Your Ultimate Guide To Using L’Oréal Paris Féria Hair Color

Coloring your hair is one of the quickest—and most impactful—ways to update your look. Not long ago, achieving a dimensional, salon-quality shade meant investing serious time and money at the salon. Today, it’s easier than ever to get professional-looking results at home, thanks to at-home hair dyes designed for all experience levels.

A stroll down the drugstore aisle proves there’s no shortage of options, but if vibrant, multi-dimensional color is your goal, L’Oréal Paris Féria hair color deserves a spot at the top of your list. This affordable at-home dye comes in a range of on-trend shades that deliver bold color payoff with rich depth and dimension. Each kit also includes an aftercare conditioner to help strengthen hair post-color and minimize damage.

If you’re ready to score your dream shade at home, keep reading. Ahead, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color—from how to use it to tips for keeping your color fresh and vibrant long after you rinse.

What You’ll Need Before Dyeing Your Hair

Each Féria hair dye kit comes with a few tools to aid in your application, including gloves, a nourishing shampoo, and a post-coloring conditioner. However, we also recommend gathering the following:

• A hairbrush for detangling
• A comb for parting and sectioning
• Hair clips to pin back sections as you work
• Petroleum jelly to protect your hairline and ears
• A towel (ideally, one that you don’t mind staining)
• A timer

It’s also a good idea to throw on an old T-shirt before you get started, in case of accidental drips or spatters. If you don’t have a T-shirt you don’t mind staining, drape an old towel around your shoulders to protect your clothing as you work.

How To Prep Your Hair Before Using L’Oréal Paris Féria Hair Color

Coloring your hair at home is a fairly straightforward process, but there are a few things you should do to prep for your transformation.

Choose your ideal shade

It goes without saying, but before you dye your hair, you have to settle on a shade. There are several Féria hair color shades to choose from, from pinkish strawberry blondes to vivid coppers and deep, rich reds. Depending on your current hair color, you may need to bleach your hair before applying your Féria hair color. If that’s the case, we suggest doing so at least a few days before dyeing your hair, using the L’Oréal Paris Féria Hyper Platinum Advanced Lightening System Bleach. It lightens hair up to eight levels and comes with a purple post-coloring conditioner to help neutralize unwanted brassy tones. For a detailed look at how to lighten your hair yourself, check out How To Bleach Your Hair at Home and Keep Your Blonde Bright.

Do a patch test

Before coloring your hair, it’s a good idea to perform a patch test to help reduce the risk of an allergic reaction. Hair color formulas can cause irritation or sensitivity in some people—even if you’ve used hair dye before—so this step shouldn’t be skipped. To patch test, mix a small amount of the color as directed and apply it to a discreet area of skin, like behind your ear or on the inside of your elbow. Rinse after the recommended time, then wait 48 hours. If no redness or irritation occurs, you can go ahead and prepare to color your hair.

Skip shampooing for at least 24 hours

Most experts recommend applying hair dye to dry, unwashed hair—the natural oils from your scalp help protect against irritation. Before coloring your strands, avoid shampooing for at least 24 hours to ensure a seamless, comfortable application.

How To Use L’Oréal Paris Féria Hair Color: A Step-By-Step Breakdown

Once you’ve selected your color, gathered your tools, and lightened your strands (if necessary), you can dye your hair. Follow these instructions to ensure an even, seamless result.

Step 1: Section your hair

First, brush your hair to remove any knots or tangles, then use your comb to divide your hair into two equal sections, as if you were creating a half-updo. Pin up the top section, then divide the bottom into four equal pieces, clipping three out of the way for the time being. Then, repeat the process with the top portion of hair. Applying your dye in small sections makes it easier to see what you’re doing and helps ensure you cover each strand of hair evenly from root to tip.

Editor’s tip: If you’re worried about getting hair dye on your skin, apply a light layer of petroleum jelly to your hairline and ears. The jelly acts as a barrier, so if any dye gets on your skin, it won’t stain.

