Bleaching Naturally Red Hair

Hi,Yes, red hair is tricky. That is because the base color has so many different shades in it. The best way to get the blonde look you want is to use a bleach 2 step process. First the bleach would lift all the red out and then the blonde color or toner would be added back. Depending on the coverage you could get this look with foils or a cap.If you went to a professional they probably did not know that they needed to do the bleach first or if they did know they probably did not leave it on long enough.Bleach can be tricky and you really need to know what you are doing. If you want to just add blonde spikes on the tips you can just apply the bleach and NOT add any blonde color. That would give you white tips with no color but it would look bleached.If you want to go with the multi color shades than you would need them to do the bleach to remove the base reds and then add back color. The cool thing is that if they know what they are doing they could actually add a range of shades.I would recommend that you find the best color person in town. Ask around. Or call the local beauty college and ask for a recommendation. Or if you see a person with the color look you want, ask them where they had it done.I met a guy at a Starbucks that had the most awesome purple and navy blue hair. I asked him where he had it done and it was a color expert at a Toni & Guys. He told me he tried to do the colors himself but they would bleed together.I think your intended colors would look great if they can do it right. I would have to say that doing it yourself can be quite tricky because bleach needs to be watched closely. Also, if you use bleach that is too high in content it can burn the scalp. You would do best to find a color expert and then make sure that you talk out what you want with them BEFORE they do it so you can get the results you want.Also, take photos. That always helsp a lot because some stylists just can not picture what you ahve in mind.Hope this helps.Best wishes,Karen> Hi,> I looked through all the post here and didn't find the> answer to my question, so I thought I'd ask...has> anyone tried to bleach naturally red hair? I have> short, spiky/messy-look (shaved on sides and back),> red red hair and I want to go to light blonde...not> quite white, but not that ugly lemon yellow some> people get. I have used highlight kits before (have> one I'm about to use after I get a trim), but I've> never gotten light enough. The longest I've ever left> it on is about 45 min (it was definitely lighter that> time)...am I just not leaving it on long enough? I> read somewhere that the red tones some people get when> highlighting is because red is least resistant to the> bleach...is that why I'm having trouble?> Also, I have seen people with hair cut like mine and> light blonde on top and then gradually fades to their> natural dark color down the back and sides of their> head. I like this, but do you think it will look> strange with red hair? I want something different, but> it has to look good and not make me stick out and look> dumb!!> Thanks a lot!!> Josh> P.S. - I did have it done "profesionally" a> couple times, but they didn't get it right, either.