Dark Blue Hair Dye Without Bleaching [3 Different Ways – Step by Step]

When it comes to having fun with your hair, experimenting with hair colors is one way to explore the beauty of your hair in different forms and settings.

While there are a thousand and one colors to try out on your hair, there’s always that nagging feeling at the back of your mind reminding you that you’d have to bleach your strands to achieve some of them.

That’s where things get complicated because nothing poses as much damage to your hair as bleaching the strands. So if you need to knowingly expose your hair to bleach before trying out hair color, is it really worth it?

Have you thought about the possibility of dying your hair to bold and dreamy colors like blue without needing to bleach your strands?

Well, it is possible, and we’ll be finding out how in the coming paragraphs as we explore the possibilities of coloring your dark hair blue without having to bleach it.

Can You Dye Hair Dark Blue Without Bleaching It First?

Yes. You can dye your hair dark blue without bleaching first. However, the extent to which the blue color would form and how long it’ll last on your strands will depend on your natural hair color.

If you have light brown hair, then you have a greater chance of getting dark blue shades on your hair without needing to bleach it.

If you have black hair, then it isn’t possible to modify the black pigments in your hair with blue dye. But, you can find dyes that add a dark blue glow to your hair that will be visible under sunlight.

For blonde hair, there’s a high risk of your hair turning green after the dye because blue and yellow would create green.

So for blondes, you might find some blue dyes that give you the result you need, but the lighter your hair is, the brighter the dye, so you might achieve light blue instead of dark blue.

Now that we have an idea of how this works, let’s take a look at how to get the dark blue hair color you desire without bleaching and the hair dye products that can make this hair dream a reality.

3 Ways to Get Dark Blue Hair Without Bleaching It

Regardless of your hair color or shade, there are three general ways to get that dark blue color. 

1. Dye Your Hair Dark Blue with Semi-Permanent/Permanent Dye

You can achieve a dark blue, denim blue, and good punk-metal hair color with a semi-permanent hair dye without bleaching. 

The best hair dye brands to achieve this are the Splat Midnight Blue Indigo or L’Oreal’s denim-inspired hair dyes that’ll give you a deep blue shade. 

Although these dyes offer temporary changes, they can last for about 6 weeks before the strong blue effect begins to fade off. This hair color also needs monthly maintenance.

As for permanent dyes, you can opt for a bluish-black hair dye, which is especially good for black hair and gives your hair added depth and a bluish glow.

One of the best permanent hair dye brands to use is Garnier Nutrisse. It comes with three blue-black shades, including IN 1, Dark Intense Indigo, BL 21, Blue Black, and BL 11, Jet Blue Black.

You can also check out Revlon Color Silk that can give you a Vibrant Bluish Black hair with long-lasting color. Igora Royal Color also produces excellent quality blue pigments, and Artic Fox is a great option.

Now, let’s go into how to use them.

Preparation:

  • Buy the blue indigo color from the Splat Midnight hair color collection or the L’Oreal’s denim hair dye, or any other hair dye of your choosing.
  • Brush your hair and remove all the knots and tangles using a wide-toothed comb or hairbrush.
  • Ensure that your hair is clean and free of hair products before you dye it. If you have to wash your hair before this process, use small shampoo, don’t scrub your scalp, and dry your hair after washing.
  • Protect your clothes by wrapping a towel around your shoulders or wear an old cloth. Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly around your ear, hairline, and neck to protect them from blue stains. Protect your hands with disposable latex gloves.
  • Mix the dye and the developer as applicable based on the instructions on the pack. Follow these instructions closely.

Step-by-Step Process

  • Saturate your hair strands with dye while making parallel lines from your forehead to your nape with the tip of your bottle applicator. Massage your roots to distribute the color throughout your hair. Ensure that each strand gets an even coating of dye for the color to look uniform.
  • If you’re using a brush, apply the dye onto your roots using downward strokes and work your way from the roots down to the ends of your hair.
  • Leave the dye to sit on your hair based on the processing instructions on the box. Don’t leave it for longer than specified.
  • When it’s time to wash, rinse out the dye in the shower using warm or room temperature and rinse your hair until the water runs clear.
  • Wash your hair with small amounts of color-safe shampoo to remove any dye residue and rinse with cool water.
  • Use the conditioner from the dye box or color-safe conditioner to condition your hair.
  • Wait 48 hours before shampooing your hair again. This allows the color time to set so that the color doesn’t leave your hair upon washing.

After Care

  • If your hair is light, platinum, or blonde, using purple shampoo after your usual shampoo can prevent yellow tones in your hair that can make the dye turn green.
  • Refresh your hair color by mixing blue dye into your conditioner. Massage it into your hair and let it sit for a while before rinsing it off.
  • Shampoo once in 3 days using sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner. Always use cool or lukewarm water.
  • Air-dry your hair and use heat protectants while styling.

