will be more pastel because you are mixing it with conditioner which softens the dye color when you apply it.
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
Questions & Answers
Question: Do I have to bleach my brown hair in order to tint it green?
Answer: If your hair is dark brown, I do recommend lightening your hair first. In my experience, the semi-permanent dye does not stick for more than a few washes on virgin hair, and will not be visible on dark hair.
The level of lightness your hair needs to be will depend on the color green you choose.
If you're going emerald, it doesn't need to be white or even yellow - if you got it to a medium blonde, then emerald green will look great. (Medium blonde will probably look orange, use a purple shampoo to tone it before applying dye).
If you're doing highlighter green, you will need to get your hair as light as possible which may take a few sessions - if you try to get it super light in one go, you will fry your hair. When you lighten, don't use anything higher than 20 volume developer to reduce the likelihood of damage.
Question: How do I apply emerald green hair color to brunette hair?
Answer: Lighten your hair first using ion color brilliance bright white creme lightener mixed with 20 volume developer. It does not need to be white but it does need to be lighter than brunette. Then after your hair is lightened apply the semi permanent emerald of your choice and let it sit for about an hour before rinsing it out.
Question: What about dip dyeing i.e. just dyeing the tips of my hair all of the way around - in green?
Answer: I love that idea!!! Lighten the ends, and then apply dye. I think it would be beautiful!
