Bubble Hair Dye Is The Latest J-Beauty Trend

Many of the latest beauty trends have been tried-and-true in Japan for quite some time, and the same applies to bubble hair dye. Bubble hair color is a type of hair dye that’s unlike any of the cream and gel formulas you may be used to. No wonder it’s one of the latest J-beauty trends to hit the hair scene. It’s used to achieve a seamless at-home hair color, making it a great alternative for those who don’t want to budget for a visit to the salon. Ahead, find all the details on what bubble hair dye is and how to use it for your own mane makeover.

What Is Bubble Hair Dye?

OK, you know that bubble hair dye is a type of hair dye, but let’s dive a little deeper. Bubble hair color comes in a foam, bubbly formula. Think of it as similar to a bubble face mask, but instead of pampering your skin, it deposits beautiful color onto your hair. It’s an ideal option for those who are typically intimidated by coloring their hair at home, as it’s virtually mess-free and doesn’t require as much finesse to get an even application (more on that later).

How Long Does Bubble Hair Dye Last?

Bubble hair dye, just as other types of hair dye, can come in permanent, semi-permanent, and even temporary options. This is the determining factor in how long your bubble hair color will last. That said, bubble hair dye is more often than not a permanent hair dye, meaning that it will last about six weeks before your roots need a refresh.

How To Use Bubble Hair Dye

If you’ve decided that a box of bubble hair color may be worth trying, you may be wondering how to put it to use—especially if it’s supposed to be a game changer compared to traditional at-home hair color options. Check out the steps below to learn how to use bubble hair dye. Keep in mind that you should always follow the directions included with the specific hair dye you choose.

Step #1. Prep Your Hair

When using bubble hair dye to color your hair, you won’t have to worry about most of the tedious prep work that’s affiliated with other types of at-home color, like sectioning your hair. Instead, all you need to do is comb through your hair with a wide-toothed comb to remove any knots and tangles. Then, pull on a pair of gloves and get ready to dye.

Editor’s tip: Eventually, you’ll need to touch up your color. Instead of having to run to the store to get more bubble hair dye, pick up an extra box in advance so you can have it on-hand. It’s also a good idea to have an extra box of hair dye available if you have long or thick hair, since you may realize you need more dye to color your strands.

Step #2. Mix Your Dye

Just like with other types of hair dye, you’ll next want to mix the formula. This typically involves combining the dye and developer into one bottle and shaking well to mix, but as we mentioned, always follow the directions included with your at-home hair coloring kit.

Step #3. Apply and Massage

Yes, you read that right—massage. The amazing thing about using bubble hair dye is that the foam formula doesn’t have to be expertly applied to small sections of hair with an application brush. Instead, pump the foam into the palm of your (gloved) hand and apply it directly to your hair. Then, begin to massage the formula in just as if you were massaging shampoo onto your hair, adding more as needed. The foam formula won’t drip or leave stains behind during the dying process (unless you overdo it by pumping out too much to begin with, of course).

Step #4. Wait and Rinse

After your hair is fully saturated, set a timer and let your bubble hair dye work its magic. When time is up, hop in the shower and rinse your hair until the water runs clear. Enjoy your new color!

Next up: Learn more about the most popular J-beauty trends in our article, J-Beauty: Your Intro to Japanese Skin Care and Makeup.