Ouidad and semi vs perm color

Hi Suzanne,Thanks for the compliment on Ouidad. I really enjoyed talking to her.However, last night I went to see my hairstylist and we discussed what Ouidad said about semi-permanent and vegetable colors vs permanent color.Here is the bad news. You know me...I always tell you the truth as I know it.My stylist, who also does my color, told me that the problem with semi-permanent color is that it can not be used to lighten the hair. That is right. She said it is great for providing deeper color and gorgeous highlights, but you have to have the permament color to lift the darkness out.She said that Redken makes some gorgeous vegetable colors and that Framesi is great too. However, to get the lightness she told me I had to go with the permanent colors like the Matrix Socol that I currently use.So, bottom line, if you want to get a deeper richer color, the semi perm is the ticket. If you want to get a lighter color like blonder or highlights, you can't use the semi-perms because you must have the peroxide and ammonia to lift the hair.Hope that helps to clarify.I feel sorry for my stylist...when I go in to see her I ask her a million questions. :-) She is very sweet though and is very patient and answers everything. We spent last night discussing different coloring options.Hope this helps.Karen> Thanks Karen for the great interview with> Ouidad! I ordered a sample kit last week and can't> wait for it to get here!!!!> I found it very interesting what Ouidad said> about hair color....meaning that semi or veggie> color was safer and longer lasting than permanent> color for curly hair. I figured they would be> safer, but never realized that they might last> longer and have better color.> Okay - now that I have been enlightened.........can> anyone recommend semi permanent color or vegetable> color?> My mother in law colors my hair (she's a> former beautician) and we do it here at home -> so anything we do we have to buy the local beauty> supply (wish they had Goldwell color there......as> I've heard Goldwell, Framesi, and Schwarzkoff> are great)> How long does your semi or veggi color last> ( ballpark)?> Please help and I really need to stop using> permanent color as I can vouch for how it damages> my hair.> thanks Suzanne