TO: WILLIAM/KAREN!!! PLEASE HELP ME CORRECT THE HAIR COLORING DISASTER I'M WEARING ON MY HEAD!!!!!

> On the level 8 or 9 warm blonde base color, what> volume of developer should I use to go probably 4> levels lighter? 40 volume? I'm going to buy> professional colors at a beauty supply store (any> particular brands I should consider?) so I'll be> purchasing everything individually.> Also, what would happen if I colored right over the> temporary color I have now (that's sitting on top of> the permanent ash colors)instead of using the Metalex> first? The reason I ask this is because although it is> way too dark of a brown than I want, it has lightened> somewhat since I've been washing it with a clarifying> shampoo and either because of the toner that was> added, or the temp color added after that, at least I> have some golden color running through my hair now> that I like so I'm wondering what would happen if I> colored over it? Also, am I correct that Metalex only> removes temporary colorants, not permanent colors?> Sorry for the confusion, but so much has been done> that I'm a little dizzy! Thanks so much for all your> help William!To NM;The 'Uncolor and Metalex' are two seperate products and one for removal of semi-permanent and one for permanent color removal. As a rule of thumb- 40 vol gives 3-4 levels of lift on 'virgin uncolored hair'. You must remember that through previous 'lightening/dyeing processes your hair has been through a lot! It may already have 'given up all its going to give up' as far as lightening without bleach. If this is the case another application of color with 40 vol. developer might just damage it without doing much as far as actually lightening. A possible alternative is an 'oil type on the scalp bleach' for a more gentle, slower acting lightening process. This would require a toning, secondary operation to achieve the results you are wanting. Whatever you do REMEMBER!!!!! DO TEST STRANDS!!!!!!! I have not used much of it but, the L'oreal line sold at beauty supply stores is pretty 'user friendly' as far as color is concerned. Be sure to look at the selection brochure for better info.william

> Please help me with this hair coloring situation. I'm> so unhappy about this, and I have a party that I have> helped organize coming up in September that I'm> actually thinking of cancelling out of unless I can> correct this.> So you can give me the best advice, let me give you a> little background on my hair. I was born with medium> brown hair that had natural gold and reddish> highlights. For that past couple of years, I have been> using drugstore hair coloring products (L'Oreal,> Clairol) to lighten my hair. Eventually, I ended up> with the brassy/orangey look and as much as I love> Lucille Ball, I didn't want her hair color anymore!To NM;I recieved your email and after reviewing the tests results I have these reccomendations, 1) remove the color that is in your hair now with Clairol "Uncolor or Metalex" availible at a beauty supply, this will leave you with the 'altered' base color after the pigment has been removed. This will allow you to 'see' what you are dealing with as far as a'base' to work with. If after doing this you are still left with a close resemblence to an ash brown base, Lighten with an application of level 8 or 9 warm blonde wich should 'warm up' your base color and if highlights are wanted weave out desired strands and apply a level 10 light warm blonde mixed with 30 vol developer. Mind you this is for the test strands first and if they turn out ok then proceed with the whole head. Get someone to help that cares about your appearence as much as you do and has a lot of patience to help you weave out the strands. Apply the color to within 1/2 inch of the scalp and start with a center part at the front of the head foe the base color and when moving to the highlights switch to a diagonal parting from the centerpart of 30 - 45 degrees- this will give a muted more natural looking patttern. Monitor the depositing of the test strands carefully and rinse and thoroughly dry and check before proceeding. If the color is too dark the timing will probably have to be shortened to prevent 'over-depositation' or a 30 vol developer will have to be used to lift the base more. Please deep condition per my suggestions in the post on the perm problems and let me know how it turns out. OH yes, be sure you have plenty of color at least 4 ozs of pigment before starting 'two 2oz bottles' if your hair is thick and long. good luckwilliam> For the first time in my life, I decided to go to my> stylist for professional hair coloring and full-head> highlights. We consulted with swatches and pictures of> women who had what I wanted; a warm dark golden blonde> to a light golden brown base, with yellow golden> highlights.> The stylist told me that she would need to put in an> ash brown base, and almost beige blonde colored> highlights so that combined with my current haircolor,> I would end up with the result I was after. I> repeatedly told her that I did NOT in any way, shape,> or form want those two colors she was going to end up> using as the end-result color of my hair, and once> again showed her the picture of what I wanted that was> in a hair book she had at her salon. She told me not> to worry, that my hair would look like that picture> when she was done, and that she was trained and> certified by the hair color company of the product she> would be using. (No strand test was done.)> What I ended up with was EXACTLY the drab ash brown> base, and washed out beige highlights that I did NOT> want. In certain lighting, I almost looked like I had> salt and pepper colored hair. I was mortified!!! I> went back the next day supposedly to> "correct" the problem. She put in what she> called a "toner" that wouldn't lift color or> darken color, but "just warm it up." She> said it came in only "light", or> "dark" and she used the "light".> All that did was add a tinge of gold at the top of my> head, but the sides and back were still the drab ash> color, and it all looked uneven. So, next she mixed a> gold and red "temporary color" that she said> was botanical, (not chemical), and would wash out of> my hair in time. It did help to even out the hair, and> helped with the ashiness, however, now I had temporary> darker brown hair than I wanted that would eventually> wash out, and leave me with the original ash color> scheme underneath that I don't want at all.> I have shampooed my hair with a clarifying shampoo, in> an attempt to remove the temporary color so that I can> re-color my hair a.s.a.p. It has lifted somewhat.> What I need your help on is what products and colors> do I need to use to arrive at what I wanted to begin> with (or close to it); warm dark golden blond to a> light golden brown (forget the highlights at this> point) over the ash tone that I have now??? I can no> longer afford to go to a professional and frankly, I> was happier with the Lucille Ball look I had before> all of this than I am now, so I really do not believe> that I can do any worse on my own at this point; I> just need some guidance in the right direction. I will> be buying professional quality products at a beauty> supply store, (a friend recommends Wella), but no> matter what, I will be doing this myself with some> telephone assistance from a friend of mine who used to> own a hair salon some years ago.> Please instruct me on what colors and products to use,> and thank you so much for this site!! I'll anxiously> wait for your recommendations. Thanks again!

