General haircoloring questions

My apologies in advance for the length of this post. I`d like to hear from any professional stylists/colorists out there...

I`ve had my naturally brown (Level 5) and slightly graying hair highlighted blonde (using foils) for about the past three years. Initially, I could go about 5-6 months between appointments, in part because I was having my hair permed, so the curl helped hide the roots, and also because I asked my colorist for very subtle highlighting so I wouldn`t have to have this very expensive service done every two months. (With tip, it cost me about $140 for the highlight and cut, which I really couldn`t afford more than a couple times a year.)

After the last highlighting (done in November), I realized that my hair had become so blonde all over that I really couldn`t get away with the 5-6 month interval anymore, so I started thinking about going back to an all-over color again.

I had moved to another state in December, and in January, when the roots were starting to get very noticeable, I called a local salon to make an appointment for a haircut. The woman who cut my hair told me she was a Framesi master colorist (not sure what that means) so I just asumed she was very good.

We talked while she cut my hair about my wanting to go back to my natural brown color with some red added. I was hoping that once my hair was back to one color I could do it myself at home if I wanted/needed to. From her reaction, you`d think I`d told her I wanted to perform brain surgery on myself. She went on and on about how important it was to have a professional do it, and how once you have your hair colored in a salon you are risking almost certain doom if you do it at home, etc., etc. It`s been a few years since I`ve done my own haircolor, but I`d never had any problems and was always happy w/ my results so her attitude was a little offensive to me.

Anyway, I was getting desperate about the roots so last week I went back and had her do the color. First she filled (?) the blonde ends with a reddish-brown shade, rinsed that out, then applied color to the roots (she lightened them slightly to get to a Level 6 shade). It turned out quite nicely, but I realized while she was doing it that I really didn`t like her very much. She had a sort of snotty attitude and seemed bothered by the questions I was asking her about what she was doing and why. (I wasn`t rude about it, I was just curious.)

Now I`m in a quandary - I don`t want to go back to her, but I`m not sure how to go about finding someone else. And if I *do* find someone else, am I going to run into more attitude problems if I say that I eventually want to do my hair color myself?

Also, would it be out of line for me to ask my current colorist to give me the information on the products/mix ratios she used so I could take them to another colorist?

How difficult is it for a new colorist to match existing color, especially when it has been through the variety of things mine has, without any background information?

Do all colorists feel that customers are morons and can`t handle something as simple as single-process color, or are there any out there who recognize that some people want to look good but simply can`t afford to spend hundreds of dollars a year on their hair in a salon? It`s not just my hair that I`m frugal about; I usually shop at Salvation Army for my clothes, too.

(OK...the last question is more of a rant than an actual question, so just ignore it.)

Red,

So sorry to hear about your experiences with hairstylists! I am not a hairstylist but I do color my own hair and have for many years, with a few salon color jobs in between here and there.
I agree with Rachel that you can color at home successfully especially if you educate yourself.
I have a similar situation where I had highlights, they ended up to light, then I colored over back to natural brown. You are more than welcome to email me for details if you`d like at mzphill@msn.com
And, I have went to several stylists who cut my hair and give me color advice. They do all suggest doing it professionally at first, but then they relent when I tell them it is too expensive. (I guess since they are getting my haircut business they give in)
When you are just doing an all over color, to cover greys and refresh your natural color, it is very simple to do at home. It does get a little tricky when you cover bleached areas, but it can be done.
Pam

First of all, I was always under the impression that a Level 5 was a dark blonde. The colour level system that I learnt was as follows: 1-Black, 2-Dark Brown, 3-Med Brown, 4-Light Brown, 5-Dark Blonde, 6-Med Blonde, 7-Light Blonde, 8-Very Light Blonde, 9-Extra Light Blonde, 10-Platinum/Ultra Light Blonde.

Anyway, regarding some of your questions, I was very much like you - I had my dark blonde hair highlighted at a salon about every 3 or 4 mos. and now I almost exclusively colour my hair at home. I absolutely could not agree with you more - a simple one step, single process colour can easily be done at home, if you are not wanting to change you hair more than a couple of shades lighter or darker.

Regarding your question on fillers, the lady who coloured your hair filled it first because she was trying to repigment it before she fixed the colour.

A filler is used to repigment hair that has had the natural pigments removed from it. This is generally done when someone wants to fix a colour. For example, someone with dark blonde hair who coloured it an extra light blonde and doesn`t like the results because it is too light. The colourist would fill the ends and lengths of the hair that has been coloured first, and would then apply a darker shade of blonde.

This process can also be done at home, and I personally have done this at home once. I have also had this done at a salon with not particularily good results.

Certainly, you can get both good and bad results both at home and at a salon. It works both ways.