Step 2: Mix your formula

Next, open the L’Oréal Féria hair color box and slip on the gloves inside. Then, mix the developer crème, color gel, shimmer serum, and hair color booster as outlined in the instructions. Be prepared to begin applying your color as soon as the formula is mixed.

Step 3: Apply your chosen color

Now is when the fun begins—actually dyeing your hair. Starting with the bottommost sections at the back of your head, begin brushing on the color, making sure each section of hair is evenly coated from root to tip. To ensure an even application, you can use your gloved fingers to work the color into your hair, which helps reduce the likelihood of missing a spot. After you finish the first section, unclip the next and repeat the process. Continue this process until your entire head is evenly covered with dye, then set a timer for the amount of time specified on the product instruction sheet.

Step 4: Rinse with lukewarm water

Once your timer goes off, hop in the shower and rinse your hair with lukewarm (not hot) water. Hot water can dry out your hair and dull your freshly-applied color, which is the opposite of what you want. Continue rinsing until the water runs clear.

Step 5: Condition your hair

Finally, squeeze any excess moisture out of your hair, and apply a generous amount of the provided aftercare conditioner to your mane. It’s formulated specifically for use after applying Féria hair color and contains a bonding care complex to help reinforce weak or damaged hair bonds. Let the conditioner sit for a few minutes, then rinse your hair once more. From here, you can exit the shower and dry and style your hair as usual.

How To Maintain Your New Hair Color

Coloring your hair doesn’t take long, but to keep it looking its best, a proper haircare routine is essential. Keep reading to learn how to update your routine to protect your newly-colored locks.

Use a color-safe shampoo and conditioner

To keep your new hue looking fresh and vibrant, swap out your old shampoo and conditioner for a gentle, sulfate-free duo designed specifically for color-treated hair. Try the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Bond Repair Shampoo and L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Bond Repair Conditioner, a sulfate-free duo with citric acid that helps repair damaged, color-treated hair from the inside out. Use them alone, or pre-treat your strands with the coordinating L’Oréal Paris EverPure Bond Repair Pre-Shampoo Concentrate to help target damage and smooth, strengthen, and protect your hair.

Deep condition weekly

Coloring your hair can result in dryness, so to keep your strands feeling soft—and to keep your color vibrant—incorporate the L’Oréal Paris Féria Strength Repair Ultra Care Conditioner into your weekly routine. This deep conditioner—designed specifically for use after coloring your hair with L’Oréal’s Féria hair dye—provides intense hydration while helping to strengthen hair and extend the life of your color. To use it, shampoo as usual, then squeeze excess moisture out of your hair. Apply a generous amount of the deep conditioner to your mane, focusing on areas prone to dryness (such as your mid-lengths and ends), and let the formula sit for about two minutes. Then, rinse with lukewarm water and style your hair as desired.

Protect your hair from UV rays

Exposure to UV radiation can cause your hair color to shift, fade, or lose its brilliance. To help protect your color, keep UV exposure to a minimum and don a hat or scarf when spending time outdoors.

Limit heat styling

Heat styling, like hot water, can do a number on color-treated hair. To keep your color looking fresh, experts generally recommend cutting back on heat styling and opting for gentle heatless hairstyles when you can. If you must use heat on your hair, be sure to prep your strands well with a heat protectant. The L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Moisture 21-in-1 Leave-In Conditioner is an excellent pick for color-treated hair, as its sulfate-free formula hydrates, nourishes, and helps protect against temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. If your hair is especially damaged from repeated coloring sessions, try the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Bond Repair Hair Oil-in-Serum, which contains a 20% bonding care complex with citric acid and helps strengthen brittle hair from the inside out.

Schedule regular root touch-ups

Finally, to keep your color looking its best, schedule regular root touch-ups to mask regrowth. Usually, every six to eight weeks is ideal, but the exact timeframe may depend on how quickly your hair grows and the level of contrast between your natural strands and your Féria hair dye color. Whatever schedule you settle on, stick to it to keep your strands looking salon-fresh day in and day out.

Next Up: Why Hair Gloss Is a Must-Have for Vibrant Color

Photo courtesy of L’Oréal Paris