2. Dye Your Hair Blue with Indigo

Another way to dye your hair blue is to indigo, aka Indigofera tinctoria, a dark blue crystalline powder that has been famed over centuries to dye fabric and hair blue.

Ensure to buy 100% Indigofera tinctoria that has no added chemicals. Although people often refer to Indigo as black henna, be careful because katam is also called black henna, and that isn’t what you need.

Confirm that the ingredients say Indigofera tinctoria before purchasing it.

Let’s get into how to dye hair blue with indigo, using henna as a base.

Pre-Dye Phase: Prepare your hair using henna

  • Buy or make your henna. If you have light-colored hair, it is important to use henna as a base. Place a small amount of henna in a bowl, add a small amount of hot water, then add some vinegar or lemon juice and stir. Keep adding liquid and stirring until it gets a creamy thick consistency. Wrap the bowl with plastic and allow it to cool for a few minutes.
  • Apply petroleum jelly to your ear, neck, and hairline to protect against stains.
  • Part your hair into three sections and apply a huge, thick amount of henna paste to your hair evenly.
  • Cover your hair with a plastic wrap for about four hours for your hair to absorb the henna. Wash off with water and dry your hair.

Preparing to dye your hair with indigo

  • Purchase 100 grams of indigo for every 6 inches of hair.
  • Arrange the space you’ll be using and place towels, rags, or newspapers for easy clean-up.
  • If you applied henna or your hair might be dirty, wash your hair thoroughly and dry it completely or leave a little dampness.
  • Comb your hair and section it into four separate parts and clip them separately.
  • Use gloves to protect your hand.
  • Pour warm water into a medium-sized bowl, sprinkle the indigo powder, and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes, then mix it to create consistency.

Step-by-Step Process

  • Apply the indigo mixture on your hair using your hands and spread it to all parts of your hair.
  • Once you’ve covered your hair with the mixture, cover your hair with a plastic wrap or shower cap for an hour.
  • Take off the wrap and rinse out all the paste until the water runs clear.
  • Don’t shampoo your hair for 48 to 72 hours to allow the indigo to oxidize and produce the actual color.

After Care

  • Try to reduce how often you wash your hair because frequent shampooing means faster fading.
  • Always wash with lukewarm water and sulfate-free shampoo.
  • Avoid heat processing and air-dry your hair after washing. Use low heat setting if you must blow-dry.
  • Saturate your hair with a leave-in conditioner and water if you’re going to swim. Then, wear a swim cap.

3. Dye Your Hair Dark Blue with Kool-Aid

Kool-aid is a powder used for making children’s drinks but has also been used to color hair temporarily. 

Just as it comes in many colors, it also dyes hair in many colors. However, if dye your hair blue with kool-aid, bear in mind that the color will only last for a short and it would be gone.

Depending on how long you leave the mixture in your hair when applying it, kool-aid can last until the next wash or for a few weeks.

If you’re still interested in giving it a try, then you can create a temporary punk effect on your hair as often as you want with kool-aid.

Preparations

Begin by choosing the kool-aid blue you want.

Gather all your supplies, which include 2 packets of kool-aid, 2 cups of water, one bowl, one pan, a comb, an old t-shirt or towel, and a hair tie.

Pour two cups of water into a pan and add the two sachets of kool-aid to the liquid. Place the pan on the stove and boil the mix for one or two minutes on medium or high heat.

Pour the mixture into a bowl.

Comb your recently washed hair and remove all tangles.

Step-by-Step Process

  • Dip your hair into the bowl of kool-aid and leave it in the mixture for 15 to 30 minutes, depending on how dark or light your hair is. While 15 minutes would be sufficient for light hair, brown and black hair should sit for about 30 minutes so that the color would penetrate better and last longer.
  • Once the time elapses, rinse your hair in the shower without shampoo or conditioner until the water runs clear.

Alternatively:

  • Squirt a sizeable amount of your hair conditioner into a mug and microwave it for 20 seconds. 
  • Stir in your kool-aid powder until it dissolves into a thick, dark paste. Add more conditioner if you need to increase the quantity.
  • Apply the conditioner all over your head, wrap it up, and leave for about 8 hours.
  • Rinse it off with cool/lukewarm water without shampoo or conditioner.

 After Care

  • Avoid washing your hair frequently to prevent color fade.
  • Wash your hair with cold water.

Final Comments:

Now that we have established that you can dye your hair dark blue without bleaching, feel free to get creative and give any of the above steps a try.

However, if you want a lighter color or a longer-lasting effect, you would have to visit a salon and bleach your hair.