How to Dye Sideburns

By: Chance Henson

Marili Forastieri/Photodisc/Getty Images

Your sideburns are part of what distinguishes you from the crowd. When facial hair begins to show signs of gray, however, your once youthful-looking sideburns seem to lose the handsome luster that made them one of your most attractive features. Although some men may reach for a razor to shave off the gray, there's no need to take such drastic measures. You can return sideburns to their former glory by using readily available facial hair dye kits.

Step 1

Line the bathroom sink with old towels to avoid staining the countertops.

Step 2

Change into an old shirt that you won't mind staining, and put on a pair of plastic or latex gloves to protect your hands.

Step 3

Mix the dye according to the directions. Use the back of a comb or blunt end of the application brush to stir the dye.

Step 4

Wipe the stirring utensil with a wet paper towel to avoid making a mess and reseal the dye container.

Step 5

Working in front of a well-lit mirror, brush the dye into your sideburns with short, up and down motions until both sideburns are evenly coated. Apply light pressure and use caution to avoid getting the dye into your ears or eyes.

Step 6

Evaluate both sideburns in the mirror to ensure complete coverage. Add more dye to the applicator brush and touch up any areas you missed during the first application.

Step 7

Set a timer or stopwatch to the time suggested by the manufacturer. Follow the manufacturer's time instructions precisely -- leaving the dye on for too long can result in skin irritation or undesirable color results.

Step 8

Rinse the brush with warm water and store the dye materials in a cool, dry space while you wait for the dye to set.

Step 9

Turn on the shower and adjust the water temperature to warm.

Step 10

Disrobe and enter the shower as soon as the timer goes off. Rinse the sideburns with warm water until the water runs clear, and thoroughly wash the areas with a mild shampoo. Use a shampoo specifically designed to clean color-treated hair to avoid fading.

Step 11

Turn the shower off and pat the sideburns with an old towel or cloth to ensure you have completely removed the dye. Shampoo the site once more if necessary.