PH/Dome Install #2

The more places I hear that its okay that coarser hair requires more time to lift, and darker hair requires more time to lift, and the longer you leave the bleach on the larger the possibility of damage, the better I feel about my hair just not being a DIY blond candidate.

Bridget,

I haven't used Maji Meche, but one of my stylist friends uses it exclusively for highlights and she loves it!  I suppose I should give it a try.

The lightener that you are calling 'peroxide' is actually a 'high lift tint'.  It's a regular tint in an actual shade (ultra light blond, etc) with a  lot of ammonia in it and then you usually add double parts peroxide (usually double 40 volume) .  It's the combination of ammonia and peroxide alone that lightens the hair.  Although color companies tell you that you can get 4 levels of lift with a tint, in actuality, you can usually only get 2.5 to maybe 3 levels if you are lucky.  So depending on you natural base level, you may end up with brassy results because the high lift tint will only lift the 2-3 levels which may not be light enough for the desired result.  

 When I do opt to use a high lift tint, I almost always use an ash based tint because when you lift the hair's pigment, you expose the underlying residual color, and that's always a very warm color (think orange , ugly gold, or chicken yellow) and you want that ash color to neutralize the warmth you will encounter.

Bleach is a wonderful tool and mostly any bleach damage comes from poor application (overlapping) or leaving it on too long (or not long enough if your results are brassy). Bleach also has a lot of ammonia in it, and you also do mix it with peroxide (10-40 volume).  Bleach mixed with a lower level of peroxide is not less damaging, in fact some colorists believe it is more damaging because you need to leave it on the hair longer to get the lift you want.  The higher volumes work faster.    Bleach can usually lift up to 7 levels, so if your natural color is a 6 or darker, bleach is what you need to give you the level of lightness you want.

Also, hair that is course, takes longer to lighten because it has more  layers of cuticle and sometimes a thicker cortex (the inside layer of the hair under the cuticles)

well, I know this thread isn't about color, but hopefully if you understand the  differences  between the products, you can better choose the appropriate product for your hair type to get your desired result, and therefore not end up brassy.

Edited by metalgirl

I HAVE A HUGE BRASSY PROBLEM

i just had to say that and I am too embarressed to put up a photo at this time. i will use my shimmer lights and pray.

i will ooh and aah at jenny. i always wondered how she didn't tone her hair as often as me.. i think i am going to invest in some 'white' manic panic or special effects (which is just toner)

leia1979 wrote: And isn't it sad that you just got new hair and we're already plotting the next install?

No doubt, Leia! It's a neverending quest.

Kim: That sounds great. I love the 50mm. :)

Jenny...I had three test streaks in blut rot, and two came out.  I think I got oily spray stuff on them, but I did a lousy job on them anyway, so no loss. Once I stop being lazy and make some tips, there will be red undercolor goodness!

And isn't it sad that you just got new hair and we're already plotting the next install?

Yup. I never have any slippage or loss, so they last quite well. The only thing is, the braids are a little bigger than some connections, so you may want to get them redone a bit more frequently, like every 10 weeks or so, because they'll become more visible as your hair grows. But it all depends. :)

Thanks again everyone.

Kim: I was just checking out the Cacao last night, as it matches by boyfriend's hair almost exactly. He was like, "I don't want any of your extensions!" So there goes my plan for a guinea pig, lol! Are you getting those clip-in pieces or the actual wefts?

Kirsty: I get my pinchbraids done. I have no ability to braid whatsoever. Apparently, it's not impossible to learn, but it does take practice--Rae has a tutorial on her site, if you want to check it out. I pay $350 for them--that's the service, not including the hair.

:)

Kimbearly took the words right out of my mouth. I really agree
the cut looks more natural and I it!!!

mochachip wrote: I'm amazed how well your hair lifts(both the color and how even it is).  But then everyone's is different.

It's true. My hair lifts very easily, but it's pretty light to begin with. Here's a photo of my roots:


So I'm lifting it a fair amount, but it's still pretty doable. I've tried to use the Feria stuff on my boyfriend (who's like a level 2 or 3), and the result was a totally uneven, Ronald McDonald red, so....

The results are always even on me--there's no variation in the lift at all; the same was always true of the peroxide. The only problem is, with the bleach, I tend to miss spots, because it's a drier mixture than the peroxide. But that's my own error, not a matter of the product or how my hair's reponding to it.

In addition, I've always had porous hair, even before I started dying it, and my hair's so thin and fine. I've often wondered if these factors play a role. For some reason, I'm thinking thicker, coarser hair would be more resistant to bleach and peroxide, but who knows? Of course, on the downside, thin hair is much more likely to fry and break off because it's not as strong. It's a double-edged sword, really. And yes, Rick is the bomb!

If you want to see a good color job, check out the photos of Kristin's hair journey on haircandy.net. Her natural color is way darker than I would've thought, and she gets a great 613 color. She had some damage one time because the bleach was left on too long, but in general, her hair seems to respond incredibly well to it (I have no idea what she uses).

Leia: I'm leaning more toward the blue, too. What's happening with your hair these days?

:)