Most women have strayed from their natural hair color at least once in their lives, and salon dye jobs are too expensive for many women to maintain. It’s estimated that the hair dye industry sells more than $500 million worth of home hair dye annually. Hair dyes come in virtually any shade imaginable, although you can mix different colors to further customize your style.

Choose the two colors of dye you want to combine. It is best to pick shades that complement each other, rather than two totally opposite shades. A red shade and a brown shade would highlight each other and produce a rich, deep auburn color. Black and blonde dyes should be avoided, as they are both very dominant colors that do not mix well.

Wash and dry your hair before mixing your dye. Dirt and oil from the scalp can interfere with the dye and keep it from binding to your hair. Towel dry the majority of the water from your hair and allow it to air dry completely before applying the dye.

Put on gloves and mix the two different colors of hair dye according to the package directions. Open each of the mixing bottles included with the dye packages and pour the dye base for each color into its own bottle. Add the color activator to each bottle and place the lids on the bottles, shaking each one gently to combine.

Cut the tips of the bottles of dye and remove the top of the squirt bottle. Squirt half of the first color into the squirt bottle and add half of the second color on top of the first. Repeat the layering process with the remaining dye and replace the lid. Cover the tip with your gloved finger and shake the bottle back and forth to combine the dyes.

Allow the dye to sit for at least 15 minutes to allow the colors to thoroughly combine. Test the dye on a small portion of your hair. Coat a thin section of hair at the base of your scalp with the dye, allowing it to sit on the hair for the full length of time specified in the directions for full effect. Wash and dry the spot to make sure you like the new color before use.