Dear Color Crew is a monthly blog post where we answer hair-related questions–no matter how hairy they may be–from readers like you. Got a question? Email our team of professional colorists at ColorCrew@Madison-Reed.com.

Question: Dear Color Crew–Help! I know that “professional colorists” section hair before coloring it. How do I section my long hair? For that matter, do I even have to section it?

First of all–great question. (It’s one that we get a lot.) The good news is that it’s probably easier than you think to section your hair “like a pro.” To show you just how easy it is, we made a video just for you (and the tons of other people wondering the same thing!).

How to Section Your Hair for Coloring

1. 1. Start by parting hair down the middle from front to back.
   Tip: Place your other hand at the base of the neck as a guide, your hands naturally want to come together.
2. 2. Comb hair to get out any tangles.
3. 3. Start the first section by combing from middle part to top of the ear, twirling and clipping in place.
4. 4. Move then to the back lower section directly underneath, then to the other side to repeat.

Do You Really Need to Section Your Hair Before Coloring It?

Well, you can certainly color your hair at home without it, but there are strong benefits to sectioning your hair before color application. For one, sectioning allows you to really saturate the areas you need to while keeping the hair you’re not working on out of the way. Plus, in one section, you can concentrate on smaller subsections for full saturation. It also helps you keep track of where you have already applied color, organizing your application to make sure you are thorough. And if that’s not reason enough, it also makes you really look like you know what you’re doing. Which you do, now that you asked. ;)