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Putting Whilte Hightlights in my Gray Hair
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grafiti4u View Drop Down
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    Posted: January 03 2009 at 1:22pm
I just got my hair cut super short and it looks identical to  Jamie Lee Curtis in slightly spiky style and % of greyness color. Here is a good picture of what my color and style looks like:

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/08/personal_reflections/image/05_jamie_lee_curtis.jpg

I like it but want to pop in some white highlights on top so it isn't so drab. Just a little  . . .  

I was thinking of using a bleach, or maximum highlighting kit so I don't pull any gold - I want the highlights to be white - not blonde or golden at all. I would also use a toner if needed.  What would you suggest I use as far as a bleach product and toner product if necessary?  

Edited by grafiti4u - January 03 2009 at 1:27pm
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karen s View Drop Down
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Use a blue based bleach powder, You can leave bleach on for up to 50 mins(without heat).
 
Depending on any previous colour your hair, if none your hair should turn white If you can only get to the yellow stage there are so many different shades of ash toner's out their, buy one with a platinum/ash base


Edited by karen s - January 04 2009 at 2:27pm
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grafiti4u View Drop Down
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Thanks Karen, would you suggest I use a 20, 30 or 40 volume peroxide to mix with the bleach?  And If I needed a toner, would you use a semi-permanent or a permanent toner?

Thanks for the advise!

Kristi
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FabulousHairExt View Drop Down
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I would suggest you go to sally beauty supply and buy a highlighting cap, and a packet of basic white bleach. Because your hair is so short I'm guessing damage isn't an issue of concern, so I would mix it with 40vol. If you had longer hair then I WOULD NOT RECCOMEND 40. But your hair is very short. Pull small amounts of hair through every other hole, and after you finish pulling the hair through mix the bleach and apply it. Then cover your hair with a plastic bag, processing cap, or showercap. Leave the bleach on for a maximum of 45 minutes, but I doubt it will take more then 25 min to lift. Check the color every 10 minutes, it will lift very fast. I would also reccomend you getting a purple shampoo, like shimmer lights. This will keep the highlights white and the rest of your hair nice and silver/grey with no yellow. HTH andgood luck!
fyi I know my spelling sux!
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Thanks Fab . . . that is initially what I was thinking of doing - just wanted to see what other opinions were.  Heading out to Sally's tomorrow!

Kristi
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karen s View Drop Down
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Hi Kristi,
 
The blue based bleach with counteract any orange hence why I recommended the blue. Purple shampoo's are good, but you have to use them all the time to keep any yellow/warmth at bay, This is why I would recommend using a permanent platinum/ash toner( comes in a tube and will last up to 5 years if kept air tight)
 
Let us know how you get on!
Karen
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muppets View Drop Down
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Clairol #323 Extra Light Platinum is a good toner to use for what you're looking for...

http://www.sallybeauty.com/hair-toner/CLAIRL17,default,pd.html


Edited by muppets - January 05 2009 at 10:42am
Beauty draws us with a single hair.
~Alexander Pope

I'm a kitchen beautician, not a licensed cosmetologist, so please take any advice I give with a grain of salt!
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grafiti4u View Drop Down
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Great advise from all of you - Thanks so much and I will let you know how it turns out!

Kristi
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FabulousHairExt View Drop Down
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Originally posted by karen s karen s wrote:

Hi Kristi,
 
The blue based bleach with counteract any orange hence why I recommended the blue. Purple shampoo's are good, but you have to use them all the time to keep any yellow/warmth at bay, This is why I would recommend using a permanent platinum/ash toner( comes in a tube and will last up to 5 years if kept air tight)
 
 
 
 

If you lift your hair to the correct level, which in your case is an 11, then all you will need to tone is shimmer lights. The important thing when wanting WHITE hair is not to tone out the warmth but to lift your hair past it. Further more I also used to believe the myth that blue bleaches are better, because they drab. But the truth as Beth Minardi a well known color educator told me, the drabbing in the blue bleaches fades after a few days which leaves many people needed to be toned and in some cases slightly bleached again. Also the blue in the bleach hides the true level the hair has lifted to, making it appear lighter and cooler. I have heard so many stylist say "I just don't know why but her hair looked pale yellow before I rinsed the bleach off and after it looks yellow gold" This is why I don't use or recommend blue bleaches....
fyi I know my spelling sux!
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grafiti4u View Drop Down
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So, Fabulous (love to type your name!),  when you say:

"The important thing when wanting WHITE hair is not to tone out the warmth but to lift your hair past it. "

. . . do you mean I would be looking for the pale yellow stage and not go beyond that? 

I picked up a kit at Sally's today that I think will work good.  Beyond Zone Radical Bleach kit.  It has 40 Vol peroxide, bleach powder, the cap and the needle, for $8.00.  Like you mentioned, I am not too concerned about hair damage, as I will only be pulling a small amount of hair through the cap - and its only a couple of inches long. Just want to be sure I lift up the color enough.

Thanks! 
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What you want it to lift it slighly past pale yellow. You should be able to see when it is white, it will no longer have any yellow or gold tones in it. Did you get a toner of any kind? Make sure that you wipe the bleach off your hair before rinsing, just to be sure it is at the correct level.
fyi I know my spelling sux!
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Ok, I should be able to tell when the color is right.  I already had the Shimmer Lights Shampoo, so I figured I was good with that.  I only use it about once a week - I once over did it and you could really see the blue tint on my hair!!
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Blue bleach does help remove the orange/gold tones from the hair. I agree when using bleach you can get it to white, but at a risk of damaging the hair. This also depends on the persons hair type, we all have different thickness of the cuticle and depending on this will determine the amount of lift you will get and how long it will take to lift the colour. I have done clients hair and it lifts in 20 min, (no previous colour) I have also done clients who's hair takes up to 45/50 mins to lift, and sometimes can not get past the orange stage. I have even added blue or violet fashion colours to bleach to remove any unwanted tones, and it does work.
 
Whether you use white or blue bleach it will be the thickness and condition of your hair, and whether there is previous colour, etc that will determine the amount of lift you get.
 
I am not saying I am totally correct, but I have been a stylist for many years and worked on many clients, and what works for one client doesn't necessary work for another.


Edited by karen s - January 06 2009 at 2:38pm
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I also have short hair, just a little longer, I can do some stuff in my hair like frizz, curls, etc; right now it's super straigh, my hair is thin, and I was wandering about the idea of doing myself some curls. I always had very short hair, now I really have the chance to change my looks, and I love curls! so I have been looking around for tool for this purpose, but don't know wich one exactly. I came across this webpage the other day Curling iron reviews, but I'd like some suggestions,opinions, etc on this, thank you!!
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