What should I have ready before applying the balm, and how do I protect my skin and clothes?

Before touching the balm, plan your setup. The product is a direct pigment, and bright turquoise pigments can stain skin, towels, and fabric. Use gloves during application and protect your shoulders with an old towel, a hair-dye cape, or a shirt you do not mind marking. Sectioning the hair with clips is not required, but it makes it easier to spread the creamy balm evenly, especially if you are coloring the full length.

The preparation steps are simple: do a strand test first, and wear gloves. If your hair is very light, damaged, or recently chemically processed, start with a small section before covering the whole head. On such bases bright pigments can hold more strongly, and the color may be harder to remove.

During application, work in thin layers and make sure the balm covers each strand you want colored. Because the texture is creamy, it tends to distribute through the hair evenly, which helps reduce patchiness with saturated blue-green tones. Keep the balm away from your eyes and off your scalp as much as possible. If you do get some on skin, wash it with soapy water promptly; it may still stain temporarily, so old clothes are a sensible choice. After application, follow the package instructions for timing and rinsing rather than relying on general advice.