Please help me with this hair coloring situation. I'm so unhappy about this, and I have a party that I have helped organize coming up in September that I'm actually thinking of cancelling out of unless I can correct this.So you can give me the best advice, let me give you a little background on my hair. I was born with medium brown hair that had natural gold and reddish highlights. For that past couple of years, I have been using drugstore hair coloring products (L'Oreal, Clairol) to lighten my hair. Eventually, I ended up with the brassy/orangey look and as much as I love Lucille Ball, I didn't want her hair color anymore!For the first time in my life, I decided to go to my stylist for professional hair coloring and full-head highlights. We consulted with swatches and pictures of women who had what I wanted; a warm dark golden blonde to a light golden brown base, with yellow golden highlights.The stylist told me that she would need to put in an ash brown base, and almost beige blonde colored highlights so that combined with my current haircolor, I would end up with the result I was after. I repeatedly told her that I did NOT in any way, shape, or form want those two colors she was going to end up using as the end-result color of my hair, and once again showed her the picture of what I wanted that was in a hair book she had at her salon. She told me not to worry, that my hair would look like that picture when she was done, and that she was trained and certified by the hair color company of the product she would be using. (No strand test was done.)What I ended up with was EXACTLY the drab ash brown base, and washed out beige highlights that I did NOT want. In certain lighting, I almost looked like I had salt and pepper colored hair. I was mortified!!! I went back the next day supposedly to "correct" the problem. She put in what she called a "toner" that wouldn't lift color or darken color, but "just warm it up." She said it came in only "light", or "dark" and she used the "light". All that did was add a tinge of gold at the top of my head, but the sides and back were still the drab ash color, and it all looked uneven. So, next she mixed a gold and red "temporary color" that she said was botanical, (not chemical), and would wash out of my hair in time. It did help to even out the hair, and helped with the ashiness, however, now I had temporary darker brown hair than I wanted that would eventually wash out, and leave me with the original ash color scheme underneath that I don't want at all.I have shampooed my hair with a clarifying shampoo, in an attempt to remove the temporary color so that I can re-color my hair a.s.a.p. It has lifted somewhat.What I need your help on is what products and colors do I need to use to arrive at what I wanted to begin with (or close to it); warm dark golden blond to a light golden brown (forget the highlights at this point) over the ash tone that I have now??? I can no longer afford to go to a professional and frankly, I was happier with the Lucille Ball look I had before all of this than I am now, so I really do not believe that I can do any worse on my own at this point; I just need some guidance in the right direction. I will be buying professional quality products at a beauty supply store, (a friend recommends Wella), but no matter what, I will be doing this myself with some telephone assistance from a friend of mine who used to own a hair salon some years ago.Please instruct me on what colors and products to use, and thank you so much for this site!! I'll anxiously wait for your recommendations. Thanks again!